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Sanjeev D Nandedkar, Ph.D.
Introduction
The conventional electromyography system with appropriate software can also be used to make some simple tests of the ANS function. The test for the sympathetic function is called the “sympathetic skin response (SSR),” or the “galvanic skin response” (Claus and Schondorf, 1999). The parasympathetic function is tested by measuring the change in heart rate from different physiologic stimuli, e.g. deep breathing (Baron and Ewing, 1999). The tests are relatively easy to perform, require less than 15 minutes to conduct, do not need special accessories (other than those used for nerve conduction studies), and results are available immediately after the test. In this manner, they are time and cost efficient to perform a quick screen of the ANS. Therefore, there is a great interest in performing these procedures in a clinical electromyography (EMG) laboratory using the EMG and nerve conduction study (NCS) device (Shahani et al, 1990; Nogues and Stalberg, 1989).
