Spinal Cord Evoked Potentials as a Tool to Investigate Sensorimotor Processing

Spinal Cord Evoked Potentials in Candidates for Dorsal Column Stimulation

The study first aim is to investigate the relationship between different patterns of electrode stimulation and peripheral sensory stimulation and spinal cord-evoked potentials to optimize spinal cord stimulation parameters . The second aim of the study is to investigate the role of the spinal cord in some aspects of cognitive-sensory-motor processing, specifically the presence of top-down attentional effects on the sensory analysis of an external stimulus at the spinal cord level.

The study will be performed on patients that will be implanted with a spinal epidural electrode because of chronic intractable pain. From these electrodes, spinal cord evoked potentials (SCEPs) will be recorded.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 18 - 70
• Candidates for spinal cord stimulation
• Epidural electrode at the the level of the cervical or thoracic spine.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Generalized sensory deficit interfering with the recording of spinal cord evoked potentials