Abstract
An evaluation procedure for the functional laryngeal sensory system has not been established, as yet. In this paper, we have recorded a sensory evoked potential elicited by electrical stimulation of the SLN reflection of activities in the brain stem and cortex in anesthetized cats. This evoked potential was named LSEP (Laryngeal Sensory Evoked Potential). LSEP was mainly composed of four components, N1, N2, N4 and N12. The peak latencies of these components were as follows; N1: 1.09±0.18 msec, N2: 1.93±0.19 msec, N4: 3.97±0.19 msec and N12: 12.07±0.75 msec. And the origin of these components were identified as follows; N1: nodosa ganglion, N2: pre synaptic potentials of the NTS, N4: NTS complex including post synaptic potentials and N12: activity of the front-orbital gyrus. LSEPs were also recorded at the scalp, not only by the stimulation of the SLN but also of the laryngeal mucosa. These results suggest that monitoring of LSEPs can serve as a clinically applicable method for evaluating the function of the laryngeal sensory pathway.
