Effect of body temperature changes on evoked potentials

Short-latency somatosensory (SSEPs) and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were recorded in 12 patients with fever due to respiratory infection (age, 44.3 +/- 20.9 years, mean +/- SD) to clarify the effect of body temperature change on conduction in the central somatosensory and brainstem auditory pathways. Subjects were studied during episodes of fever (37.9 +/- 0.8 degrees C) and after their body temperature had decreased (36.6 +/- 0.3 degrees C). The central conduction time (CCT), which is the peak latency between N 13 and N 20, was significantly longer after body temperature had decreased than during fever. Likewise the interpeak latency between waves I and V (I-V IPL) was significantly prolonged following decrease in body temperature. These results suggest that increases in body temperature have an effect upon conduction in the central somatosensory and brainstem auditory pathways.