Tooth pulp-evoked potentials in the monkey: cortical surface and intracortical distribution.

The distribution of tooth pulp-evoked potentials (TPEPs) was characterized in the primary motor (MI), primary somatosensory (SI) and secondary somatosensory (SII) cortices of the monkey. Bipolar electrical tooth pulp stimulation elicited TPEP components P23 and N44 over SI, P26 and N72 over MI, and P72, N161, P280, N420, P561 and N662 over SII. Muscular artifacts and extradental input did not affect the TPEP as demonstrated by experiments using a neuromuscular blocking agent and removal of the pulp, respectively. The short latency TPEPs recorded over SI and MI were evoked by low stimulus intensities and activation of A beta nerve fibers, whereas the long latency TPEPs recorded over SII required higher stimulus intensities and the additional recruitment of A delta nerve fibers. Intracortical recordings revealed polarity reversals of components P23 and N44 in area 3b, P26 and N72 in area 4, and P72, N161, P280, N420, P561 and N662 in the upper bank of the lateral sulcus (SII). Evidence presented in this study suggests that TPEPs recorded from SI and MI relate to non-nociceptive mechanisms while TPEPs recorded from SII relate to nociceptive mechanisms.