[Changes in cortical evoked potentials in relation to cutaneous sensory thresholds. Application to a study of analgesic electrostimulation].

The potentials (EPs) evoked by cutaneous electric shock of increasing intensity and the corresponding sensitivity thresholds were studied in 25 healthy volunteers: analgesic electrical stimulation (AES) was performed on only 10 of these. The stimuli (0.5 msec; 0-140 V) applied in a random way with a needle electrode implanted in the horny layer of the tip of the middle finger can produce 4 sensations: initial awareness, pressure sensation, diffusion and pain.