What type of signals are mainly evaluated in SSEP protocols?

In SSEP (Somatosensory Evoked Potential) protocols, the primary focus is on somatosensory signals. These signals are generated in response to tactile stimuli applied to specific areas of the body, typically the peripheral nerves. The evaluation of these signals is essential in assessing the functioning of the sensory pathways from the peripheral nerves through the spinal cord and into the brain.

When a stimulus is applied, it travels along the sensory pathways, leading to the generation of electrical potentials that can be recorded and analyzed. This process allows clinicians to evaluate the integrity of the sensory nervous system, making it particularly useful in diagnosing conditions such as multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, and other disorders affecting sensory function.

Motor signals deal with muscle activation and control and are assessed in different types of evoked potentials, like the motor evoked potentials (MEPs), but they are not the primary focus of SSEP. Similarly, visual and auditory signals pertain to other modalities of sensory processing and evaluation but do not relate directly to the somatosensory system that SSEP protocols are designed to assess. Hence, the emphasis on somatosensory signals is what makes this option correct in the context of SSEP protocols.