Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP)

An SSEP examination measures how nerve signals travel through the peripheral nerves, the spinal cord and the brain. Mild electrical stimuli are applied to the arms or legs, and the responses they produce are recorded along the nerve pathways. The test helps us identify problems in the sensory pathways, for instance in disorders of the spinal cord or the nerves, or in multiple sclerosis. It causes little discomfort, is safe, and gives us important information for neurological diagnosis.