Peripheral Autonomic Surface Potential — Applications in Clinical Neurology

Electrophysiological tests of spinal cord function have developed rapidly over the past few years, initially with sensory evoked potentials and latterly with methods of testing motor pathways. In seeking a simple reproducible test of sympathetic function we have examined a previously little-studied skin potential which we have named the peripheral autonomic surface potential (PASP). It was initially described by Tarchanoff in 1890. We believe this potential may provide a basis for examining lateral column spinal cord function.