Lumbar puncture was performed on 12 healthy male volunteers at the L 4
-5 level to investigate the influence of tapping-time on CSF levels of
transmitter metabolites. Applying a backward multiple regression mode
l to the data, height, age and tapping-time was found to influence 5-H
IAA while HVA correlated only with height. Also HMPG was influenced by
height, but the distance from the external occipital protuberance to
the site of puncture made a contribution. The present results indicate
that tapping-time might be a factor of importance when using CSF conc
entrations of 5-HIAA as a measure of serotonin turnover.