Changes in amplitude of somatosensory evoked potentials of elderly by mechanical vibratory stimulation applied to tibialis anterior tendon

Abstract

In this study, the researchers examined the changes that took place in the somatosensory cortex area in the brain when subthreshold mechanical vibratory stimulation was applied to the lower limb of the elderly. For this, a subthreshold vibratory stimulation of 190 Hz as applied to the tibialis anterior tendon, and the Electroencephalography was measured. In order to examine the changes in the somatosensory cortex, the amplitude of the Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEPs) was analyzed. When the subthreshold vibratory stimulation was applied to the tibialis anterior tendon, the SEPs amplitude was increased more than the amplitude under none stimulation setting. This result means that the subthreshold mechanical vibratory stimulation may affect the nervous system of the elderly.