Automated single-trial assessment of laser-evoked potentials as an objective functional diagnostic tool for the nociceptive system

• Published in: Clinical neurophysiology Vol. 123; no. 12; pp. 2437 - 2445
• Main Authors: Hatem, S.M, Hu, L, Ragé, M, Gierasimowicz, A, Plaghki, L, Bouhassira, D, Attal, N, Iannetti, G.D, Mouraux, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-12-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Electroencephalography - methods; Event-related potentials (ERPs); Evidence-Based Medicine; Evoked Potentials - physiology; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Laser-evoked potentials (LEPs); Lasers; Linear Models; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multiple linear regression; Nervous system; Neurology; Neuropathic pain; Nociceptors - physiology; Observer Variation; Reaction Time - physiology; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Single-trial analysis; Somesthesis and somesthetic pathways (proprioception, exteroception, nociception); interoception; electrolocation. Sensory receptors; Syringomyelia; Syringomyelia - diagnosis; Syringomyelia - physiopathology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Wavelet denoising; Syringomyelia; Single-trial analysis; Event-related potentials (ERPs); Multiple linear regression; Laser-evoked potentials (LEPs); Wavelet denoising; Neuropathic pain; Waveform; Electrophysiology; Specificity; Pain; Observer; Neurological disorder; Somatosensory evoked potential; Multiple frequency; Human; Nervous system diseases; Filtering; Linear regression; Sensitivity; Evoked potential; Central nervous system disease; Neuralgia; Technique; Spinal cord disease; Event evoked potential
• ISSN: 1388-2457; 1872-8952
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2012.05.007

Highlights ► This study demonstrates the clinical usefulness of an automated analysis of ERPs to assess nociceptive pathways. ► For clinical research, the automated approach provides an unbiased solution to characterize ERPs, even when difficult to identify by visual inspection. ► For evidence-based medicine, the automated approach overcomes the important problem related to the subjectivity of a visual interpretation of ERPs.