Article

The initiation of the pharyngeal stage of swallowing is dependent upon sensory
input to the brainstem and cortex. The event-related evoked potential provides a
measure of neuronal electrical activity as it relates to a specific stimulus.
Air-puff stimulation to the posterior pharyngeal wall produces a sensory-evoked
potential (PSEP) waveform. The goal of this study was to characterize the scalp
topography and morphology for the component peaks of the PSEP waveform.
Twenty-five healthy men and women served as research participants. PSEPs were
measured via a 32-electrode cap (10-20 system) connected to SynAmps2 Neuroscan
EEG System. Air puffs were delivered directly to the oropharynx using a thin
polyethylene tube connected to a flexible laryngoscope. The PSEP waveform is
characterized by four early- and mid-latency component peaks: an early positivity
(P1) and negativity (N1), followed by a mid-latency positivity (P2) and
negativity (N2). The early positive peak P1 is localized bilaterally to the
lateral parietal scalp, the N1 medially in the frontoparietal region, and the P2
and N2 with diffuse scalp locations. Somatosensory and premotor regions are
possible anatomical correlates of peak locations. Based on the latencies of the
peaks, they are likely analogous to somatosensory- and respiratory-related evoked
potential peaks.

Langue : ANGLAIS