Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
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Review
Microneurographic recording from unmyelinated nerve fibers in neurological disorders: an update.
Microneurography is a unique neurophysiological technique allowing direct recording of unmyelinated postganglionic sympathetic or afferent nociceptive fibers by tungsten needles inserted into a peripheral nerve fascicle. In recent years, microneurography has been used to ascertain autonomic impairments in central neurological disorders such as sleep disorders, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or vasovagal syncope. ⋯ Microneurography has also been used to study nociceptor outflow in pain disorders affecting the peripheral nervous system such as small-fiber neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, erythromelalgia, complex regional pain syndrome, and fibromyalgia. In these disorders, microneurography mainly documented mechano-insensitive C-nociceptor hyperexcitability that might account for the ongoing pain.