High-frequency oscillations in human somatosensory evoked potentials are enhanced in school children

High-frequency oscillations (HFOs) in the range of 300-900 Hz have been sho wn to occur simultaneously with the primary response (N20) of the human som atosensory cortex following median nerve stimulation. We studied the effect s of development on somatosensory evoked HFOs. Somatosensory evoked potenti als (SEPs) were recorded with a filter set at 10-2000 Hz following median n erve stimulation in 15 normal adult subjects and 15 normal children (6-12 y ears). The HFOs were obtained by digitally filtering the wide-band SEPs (10 -2000 Hz) using a band-pass of 300-900 Hz. In children, the HFOs were signi ficantly higher in amplitude, longer in duration and larger in number of ne gative peaks than adult subjects. In addition, the interpeak latency of HFO s in children was longer than that of adult subjects. These results suggest that the HFOs are influenced by development. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ire land Ltd. All rights reserved.