P300 Peak Amplitude Research Articles

Neuromechanical proficiency in elite performance decision-making: An event-related potential (ERP) analysis

This research focuses intensively on the neural mechanisms of action selection responses in elite athletes during high-stakes decision-making. It emphasizes the neuromechanical dimensions of these processes, contrasting the responses of expert and novice players within a theoretical framework of neural information processing in high-performance contexts. Utilizing advanced EEG technologies, including event-related potential (ERP) analysis, the study captures a comprehensive view of both behavioral and neurophysiological data. The central aim is to unravel the intricate neural underpinnings that distinguish elite athletes in their decision-making strategies. Key findings highlight: (1) Enhanced accuracy and swifter reaction times in elite athletes during the action selection phase; (2) Significant neurophysiological differences, marked by pronounced N1 peak amplitudes with prolonged latencies, reduced P2 peak amplitudes with stable latencies, decreased P3 peak amplitudes with reduced latencies, and increased average PSW amplitudes. These discoveries significantly advance our understanding of the neural foundations of expert decision-making in high-performance sports. This study not only sheds light on the cognitive and neural dynamics of elite sports performance but also provides a foundation for developing training and performance enhancement techniques in various high-stakes domains.

Gender Effect on Neural Correlates of Autobiographical False Memories for Brand Images.

This study investigated the effect of autobiographical brand images on false memory formation in adults, using the category associate's procedure. The study also applied the event-related potential (ERP) approach to explore neural correlates of false memory and gender differences in false memory recall of brand images. Eight categories of autobiographical brand images were implied in a category associates' procedure to investigate false memory recall. ERP data were obtained from 24 participants (12 females and 12 males) using a 32-channel amplifier while subjects were performing the memory task. Subsequently, gender effects on behavioral responses and neural correlates of false and true memory recalls were statistically compared using peak amplitude and latency of P300, late positive complex, and FN400 components. The results showed that left frontal areas in women were more activated in response to false memories compared to men, however, the men's brain responses were faster. In addition, the men's brain responses to false memories were widely distributed mainly over frontal, parietal, and occipital areas. Males and females differently process autobiographical brand images. Nevertheless, the differential neural process may not influence their recognition rate or response time.

Understanding the effects of stress on the P300 response during naturalistic simulation of heights exposure.

Stress is a prevalent bodily response universally experienced and significantly affects a person's mental and cognitive state. The P300 response is a commonly observed brain behaviour that provides insight into a person's cognitive state. Previous works have documented the effects of stress on the P300 behaviour; however, only a few have explored the performance in a mobile and naturalistic experimental setup. Our study examined the effects of stress on the human brain's P300 behaviour through a height exposure experiment that incorporates complex visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive stimuli. A more complex sensory environment could produce translatable findings toward real-world behaviour and benefit emerging technologies such as brain-computer interfaces. Seventeen participants experienced our experiment that elicited the stress response through physical and virtual height exposure. We found two unique groups within our participants that exhibited contrasting behavioural performance and P300 target reaction response when exposed to stressors (from walking at heights). One group performed worse when exposed to heights and exhibited a significant decrease in parietal P300 peak amplitude and increased beta and gamma power. On the other hand, the group less affected by stress exhibited a change in their N170 peak amplitude and alpha/mu rhythm desynchronisation. The findings of our study suggest that a more individualised approach to assessing a person's behaviour performance under stress can aid in understanding P300 performance when experiencing stress.

Group membership modulates the hold-up problem: an event-related potentials andoscillations study.

This paper investigates the neural mechanism that underlies the effect of group identity on hold-up problems. The behavioral results indicated that the investment rate among members of the in-group was significantly higher than that of the out-group. In comparison to the NoChat treatment, the Chat treatment resulted in significantly lower offers for both in-group and out-group members. The event-related potentials (ERP) results demonstrated the presence of a distinct N2 component in the frontal midline of the brain when investment decisions were made for both in-group and out-group members. During the offer decision-making stage, the P3 peak amplitude was significantly larger when interacting with in-group members compared to the out-group members. The event-related potentials oscillations (ERO) results indicated that when investment decisions were made for in-group members in the NoChat treatment, the beta band (18-28 Hz, 250-350 ms) power was more pronounced than when decisions were made for out-group members. In the NoChat treatment, offer decisions for in-group members yielded a more pronounced difference in beta band (15-20 Hz, 200-300 ms) power when compared to out-group members. Evidence from this study suggests that group identity can reduce the hold-up problem and corroborates the neural basis of group identity.

Cognitive load associates prolonged P300 latency during target stimulus processing in individuals with mild cognitive impairment

Alterations in P300 amplitude and latency, as well as neuropsychological tests, are informative to detect early signs of the affected high cognitive processing in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). In the present study, we examined P300 latency and amplitude elicited by visual oddball paradigm in 20 participants with MCI and age, education, and sex-matched healthy controls from frontal, central, and parietal midline electrodes. We performed a mixed-design ANOVA to compare P300 amplitude and latency between groups during target and non-target stimulus presentation. We also assessed the correlation between our electrophysiology findings and neuropsychological tests. Our results indicated that in healthy individuals P300 is elicited earlier in target stimulus processing compared to non-target stimulus processing. On the contrary, in the MCI group, P300 latency was increased during target processing compared to non-target stimulus processing. Moreover, P300 latency in target processing is prolonged in the MCI group compared to controls. Also, our correlation results showed a significant correlation between P300 peak latency and amplitude, and attention required cognitive tasks. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that high-order cognitive processes that are involved in stimulus processing slows down in individuals with MCI due to the high working memory demand for neural processing.

Biomarkers of professional cybersportsmen: Event related potentials and cognitive tests study.

"Faster, higher, stronger" is the motto of any professional athlete. Does that apply to brain dynamics as well? In our paper, we performed a series of EEG experiments on Visually Evoked Potentials and a series of cognitive tests-reaction time and visual search, with professional eSport players in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and novices (control group) in order to find important differences between them. EEG data were studied in a temporal domain by Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) and in a frequency domain by Variational Mode Decomposition. The EEG analysis showed that the brain reaction of eSport players is faster (P300 latency is earlier on average by 20-70 ms, p < 0.005) and stronger (P300 peak amplitude is higher on average by 7-9 mkV, p < 0.01). Professional eSport players also exhibit stronger stimulus-locked alpha-band power. Besides, the Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between hours spend in CS:GO and mean amplitude of P200 and N200 for the professional players. The comparison of cognitive test results showed the superiority of the professional players to the novices in reaction time (faster) and choice reaction time-faster reaction, but similar correctness, while a significant difference in visual search skills was not detected. Thus, significant differences in EEG signals (in spectrograms and ERPs) and cognitive test results (reaction time) were detected between the professional players and the control group. Cognitive tests could be used to separate skilled players from novices, while EEG testing can help to understand the skilled player's level. The results can contribute to understanding the impact of eSport on a player's cognitive state and associating eSport with a real sport. Moreover, the presented results can be useful for evaluating eSport team members and making training plans.

Electroencephalogram-based objective assessment of cognitive function level associated with age-related hearing loss.

Age-Related Hearing Loss (ARHL) is a common problem in aging. Numerous longitudinal cohort studies have revealed that ARHL is closely related to cognitive function, leading to a significant risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This risk gradually increases with the severity of hearing loss. We designed dual auditory Oddball and cognitive task paradigms for the ARHL subjects, then obtained the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale evaluation results for all the subjects. Multi-dimensional EEG characteristics helped explore potential biomarkers to evaluate the cognitive level of the ARHL group, having a significantly lower P300 peak amplitude coupled with a prolonged latency. Moreover, visual memory, auditory memory, and logical calculation were investigated during the cognitive task paradigm. In the ARHL groups, the alpha-to-beta rhythm energy ratio in the visual and auditory memory retention period and the wavelet packet entropy value within the logical calculation period were significantly reduced. Correlation analysis between the above specificity indicators and the subjective scale results of the ARHL group revealed that the auditory P300 component characteristics could assess attention resources and information processing speed. The alpha and beta rhythm energy ratio and wavelet packet entropy can become potential indicators to determine working memory and logical cognitive computation-related cognitive ability.

Electrophysiological evidence for the characteristics of implicit self-schema and other-schema in patients with major depressive disorder: An event-related potential study.

The significance of implicit self-schema and other-schema in major depressive disorder (MDD) is highlighted by both cognitive theory and attachment theory. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) characteristics of implicit schemas in MDD patients. The current study recruited 40 patients with MDD and 33 healthy controls (HCs). The participants were screened for mental disorders using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale-14 were employed to assess the clinical symptoms. Extrinsic Affective Simon Task (EAST) was conducted to measure the characteristics of implicit schemas. Meanwhile, reaction time and electroencephalogram data were recorded. Behavioral indexes showed that HCs responded faster to positive self and positive others than negative self (t = -3.304, p = 0.002, Cohen's d = 0.575) and negative others (t = -3.155, p = 0.003, Cohen's d = 0.549), respectively. However, MDD did not show this pattern (p > 0.05). The difference in other-EAST effect between HCs and MDD was significant (t = 2.937, p = 0.004, Cohen's d = 0.691). The ERP indicators of self-schema showed that under the condition of positive self, the mean amplitude of LPP in MDD was significantly smaller than that in HCs (t = -2.180, p = 0.034, Cohen's d = 0.902). The ERP indexes of other-schema showed that HCs had a larger absolute value of N200 peak amplitude for negative others (t = 2.950, p = 0.005, Cohen's d = 0.584) and a larger P300 peak amplitude for positive others (t = 2.185, p = 0.033, Cohen's d = 0.433). The above patterns were not shown in MDD (p > 0.05). The comparison between groups found that under the condition of negative others, the absolute value of N200 peak amplitude in HCs was larger than that in MDD (t = 2.833, p = 0.006, Cohen's d = 1.404); under the condition of positive others, the P300 peak amplitude (t = -2.906, p = 0.005, Cohen's d = 1.602) and LPP amplitude (t = -2.367, p = 0.022, Cohen's d = 1.100) in MDD were smaller than that in HCs. Patients with MDD lack positive self-schema and positive other-schema. Implicit other-schema might be related to abnormalities in both the early automatic processing stage and the late elaborate processing stage, while the implicit self-schema might be related only to the abnormality in the late elaborate processing stage.

Electrophysiological correlates of response time outliers: Outlier related potentials.

In response time (RT) research, RTs which largely deviate from the RT distribution are considered "outliers". Outliers are typically excluded from RT analysis building upon the implicit assumption that cognitive processing is distorted in outlier trials. The present study aims to test this assumption by comparing cognitive processing indexed by event-related potentials (ERP) of trials with outliers and valid trials in two different tasks. To this end, we compared stimulus- and response-locked ERPs for outliers identified by nine different methods with valid trials, using cluster-based permutation tests. Consistently across outlier exclusion methods and tasks, the late positive complex (P3) associated with response-related processes was reduced in outliers. Analyses of response-locked ERPs related this P3 attenuation to a slower and temporally more extended increase of the P3, possibly indexing reduced evidence accumulation speed in outliers. P3 peak amplitude in response-locked ERPs was similar between outliers and valid trials, suggesting that the absolute amount of evidence required for a response remained comparable. Furthermore, in addition to these more general ERP correlates of outliers, the contingent negative variation (CNV) ERP component was reduced in outliers as a function of preparatory demands of the task. Hence, electrophysiological correlates, and thus cognitive processing, are altered in outliers compared to valid trials. In order to avoid distortion of observed ERP differences between conditions, the RT outlier distribution should be considered for the analysis of ERPs in combined ERP and RT studies.

The role of single trial variability in event related potentials in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

ObjectiveChildren with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show attenuated mean P3 component amplitudes compared to typically developing (TD) children. This finding may be the result of individual differences in P3 amplitudes, P3 latencies, and/or greater single trial variability (STV) in amplitude or latency, suggesting neural “noise.” MethodsEvent related potentials (ERPs) from 75 children with ADHD and 29 TD children were recorded with electroencephalography (EEG). Caregivers provided ratings on child ADHD symptoms. Single-trial ERP amplitudes and latencies were extracted from the P3 component time window during a visual oddball task. Additionally, we computed individual-centered and trial-centered P3 amplitudes to account for inter-individual and inter-trial variability in the timing of the P3 peak. ResultsIn line with prior research, greater ADHD symptom severity was associated with reduced mean P3 amplitude. This correlation was no longer significant after correcting for inter-trial differences in P3 latency. In contrast, greater ADHD symptom severity was associated with reduced STV in P3 amplitude. ConclusionsOur results suggest that attenuated average P3 amplitude in ADHD samples is due to a consistent reduction in strength of the neurophysiological signal at the single trial level, as well as increased inter-trial variability in the timing of P3 peak amplitudes. The traditional method of extracting P3 amplitudes based on a single time window for all trials may not adequately capture variability in P3 latencies associated with ADHD. SignificanceInter- and intra-individual differences in brain signatures should be considered in models of neurobiological differences in neurodevelopmental samples.

Electrophysiological and neuropsychological assessment of cognition in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 patients: a pilot study

BackgroundEvent-related potentials (ERPs) reflect cognitive processing: negative early components (N100, N200) are involved in the sensory and perceptual processing of a stimulus, whereas late positive component P300 requires conscious attention. Both neuropsychological and affective disorders are present in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), but the underlying mechanisms need further clarification.Materials and methodsIn this pilot study, we assessed cognitive processing by recording auditory ERPs in 16 consecutive SCA1 patients and 16 healthy controls (HC) matched for age and sex. Motor and nonmotor symptoms were evaluated using the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) and an extensive neuropsychological battery. ERPs were recorded using an oddball paradigm, and peak latency and amplitude of N100, N200, and P300 were measured in the averaged responses to target tones.ResultsWe found in SCA1 significantly increased latencies of N200 and P300 (p=0.033, p=0.007) and decreased amplitudes of N100 and P300 (p=0.024, p=0.038) compared with HC. Furthermore, P300 latency had the highest AUC in the discrimination of SCA1 in ROC analysis. The expansion of trinucleotide repeats correlated with P300 latency (r=−0.607, p=0.048), whereas both P300 and N100 amplitudes correlated with the severity of motor symptoms (r=−0.692, p=0.003; r=−0.621; p=0.010). Significant correlations between P300 latency and the scores of Emotion Attribution Task (r=−0.633, p=0.027), as well as between N200 latency and the scores of Frontal Assessment Battery and Stroop test (r=−0.520, p=0.047; r=0.538, p=0.039), were observed.ConclusionsThis research provides for the first time an extensive characterization of ERPs as useful electrophysiological markers to identify early cognitive dysfunction in SCA1.

Longitudinal Changes in P3 Event‐related Potential among Older Adults with Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease: A 1‐year Follow‐Up

AbstractBackgroundThe third positive peak of the event‐related potential (ERP P3) is understood to reflect neural resource utilization during working memory. We previously showed lower P3 ERP amplitude of the task effect in older adults with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The aim of this study was to compare changes from baseline to 1‐year follow‐up in P3 ERP between older adults with and without preclinical AD.MethodCognitively normal, beta‐amyloid positive (CNAβ+, n = 14) participants and beta‐amyloid negative (CNAβ‐, n = 15) controls completed a working memory task (n‐back) with three levels of difficulty (0, 1, 2) at baseline and 1‐year follow‐up. ERP P3 peak amplitude and latency of the task effect (non‐target minus target) were extracted from continuous electroencephalography recording. The frontal midline channel Fz was identified a priori as the main channel of interest. Aβ accumulation was characterized with [18F] Florbetapir positron emission tomography scans. Independent t‐tests, Fisher’s Exact, or Mann‐Whitney U tests were employed to compare baseline characteristics between groups. Linear mixed models with random intercept were used to compare changes in P3 peak amplitude and latency. Group (CNAβ+ vs CNAβ‐), time (baseline, 1‐year), and n‐back (0, 1, 2) were entered as main effects. The main analysis of interest was the interaction between group and time.ResultBaseline age, sex, MOCA scores, and n‐back accuracy and response times did not differ (p&gt;0.11) between CNAβ+ and CNAβ‐ groups [Table 1]. Additionally, no longitudinal changes in MOCA scores or n‐back performance were observed between groups (p&gt;0.41). A significant group by time interaction effect in P3 peak amplitude at Fz was found between CNAβ+ and CNAβ‐ participants (p = 0.049). The P3 peak amplitude increased by 48% in CNAβ+ participants, whereas only a 19% increase was observed in CNAβ‐ participants.ConclusionThe ERP revealed significant changes over time in P3 amplitude for the CNAβ+ participants compared to the CNAβ‐ controls. The greater increase of CNAβ+ task effect amplitude likely represents a growing imbalance in task specific resource allocation. Further investigation of this phenomenon is warranted to evaluate neuronal activity of preclinical AD and the use of P3 ERP as a potential screening tool.

Combined effect of succinic acid, riboxin, nicotinamide, riboflavin for the treatment of chronic brain ischaemia

Introduction. Сhronicbrain ischaemiais associated with the generation of oxygen free radicals resulting in a condition of oxidativestress. Various studies have investigated that antioxidant compounds can neutralize reactive oxygen species and free radicals.Aim. To evaluate effect of Cytoflavin (INN: inosine + nicotinamide + riboflavin + succinic acid) for the treatment of chronic brain ischemia.Materialy and methods. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study 50 patients aged 61 ± 9 years with chronic brain ischemia (vascular cognitive impairment), were randomized into Cytoflavin (n = 32) group or placebo (n = 18) group. The sealed envelopes system was used to randomize patients; 10.0 ml of the compound were infused by drops intravenously for 10-day period. During the course of treatment, therapy with vasoactive, nootropic and psychotropic drugs was excluded. In addition to clinical evaluation were carried outa comprehensive neuropsychological testing of cognitive functions, registration of cognitive induced potentials (IP) P300 and study of cerebral hemoperfusion using single photon emission computed tomography. To assess the intensity of lipid peroxidation we estimated several kinetic parameters of ferrous iron-induced chemiluminescence.Results. Prevalence of good and excellent results of treatment was registered in patients treated with Cytoflavin comparing with those placebo (56% vs. 22%; р = 0.036). Psychological examination showed more expressed positive dynamics of physic activity rate in treatment with the active preparation comparing with those placebo (972 ± 184 sec vs. 1 251 ± 449 sec; р = 0.005). In the group of patients treated with Cytoflavin IP P300 showed the increase of P300 peak amplitude (before treatment 5.2 ± 1.2 mV, after treatment 7.2 ± 2.1 mV; р = 0.035). The biochemical basis of the therapeutic action of Cytoflavin was its antioxidant activity: Cytoflavin increased the endogenous antioxidant background (before treatment 46.8 ± 16.1 sec, after treatment 62.4 ± 13.6 sec, р = 0.004).Conclusions. Cytoflavin produces positive effects on the main symptoms in patients with chronic brain ischaemia, increases endogenous antioxidant background and possesses certain neurotropic activity.

Assessing Mild Cognitive Impairment Using Portable Electroencephalography: The P300 Component

Increased prevalence of mild cognitive impairments (MCIs) and dementias are a growing concern as the population ages, which produces a need for an objective, accessible, and cost-effective tool to facilitate early detection and intervention. This article investigates whether a portable electroencephalography (EEG) system can provide an effective measure of MCI using a visual oddball task to target the memory and attention event-related potential (ERP) component called the P300. In this study, 40 participants were separated into two groups: individuals with a diagnosed cognitive impairment and a healthy age-matched control group. Participants completed two typical pen-and-paper MCI assessments to gather behavioural data, which were followed by a perceptual EEG oddball task to gather brain data. Results show that the MCI group demonstrated decreased behavioural task performance in the pen-and-paper assessments and a modulated brain response during the oddball task when compared to healthy controls, which the portable EEG system revealed to be a decreased P300 peak amplitude. These results indicate the capability of portable EEGs to identify biomarkers for MCI and their potential use in the diagnostic process. This capability could provide major benefits to patients, their families, and physicians, and would also assist with Alzheimer’s research. Future research could expand on these findings by applying a lifespan or disease-span approach to investigate P300 changes in the course of a healthy individual’s life compared to P300 changes in individuals with MCI over the entire course of their disease. This research could also cultivate a greater understanding of how MCI progresses, which could improve diagnostic or treatment development.

Changes in somatosensory evoked potentials in rats following transient cerebral ischemia

Background. Cerebral ischemia induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion is one of the most popular ischemic stroke models used to evaluate drug candidates with neuroprotective properties. The possibilities of combining this model with neurophysiological techniques (e.g., electroencephalography, electrocorticography, evoked potential registration, etc.) to assess the effectiveness of novel pharmacotherapeutic strategies appear to be of great interest to current biomedical research.The aim. Identifying specific changes in somatosensory evoked potentials occurring after cerebral ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.Materials and methods. A total number of 18 white outbred male rats were randomized into 3 groups by 6 animals in each: 1) control (presumably healthy animals); 2) ischemia-30 (30-minute middle cerebral artery occlusion); 3) ischemia-45 (45-minute occlusion). At post-surgery day 7, cortical responses to sequential electrical stimulation of left and right n. ischiadicus were registered. N1, P2, N2, P3, and N3 peak latencies and amplitudes, peak-to-peak interval durations and amplitudes were calculated. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between ischemia duration and evoked potential parameters, and the Chaddock scale was used to qualitatively evaluate the strength of correlations.Results. The rats subjected to cerebral ischemia demonstrated a decrease in some of the peak amplitudes of the ipsi- and contralateral somatosensory potentials evoked by n. ischiadicus stimulation. In the injured hemisphere, decreased P2 and N3 peak and P3–N3 interval amplitudes were registered ipsilaterally, and decreased P3 peak amplitudes and N2–P3 interval durations were observed contralaterally.Conclusions. The obtained data suggest that somatosensory evoked potential registration and analysis can be used to evaluate the functional state of central nerve tracts in rats subjected to cerebral ischemia.

Treatment effects on event-related EEG potentials and oscillations in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD) is the most diffuse neurodegenerative disorder belonging to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in old persons. This disease is provoked by an abnormal accumulation of amyloid-beta and tauopathy proteins in the brain. Very recently, the first disease-modifying drug has been licensed with reserve (i.e., Aducanumab). Therefore, there is a need to identify and use biomarkers probing the neurophysiological underpinnings of human cognitive functions to test the clinical efficacy of that drug. In this regard, event-related electroencephalographic potentials (ERPs) and oscillations (EROs) are promising candidates. Here, an Expert Panel from the Electrophysiology Professional Interest Area of the Alzheimer's Association and Global Brain Consortium reviewed the field literature on the effects of the most used symptomatic drug against ADD (i.e., Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors) on ERPs and EROs in ADD patients with MCI and dementia at the group level. The most convincing results were found in ADD patients. In those patients, Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors partially normalized ERP P300 peak latency and amplitude in oddball paradigms using visual stimuli. In these same paradigms, those drugs partially normalize ERO phase-locking at the theta band (4–7 Hz) and spectral coherence between electrode pairs at the gamma (around 40 Hz) band. These results are of great interest and may motivate multicentric, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical trials in MCI and ADD patients for final cross-validation.

P300 Following Four Voluntarily Regulated Yoga Breathing Practices and Breath Awareness.

Attention was influenced by yoga breathing in previously published research. Each yoga breathing practice uniquely modifies specific breath characteristics. Differences in the study designs, assessment methods and interventions resulted in difficulty in comparing effects between yoga breathing practices. This study aimed (i) to compare four yoga breathing practices on attention using an auditory oddball task and (ii) to determine cardiac autonomic activity associated with attention using heart rate variability. P300 event related potential was recorded simultaneously with heart rate variability before and after 18-minute periods each of (i) high frequency yoga breathing (with increased breath frequency), (ii) bellows yoga breathing (with increased depth of respiration), (iii) alternate nostril yoga breathing (with alternate nostril patency), (iv) bumblebee yoga breathing (with prolonged exhale), (v) breath awareness (with attention to the breath) and (vi) quiet seated rest as control in 38 yoga experienced males (average age ± SD; 24.08 ± 4.01 years). The six sessions were on separate, randomly allocated days. The P300 peak amplitude recorded at Pz was significantly increased after four yoga breathing practices (Bonferroni adjusted post-hoc tests, repeated measures ANOVA). No significant changes were noted in heart rate variability following yoga breathing or control sessions. These findings suggest that the four yoga breathing practices increase the attentional neural resources engaged for this auditory oddball task, irrespective of the characteristic of breath uniquely regulated in the four yoga breathing practices.

EEG/ERP evidence of possible hyperexcitability in older adults with elevated beta-amyloid

BackgroundAlthough growing evidence links beta-amyloid (Aβ) and neuronal hyperexcitability in preclinical mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a similar association in humans is yet to be established. The first aim of the study was to determine the association between elevated Aβ (Aβ+) and cognitive processes measured by the P3 event-related potential (ERP) in cognitively normal (CN) older adults. The second aim was to compare the event-related power between CNAβ+ and CNAβ−.MethodsSeventeen CNAβ+ participants (age: 73 ± 5, 11 females, Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA] score 26 ± 2) and 17 CNAβ- participants group-matched for age, sex, and MOCA completed a working memory task (n-back with n = 0, 1, 2) test while wearing a 256-channel electro-encephalography net. P3 peak amplitude and latency of the target, nontarget and task difference effect (nontarget−target), and event-related power in the delta, theta, alpha, and beta bands, extracted from Fz, Cz, and Pz, were compared between groups using linear mixed models. P3 amplitude of the task difference effect at Fz and event-related power in the delta band were considered main outcomes. Correlations of mean Aβ standard uptake value ratios (SUVR) using positron emission tomography with P3 amplitude and latency of the task difference effect were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient r.ResultsThe P3 peak amplitude of the task difference effect at Fz was lower in the CNAβ+ group (P = 0.048). Similarly, power was lower in the delta band for nontargets at Fz in the CNAβ+ participants (P = 0.04). The CNAβ+ participants also demonstrated higher theta and alpha power in channels at Cz and Pz, but no changes in P3 ERP. Strong correlations were found between the mean Aβ SUVR and the latency of the 1-back (r = − 0.69; P = 0.003) and 2-back (r = − 0.69; P = 0.004) of the task difference effect at channel Fz in the CNAβ+ group.ConclusionsOur data suggest that the elevated amyloid in cognitively normal older adults is associated with neuronal hyperexcitability. The decreased P3 task difference likely reflects early impairments in working memory processes. Further research is warranted to determine the validity of ERP in predicting clinical, neurobiological, and functional manifestations of AD.

The relationship between hippocampal volume and P3 event‐related potential in cognitively normal older adults without and with elevated amyloid: A pilot study

AbstractBackgroundThe P3 event‐related potential (ERP) is typically reduced and delayed in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The hippocampus is a core regulator of the P3 ERP. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between hippocampal volume and P3 peak amplitude and latency in cognitively normal older adults with (Aβ+) and without elevated amyloid (Aβ‐).MethodAβ was assessed using a Florbetapir F‐18A positron emission tomography scan. No participants showed cognitive impairments based on performance on neuropsychological tests. Hippocampal volume was measured from T1‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging using Freesurfer. 256‐channel high‐definition electroencephalography (EEG) was used to record brain activity while completing a working memory (1‐back) test. The 1‐back test consisted of 120 non‐targets and 60 targets and lasted about 7 minutes. P3 amplitude and latency of the task effect (non‐target – target) was extracted using EEGlab software. Midline (Fz, Cz, Pz) and frontal (F3, F4) were identified a priori as channels of interest.ResultWe assessed 12 Aβ‐ participants (age 75.0 ± 6.4; MOCA 27.8 ±1.4; 6 (50%) women) and 11 Aβ+ participants (age 71.8 ± 5.6; MOCA 27.7 ± 2.0; 8 (72% women). Pearson r correlations for the total group (n = 23) demonstrated significant and positive correlations between both left and right hippocampal volume (L/R HV) and peak P3 amplitude at Fz (L HV, r = 0.55, p = 0.006); R HV, r = 0.52, p = 0.01), Cz (L HV, r = 0.55, p = 0.006; R HV, r = 0.53, p = 0.01), F3 (L HV, r = 0.50, p = 0.01; R HV, r = 0.44, p = 0.03), F4 (L HV, r = 0.57, p = 0.004; R HV, r = 0.55, p = 0.007), but not with Pz (L HV, r = 0.24, p = 0.26; R HV, r = 0.33, p = 0.12). Hippocampal volume did not correlate with any P3 peak latencies.ConclusionOur preliminary findings suggest a relationship between hippocampal volume and P3 peak amplitude in the frontocentral channels in cognitively normal older adults. Further research will reveal the putative mechanisms of neurophysiological changes in preclinical AD.

The relationship between beta‐amyloid accumulation and P3 event‐related potential in older adults: A pilot study

AbstractBackgroundEmerging evidence from animal and human studies shows that beta‐amyloid (Aβ) may induce neuronal hyperexcitability in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Electroencephalography (EEG) offers unparalleled temporal resolution in tracing distinct neurophysiological processes even in preclinical AD. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the relationship of Aβ accumulation and event‐related potential (ERP) in cognitively normal older adults.MethodAβ accumulation was characterized with [18F] Florbetapir positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Global Aβ burden was assessed by taking the mean standard uptake value ratios (SUVR) of 6 predefined regions: anterior cingulate, posterior cingulate, precuneus, inferior medial frontal, lateral temporal, and superior parietal cortex. All participants completed a working memory task with three levels of difficulty (0‐,1‐,2‐back). ERP P3 peak amplitude and latency were extracted from the task effect (non‐target minus target). We used Pearson r to calculate associations between mean SUVR and P3 ERP at the midline channels Fz and Cz. Since the working memory task induced frontal cortical activity, we also explored the relationship between SUVR in the inferior medial frontal cortex and the frontal channels Fz, F3, and F4.ResultTwenty‐seven (age: 73.9 ± 5.5; MOCA: 27.37 ± 2.0) completed both PET and EEG scans. Mean SUVR ranged from 0.95 to 1.60 and correlated negatively with P3 latency of the 2‐back at Cz (r = ‐0.40; p = 0.04) and Fz (r = ‐0.58; p = 0.002). SUVR in the inferior medial frontal cortex correlated negatively with P3 peak latency of 1‐back at Fz (r = ‐0.42; p = 0.03) and F3 (r = ‐0.49; p = 0.009), and of 2‐back at Fz (‐0.54; p = 0.004) and F3 (r = ‐0.40; p = 0.045). No correlations were found between global Aβ burden and P3 peak amplitude.ConclusionThe negative relationship between Aβ accumulation and P3 latency provides preliminary support for the neuronal hyperexcitability hypothesis in preclinical AD. However, these findings need to be confirmed in a longitudinal cohort study with larger sample size.