The relationship between skin temperature and neuronal characteristics in the median, ulnar and radial nerves of non-impaired individuals.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the nerve conduction characteristics in the median, ulnar and radial nerves and presenting skin temperature in non-impaired individuals as they were subjected to electrophysiological testing. Previous researchers artificially manipulated the skin temperature and demonstrated that there was a positive relationship between temperature and nerve conduction velocity and a negative correlation between distal latency and evoked motor action potential (EMAP). The sample population was 50 non-impaired individuals derived from a venue in the New York City and Long Island region. The independent variable was skin temperature. The dependent variables were: motor nerve conduction velocity, motor distal latency, EMAP of median and ulnar nerves, sensory distal latency and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) of median, ulnar and radial nerves. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Bonferroni correction factor and correlation statistics. The study showed significant correlation in median motor distal latency, ulnar motor distal latency, ulnar sensory distal latency, median sensory amplitude, and ulnar sensory amplitude. The NCV, the distal latency and the amplitude of the median, ulnar and radial nerves were similar in values to other researchers' normal values.