Differences found in signals generated by the nervous system in response to somatosensory stimuli among the studied groups are thought to be developmental in origin, as the most remarkable deviations were seen in younger monkeys.

ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL Potenciales evocados auditivos del tallo cerebral en monos rhesus (Macaca mulatta) en diferentes etapas fisiológicas en condiciones de cautiverio SUMMARYIn the phylogenetic scale, audition plays a very important role in the development of elaborated behaviors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the auditive response in the Macaca mulatta species at different physiologic stages, through brainstem's auditory evoked potentials (BAEP). 30 non-human primates Macaca mulatta were allotted into two groups of 15 males and 15 females distributed in five age-dependant groups of 2 males and 2 females as follows: Group 1 (0,1-3,1 year old); Group 2 (3,2-6,1 year old); Group 3 (6,2-9,1 year old); Group 4 (9,2-12,1 year old) and Group 5 (12,2-27,1 years and older). The BAEP were obtained by the stimulation of the ear with rarefaction "clicks" of 50 dB of intensity. The cerebral electric activity was picked up by gold disc electrodes, placed in the Cz (+), A1, A2 (-) and Fz derivations as land, according to the 10/20 international system. Four waves were detected in the five evaluated groups. Since no significant differences were found in the ANOVAs by separated afferences, an ANOVA of united afferences was done. It was observed that groups 1 and 5 provided significant differences in all evaluated waves, showing the extended latencies in relation to other groups. It was concluded that BAEP made it possible to identify changes that are generated from the development, maturation and aging in rhesus monkeys.Palabras clave: generadores neurales auditivos, latencias, potenciales evocados auditivos de tallo cerebral.

This study has demonstrated that quadrupedal animals can develop true scoliosis showing an analogous way to that occurring in humans.

These findings offer a reference range and provide a basis for improvement in techniques and refinement of clinical processes in these specimens.

There is no doubt that the concurrent use of different diagnostic tools complements knowledge regarding the physiopathogenesis of these osteopathologies.