After determining the effect of temperature on nerve conduction, which parameter typically shows a decrease in cool conditions?

In cooler conditions, nerve conduction studies reveal a decrease in the amplitude of responses primarily due to the effects of temperature on nerve function. When nerves are exposed to lower temperatures, their excitability decreases, which can lead to a diminished ability to generate maximal action potentials. This reduced excitability manifests as a decrease in the amplitude of the recorded electrical responses from the nerve, which essentially indicates a weakened signal being transmitted.

Although other parameters in nerve conduction studies, such as conduction velocities and distal latencies, can be affected by temperature changes, they may not directly correlate with the amplitude reductions observed. For instance, conduction velocity can sometimes remain relatively stable or even decrease at a slower rate compared to the drop in amplitude, while latencies can also be influenced by other factors. However, it is the amplitude of the responses that most consistently reflects the adverse effects of cooler temperatures on nerve function.