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Reduced delta-band modulation underlies the loss of P300 responses in disorders of consciousness

Rivera-Lillo, Gonzalo, Rojas-Li?bano, Daniel, Burgos, Pablo, Egan?a, Jose, Chennu, Srivas, Maldonado, Pedro (2018) Reduced delta-band modulation underlies the loss of P300 responses in disorders of consciousness. Clinical Neurophysiology, 129 (12). pp. 2613-2622. ISSN 1388-2457. (doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2018.09.104) (KAR id:69229)

Abstract

Objective

The P300 component of a sensory event-related potential is one of the major electrophysiological markers used to explore remnants of cognitive function in patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). However, measuring the P300 in patients is complicated by significant inter-trial variability commonly observed in levels of arousal and awareness. To overcome this limitation, we analyzed single-trial modulation of power in the delta and theta frequency bands, which underlie the P300.

Methods

In a preliminary cross-sectional study using a 24-channel EEG and a passive own-name oddball paradigm, we analyzed event-related synchronization (ERS) across trials in the delta and theta bands in a sample of 10 control and 12 DoC subjects.

Results

In comparison to controls, DoC subjects presented a low percentage of trials where delta ERS was observed. In particular, coordinated modulation between delta and theta in response to the stimulus was absent, with a high percentage of trials where only theta ERS was observed. Further, we found a positive correlation between the percentage of epochs with delta ERS and the strength of the P300.

Conclusions

Reduced modulation of spectral activity in the delta band in response to stimuli indicates a dissociation in the activity of the neural networks that oscillate in delta and theta ranges and contribute to the generation of the P300.

Significance

The reduction in spectral modulation observed in DoC provides a deeper understanding of neurophysiological dysfunction and the means to develop a more fine-grained marker of residual cognitive function in individual patients.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.clinph.2018.09.104
Uncontrolled keywords: Vegetative stateMinimally conscious stateElectroencephalographyDelta wavesTheta wavesP300
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences > School of Computing
Funders: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (https://ror.org/0439y7842)
Depositing User: Srivas Chennu
Date Deposited: 24 Sep 2018 12:50 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 17:31 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/69229 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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