Test-retest reliability of paired pulse suppression paradigm using auditory change-related response

Abstract

BackgroundSensory suppression is an important brain function for appropriate processing of information and is known to be impaired in patients with various types of mental illness. Long latency suppression which is a paradigm using change-related cortical response with repeated paired pulses embedded in a train of conditioning pulses is a factor used to measure sensory suppression. New methodThe present study assessed the test-retest reliability of long-latency suppression in latency, amplitude, and suppression rate of the P50, N100, and P200 components of auditory evoked potentials in 35 healthy adults. The sound stimulus was repeats of a 25-ms pure tone at 65 dB and 2000 ms in total duration, during which the sound pressure level was increased to 80 dB twice at 1100 ms and 1700 ms. Measurements were performed twice and the validity of the findings was evaluated using intra-class correlations. ResultsThe results showed high intra-class correlation (ICC) values (>0.7) for the amplitude of all components, except for P50 (0.44), while latency also showed high ICC values (>0.66), except for P50 (0.20). In addition, the suppression rate showed good reproducibility for the N100-P200 component (0.60). Comparison with Existing MethodThe method can be performed with a short inspection time of approximately 5 min and provides high ICC values. In addition, it may reflect suppression mechanisms different from those relating to existing methods. ConclusionThese results support the use of long latency suppression as a biomarker in clinical settings.