%0 Journal Article %A May, Andrew %A Hollerbach, Stephan %A Fitzpatrick, Debbie %A Bulat, Robert %A Bajwa, Absar %A Tougas, Gervais %A Fallen, Ernest L. %A Shine, Glen %A Upton, Adrian R. M. %D 2000 %I Begell House %N 1&2 %P 87-93 %R 10.1615/CritRevBiomedEng.v28.i12.150 %T Effects of Esophageal Stimulation in Patients With Functional Disorders of the Gastrointestinal Tract %U https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/4b27cbfc562e21b8,63fe0825280eb6c4,1d18180e42c90283.html %V 28 %X We studied the effects of esophageal electrical stimulation on cortical-evoked potentials (EPs) and power spectrum of heart rate variability (PS/HRV) in patients with diabetes and non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). We also recorded cognitive-evoked potentials (P300 EPs) in response to an odd-ball stimulation in patients with NCCP. Diabetic patients did not yield reproducible cortical EPs. Their power spectra of heart rate variability (PS/HRV) showed an increased vagal modulation during stimulation. In patients with NCCP the P300 EPs were of greater amplitude (17 ± 3 mV vs. 12 ± 1 mV in controls, p < 0.04), while peak latenceis were slightly elongated in patients (382 ± 22 ms vs. 354 ± 12 ms in controls). The PS/HRV in these patients also showed an increased vagal modulation of the sinus node activity. Our results suggest the following: (1) in patients with diabetes, afferent pathways and processing of sensory signals are likely to be impaired; (2) an increased perception of esophageal stimulation reflects an exaggerated brainstem response and altered cortical processing of visceral sensation in patients with NCCP. %8 2000-04-01