Slow brain potentials and psychomotor retardation in depression

Event-related cortical potentials were recorded in 11 patients with primary depression and 11 healthy control subjects during a serial choice reaction task. Each new trial was voluntarily initiated when the subject pressed a microswitch; an acoustic go or no-go signal followed after a fixed interval. This elicited a Bereitschaftspotential (BP), a contingent negative variation (CNV), acoustically evoked potentials (N1, P2, P3), and a post-imperative negative variation (PINV) in direct succession. These were evaluated conventionally and by principal component analysis (PCA). Patients exhibited significantly longer reaction times and more negative PINVs. BP and CNV did not differ between groups. In conventional amplitude measurement small P3 amplitudes in depressives may be feigned by markedly negative PINVs.     

军人创伤后应激障碍患者认知性电位变化及其与精神症状的关系

目的　探讨军人创伤后应激障碍(PSTD)患者认知性电位(CEP)的特征和治疗缓解后变化及其与精神症状的关系。方法　应用美国Nicolet Bravo型脑诱发电位仪,对 66 例发病期及其 60 例康复期 PTSD患者进行关联性负变(CNV)、视觉诱发电位(VEP)和听觉诱发电位(AEP)测定,并进行症状自评量表(SCL -90)和事件影响量表(IES)评定。结果　患者组发病期与对照组比较,CNV/M1、VEP/P2 和 AEP/N2 潜伏期延迟(P<0.01或0.05),CNV/M2 和AEP/P3 波幅增高(P<0.01),命令信号后负变化(PINV)出现率增高(P<0.01),SCL-90和IES总分及其部分因子分升高(P<0.01),且 CEP指标与 SCL 90 及 IES总分及其部分因子分显著相关(P<0.01 或 0.05)。患者组康复期 CNV/M1、VEP/P2 和 AEP/N2 潜伏期,CNV/M2、AEP/P3 波幅,PINV出现率以及SCL- 90和IES总分及其部分因子分均恢复至正常值内(与发病期比较P<0.01或0.05,与对照组比较 P>0.05)且治疗前后 CEP指标差值与 SCL 90 及 IES总分及其部分因子减分率显著相关(P<0.01或0.05)。结论　CNV、VEP与AEP的变化可能是PTSD的状态标志。     

Time-dependent post-imperative negative variation indicates adaptation and problem solving in migraine patients

According to the Seligman theory of learned helplessness, depression is caused by a repetitive experience of loss of control resulting in internal, stable and global attributional styles for negative events. In depressed patients and healthy controls experiencing such events, an increased amplitude of the post-imperative negative variation (PINV) has been described. The aim of the study was to investigate a possible correlation between migraine, depression, learned helplessness and PINV. 24 patients suffering from migraine without aura and 24 healthy controls were exposed to a situation of loss of control whilst the contingent negative variation (CNV) from C3, C4 and Cz were recorded. Before conducting the experiment, the subjects were asked to answer the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the German attributional style questionnaire (GASQ). Amplitudes of total CNV, early and late component and PINV were calculated in eight blocks of four recordings each. The results confirm findings of a pronounced PINV in situations of loss of control, though high amplitudes were not correlated with low values in the GASQ and therefore with learned helplessness. High PINV in migraine patients correlated with high scores in the BDI and the list of the complaints questionnaire. However, this was not the case in healthy controls. In this experimental situation, PINV in migraine patients can be interpreted as an expectancy potential in order to avoid failure and helplessness.     

Changes in slow evoked potentials in depressed patients treated with amitriptyline and oxaprotiline

Using a simple S1S2-R paradigm, acoustically evoked potentials, CNV, and PINV were recorded in 59 patients with major depressive disorder before and during a 4 week double blind pharmacological treatment with either amitriptyline (AT) or oxaprotiline (OT). In parallel, 30 healthy subjects were investigated 3 times, in identical intervals of 2 weeks. In the depressed state patients exhibited significantly smaller CNVs than the controls. In the AT-group clinical improvement and drug plasma levels of nortriptyline (NT, the principal metabolite of AT and an active antidepressant by itself) were positively related to increases in CNV-area; in the OT-group the reverse was true: increase in CNV-area was related to smaller OT plasma levels and less favourable outcome. The control group displayed a steady decline in CNV area during the 3 test sessions. N1P2 amplitude and PINV were not significantly different between groups and exhibited only minor variations during treatment.     

Slow EEG potentials (contingent negative variation and post-imperative negative variation) in schizophrenia: their association to the present state and to Parkinsonian medication effects.

Between warning signal (S1) and imperative signal (S2), the EEG shifts negatively (contingent negative variation, CNV) reflecting preparation and expectancy. Reduced CNV and continued negativity after S2 (post-imperative negative variation, PINV) have been repeatedly found in schizophrenic patients and have been interpreted as a deficit in attentional processes (CNV) and as uncertainty about the correctness of one's own response to the S2 (PINV). Recent studies obtained a CNV reduction specifically at central sites but not at frontal ones. The present study investigated whether these alterations of slow negative potentials depend on present state of symptoms, on the particular task used, and on neuroleptic medication. Therefore, out-patients and in-patients were studied, two different S1-S2 tasks were used, and the control groups were healthy subjects and patients with Parkinson's disease. The central CNV reduction was stable across tasks and across in-patients and outpatients. Frontal CNV was reduced in in-patients but in only one of the two tasks in outpatients. The schizophrenic patients' enhanced PINV was larger contralaterally than ipsilaterally to the responding hand, correlated with medication, and occurred in similar way in patients with Parkinson's disease. Thus, the PINV increase might reflect the Parkinsonian side effects of the anti-psychotic medication. In contrast, the central CNV reduction appears as a stable marker of schizophrenia, the frontal CNV reduction as a state-dependent effect. The central CNV reduction might reflect impairment in forming stable stimulus-response associations, the relative frontal enhancement might reflect the out-patients' attempt at compensating that impairment.     

抑郁症、焦虑症患者事件相关电位对照研究

目的:探讨抑郁症、焦虑症患者脑诱发电位的变异特点及临床应用价值.方法:共有46例抑郁症患者(抑郁症组)、41例焦虑症患者(焦虑症组)及42名健康志愿者(正常组),使用美国Nicolet Bravo脑电生理仪进行事件相关电位P300(P300)和关联性负变化(CNV)的检测.并于治疗2个月时对两患者组进行相同项目的随访.结果:与治疗前比较,抑郁症组P300靶N2、P3潜伏期缩短(P＜0.05),靶P3波幅升高(P＜0.01),CNV潜伏期M1缩短(P＜0.01),波幅M1、M2升高(P均＜0.05).焦虑症组P300靶P3潜伏期缩短(P＜0.05),CNV波幅M1下降(P＜0.05),指令信号后负变化(PINV)的出现率下降(P＜0.05).治疗后与正常组比较,抑郁症组P300非靶P2波幅偏低(P＜0.01),P300的双峰P2波和CNV的PINV出现率均偏高(P＜0.05～0.01);焦虑症组CNV的潜伏期M2缩短(P＜0.01).抑郁症组与焦虑症组治疗后比较在P300非靶P2波幅、双峰P2波出现率,CNV潜伏期M2和PINV出现率等指标之间差异有显著性(P均＜0.01).结论:抑郁症、焦虑症患者脑诱发电位有自己的变异特点,在诊断和鉴别诊断方面有一定的价值.     

Psychophysiological aspects of depressive syndromes

Compared to 30 healthy controls, 59 drug free patients with primary major depression exhibited significantly higher rates of heart beat, respiration, and eye blinking; longer simple and associative reaction times; fewer spontaneous fluctuations of skin resistance, a lower salivation rate, a faster habituation rate of skin resistance orienting response, and a smaller CNV area in the EEG. Skin resistance level, speech pause time, N1P2 amplitudes of acoustically evoked potentials and the postimperative negative variation (PINV) in the EEG did not differ between groups. All deviations are nosologically unspecific; they can be regarded as signs of overarousal, as deficits, or as the result of protective inhibition. In all subjects the investigation was repeated twice, while the patients were treated with either amitriptyline or oxaprotiline, repetition of measurement influenced several variables, but most patient/control differences remained unaffected--irrespective of the drug applied.     

强迫症患者的事件相关脑电位实验研究

背景 强迫症在辅助诊断上目前还缺乏客观的实验室依据。近年来国内外对强迫症的事件相关脑电位进行了研究,结果并不一致。分析其主要原因与所使用仪器、技术性能有关。为此本研究使用国际标准化的美国Nicolet脑电生理仪,并以较成熟的关联性负变、P300及失匹性负波3种事件相关脑电位为手段,并设临床上较多见的抑郁症和广泛性焦虑症为疾病对照,进一步探讨强迫症的脑电生理机制,为临床诊断及治疗提供参考依据。 方法 应用美国Nicolet Spirit 脑诱发电位仪,采用光和声成对刺激以及“听觉靶-非靶刺激序列”技术,对38例强迫症、20例抑郁症和18例广泛性焦虑症及28名正常人的关联性负变(CNV)、P300及失匹性负波(MMN)作了检测。3组疾病组病例均选自2002年5月至2005年12月上海市精神卫生中心,经2名以上的高年资医师确诊并符合中国精神障碍分类方案第三版（CCMD-3）中的强迫症和抑郁症及广泛性焦虑症诊断标准;听力均正常,并无躯体疾病或其他精神疾病,均为右利手。3组对象均未使用过精神科药物。结果 ①CNV：M1波幅抑郁症组[(5±4)μV]和广泛性焦虑症组[(7±4)μV]低于正常组[(14±6)μV]和强迫症组(16±6)μV,指令信号后负变化的出现率抑郁症组(60%)、强迫症组(45%)和广泛性焦虑症组(35%)均高于正常组(4%),上述组间差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05或P<0.01）。②P300：在靶刺激中,N2潜伏期在4组间的差异有统计学差异(P<0.01),其中强迫症组[(276±22)ms]和抑郁症组[(277±22)ms]的潜伏期均长于正常组[(259±14)ms],广泛性焦虑症组短于抑郁症组和强迫症组(P<0.01);P3波幅在4组间的差异亦有统计学差异(P<0.01),其中强迫症组[(3.4士1.6)μV]、抑郁症组[(2.9±1.3)μV]和广泛性焦虑症组[(3.3士1.3)μV]均低于正常组[(5.9土2.1)μV]。在非靶刺激中,广泛性焦虑症组P2波幅低于强迫症组和正常组(P<0.05)。③MMN：强迫症组、抑郁症组及正常组之间潜伏期和波幅的差异有统计学差异(P<0.05或P<0.01)。其中强迫症组和抑郁症组的潜伏期长于正常组(P<0.05);强迫症组的波幅高于正常组(P<0.05),抑郁症组的波幅低于正常组(P<0.05)和强迫症组(P<0.01)。结论 ERPs波幅一高一低变异特点可能对鉴别强迫症和抑郁症有参考意义。     

Postimperative negative variation (PINV) in ambulatory schizophrenic patients.

The contingent negative variation (CNV), first described by Walter in 1964,¹ is considered today as a cerebral phenomenon and not as an artifact from some extracerebral source. The CNV is recorded at vertex during the presentation of two successive stimuli, S₁-warning stimulus, S₂-imperative stimulus (classic CNV situation), preceding a motor response. The prolongation of the CNV after the motor response is called a postimperative negative variation (PINV).The PINV would appear more helpful in psychiatry than the CNV.² An abnormal PINV is more frequently observed in schizophrenic patients (75%) than in a normal control group (15%).² The present study was designed to investigate the possible influence of age, sex, and length of illness on the recording of the PINV in schizophrenic patients.     

Topographic CNV activity mapping, presenile mild primary cognitive decline and Alzheimer-type dementia.

The CNV complex evoked with a standard paradigm (S1-2 sec-S2-motor response) and reaction time (RT) to the imperative signal (S2) were recorded and measured in 12 patients with initial presenile idiopathic cognitive decline (PICD), 12 with presenile Alzheimer-type dementia (PAD) and 10 healthy age-matched controls. Significant group differences were obtained for measures of some CNV components, particularly of the late pre-S2 CNV. No significant CNV activity, very prolonged RTs and sometimes characteristic post-imperative negative variations (PINV) were observed in the majority of patients with PAD. These results suggest that similar CNV complex and RT changes to those observed in our patients may constitute a valuable clue in the study of pathophysiological brain functioning in the early stages of presenile idiopathic mental deterioration.     

Characteristics of the contingent negative variation in patients suffering from specific phobias.

The essential clinical feature of phobic neurosis is the anticipatory fear of certain objects and situations. Since an important factor in the generation of the contingent negative variation (CNV) is the anticipation of the imperative stimulus, records of CNVs were used as an indicator of electrocortical activity in a group of 14 patients suffering from specific phobias. After clinical evaluation, a CNV to a picture of a nondisturbing object was obtained. The amplitude of the CNV and duration of the PINV (postimperative negative variation) were taken as reference values against which response to the phobic objects were evaluated. Reaction time was automatically measured between the period of S2 and the button press. Significant differences, viz., larger CNV amplitude, longer PINV duration, and shorter reaction time, were found with phobogenic than with nondisturbing stimuli. After behavioral recovery with behavior therapy, no differences were noted in the CNVs obtained with the presentation of non-disturbing and the ones that were phobogenic stimuli. The significance of the results for an understanding of phobic neurosis and behavior therapy are discussed.     

Cognitive event-related potentials and reaction time in presenile subjects with initial mild cognitive decline or probable Alzheimer-type dementia

The so-called contingent negative variation (CNV) is a slow brain potential representing a complex of variously overlapped “endogenous” components of behavior related to different reasonably well-known neurocognitive processes. CNV complex evoked with a standard paradigm (S1-2 sec-S2-motor response) and reaction time (RT) to imperative signal (S2) were recorded and measured in 11 patients with initial presenile idiopathic cognitive decline (PICD), 8 with presenile Alzheimer-type dementia (PAD) and 10 healthy age-matched controls. Significant group differences were obtained for measures of some CNV components, particularly of the late pre-S2 CNV. No significant CNV activity, very prolonged RTs and sometimes characteristic post-imperative negative variation (PINV) were observed in the majority of patients with PAD. These results suggest that CNV complex and RT changes similar to those observed in our patients may constitute a valuable clue for the study of pathophysiological brain functioning in the early stages of presenile idiopathic mental deterioration.

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Sommario Scopo della presente ricerca è lo studio mediante metodiche standard di averaging, delle modificazione dell'onda d'aspettativa, sue principali componenti (complesso CNV) e tempo di reazione (RT) delle risposte motorie in pazienti affetti da forme iniziali più o meno gravi di decadimento mentale presenile idiopatico. Sono stati esaminati 19 pazienti (età media: 59.5) e 10 soggetti sani di controllo di pari età (media: 59.6). Otto pazienti presentavano un quadro clinico di demenza presenile di tipo Alzheimer (PAD), mentre in 11 soggetti era stata formulata una diagnosi di possibile forma iniziale presenile di demenza primaria (PICD) poiché non raggiungevano i criteri clinici del DSM-III e del NINCDS-ADRDA Report. Tutti i pazienti sono stati sottoposti preliminarmente and esami clinici, TAC, NMR, EEG con analisi spettrale ed a test psicodiagnostici. Per evocare il complesso CNV-RT si è adottato un parametro di stimolazione molto semplice ed idoneo anche per malati con deterioramento mentale. Oltre all'EOG ed agli RT, l'attività di tipo CNV è stata registrata da regioni frontali, centrali e parietali con referenza bimastoidea. Si sono osservate differenze significative di alcuni componenti fra i gruppi di soggetti esaminati e nella maggioranza dei dementi mancava una vera attività di tipo CNV, gli RT erano enormemente prolungati e sovente si sono registrati caratteristici “post-imperative negative variations” (PINV). I risultati ottenuti confermano l'utilità di queste metodiche nella diagnosi precoce delle demenze primarie presenili.

     

强迫症、抑郁症及焦虑症患者事件相关电位的比较研究

目的　探讨强迫症 (OCD)、抑郁症 (CD)及焦虑症 (CA)患者三种事件相关电位 (ERP)的变异。方法　应用美国NicoletSpirit脑诱发电位仪 ,采用光和声成对刺激、反应时间以及听觉靶 非靶刺激序列技术 ,检测 31例OCD、2 0例CD和 17例CA及 2 8名正常人 (NC)的关联性负变 (CNV)、P3 0 0 及失匹性负波 (MMN)。结果　 (1)CNV :M1波幅CD组 [(5± 4 ) μV]和CA组 [(7± 4 ) μV]低于NC组 [(14±6 ) μV]和OCD组 [(16± 6 ) μV ;P <0 0 5和P <0 0 1]。指令信号后负变化的出现率CD组 (6 0 % )、OCD组 (45 % )和CA组 (35 % )均高于NC组 (4% ;P <0 0 1)。 (2 )P3 0 0 :在靶刺激中 ,N2 潜伏期在四组间的差异有非常显著性 (P <0 0 1) ,其中OCD组 [(2 78 9± 2 2 7)ms]和CD组 [(2 77 3± 2 1 8)ms]的潜伏期均长于NC组 [(2 5 9 0± 14 0 )ms],CA组短于CD组和OCD组 (P <0 0 1) ;P3 波幅在四组间的差异亦有非常显著性 (P <0 0 1) ,其中OCD组 [(3 4± 1 5 ) μV]、CD组 [(2 9± 1 3) μV]和CA组 [(3 3± 1 3) μV]均低于NC组 [(5 9± 2 1) μV]。在非靶刺激中 ,CA组P2 波幅低于OCD组和NC组 (P <0 0 5 )。 (3)MMN :OCD组、CD组及NC组之间潜伏期和波幅的差异有显著性和非常显著性 (P <0 0 5和P <0 0 1)。其中OCD     

Effect of physiological and pathological aging processes on topographic bit-mapped cognitive evoked potentials in presenile subjects.

Bit-mapped multicomponent CNV complex and reaction time (RT) were recorded and measured in 24 presenile patients with initial symptoms of very mild to moderately severe primary mental deterioration without depression, and in 10 age-matched controls. All patients underwent CT and MRI examinations, EEG spectral analysis and a battery of psychometric test. Significant group differences were obtained for measures of some post-S1 ERP and CNV components, particularly of the post-S1 N1b, P300 and early and late pre-S2 CNV. P300 with increased latency, no significant CNV activity, very prolonged RTs, EEG slowing down and diffuse brain atrophy were observed in the majority of patients with probable presenile Alzheimer's dementia. These results suggest that CNV/RT and EEG activity changes similar to those observed in our patients may constitute a valuable clue for the study of brain dysfunction in the early stage of presenile idiopathic cognitive impairment.     

Comparative study of the amplitude, surface and duration of the pre- and post-imperative waves of the CNV (contingent negative variation) in a group of 40 schizophrenic and schizo-affective patients as compared with normal subjects

In 27 normal adult subjects, pre- and postimperative phases of the CNV had an homogeneous pattern. The return to the baseline was of short duration (320 +/- 170 msec) whatever the amplitude and surface. This is in favor of an active mechanism terminating the CNV. In 27 schizophrenic and 13 schizoaffective patients, pre- and postimperative phases of the CNV were heterogeneous in character suggesting the possibility of multiple disturbances. When present, the preimperative negativity was of lower amplitude and had a delayed return to the baseline with a wider dispersion. In the patients with preimperative negativity followed by a PINV (postimperative negative variation), a linear relationship has been found between the amplitudes of the two waves.     

军人创伤后应激障碍患者的关联性负变异常变化及临床随访

目的　了解军人创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD)患者关联性负变 (CNV)的特征和治疗缓解后CNV的变化。方法　应用美国NicoletBravo型脑诱发电位仪及光、声两种成对刺激方法 ,对 6 6例发病期PTSD患者 (患者组 )和 5 6名健康军人 (对照组 )进行CNV测定以及症状自评量表 (SCL - 90 )和事件影响量表 (IES)评定 ,并对患者组中的 6 0例进行了临床随访。结果　患者组发病期M1潜伏期延迟 (P <0 0 1) ,M2 波幅增高 (P <0 0 1) ,命令信号后负变化(PINV)出现率增高 (P <0 0 1) ;SCL - 90及IES总分及其部分因子分升高 (P <0 0 1) ;CNV变异指标与SCL - 90及IES总分及其部分因子分显著相关 (P <0 0 1或 0 0 5 )。患者组康复期M1潜伏期、M2 波幅和PINV出现率 ,以及SCL- 90与IES总分及其部分因子分均恢复至正常值内 (与发病期比较P <0 0 1,与对照组比较P >0 0 5 ) ,且治疗前后CNV变异指标差值与精神症状减分率显著相关 (P <0 0 1或 0 0 5 )。结论　PTSD患者的CNV变化可能是状态标志。     

Parkinson disease: electrophysiological (CNV) analysis related to pharmacological treatment

The contingent negative variation (CNV) was studied in a group of patients with Parkinson's disease. Testing was carried out 3 times: after a pharmacological wash-out period and at 15 and 30 days after the start of treatment with L-DOPA and bromocriptine. Peak and area CNV increased significantly after each treatment. The post-imperative negative variation (PINV) was observed in 6 out of 10 patients. The correlation found between electrophysiological functioning (CNV) measures and pharmacological treatment supports the view that dopaminergic brain activity mediates the generation of the slow negative event-related brain potentials.     

The late event related potentials CNV and PINV in normal and dyslexic subjects

The most prominent ERP to occur during intervals of preparation and anticipation is the contingent negative variation (CNV) or expectancy wave. The resolution of this wave is called the postimperative negative variation (PINV). The purpose of this study was to distinguish the characteristics of the CNV and the PINV in a group of children with reading disabilities or dyslexia and to compare them from a group of normal readers. Nine righthanded boys aged between 10-13 years with reading disabilities were studied. The children were matched with a group of nine normal readers. Four derivations were used: frontal, central, parietal and occipital zones, with reference to linked ears. Data were analyzed using multivariate procedures. Significant differences between groups in CNV amplitude and in PINV amplitude and latency at the left parietal site were observed. We discuss the participation of this zone and we consider processes like expectancy, attention and brain activity signal processing in the differences mentioned.     

焦虑症患者多种事件相关电位的对比研究

目的探讨焦虑症患者三种事件相关电位(ERP)的变异特点。方法应用美国NicoletSpirit脑诱发电位仪,采用光和声成对刺激、反应时间以及听觉靶、非靶刺激序列技术,检测41例焦虑症患者及35名正常人的关联性负变(CNV)、P300及失匹性负波(MMN)。结果CNV:M1波幅研究组低于对照组(P<0.01),指令信号后负变化的出现率研究组高于对照组(P<0.01);P300:在靶刺激中,N2潜伏期研究组短于对照组(P<0.05),P3波幅研究组低于对照组(P<0.01),在非靶刺激中,研究组P2波幅低于对照组(P<0.05);MMN:研究组及对照组之间潜伏期和波幅的差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论ERP变异特点可能对焦虑症的临床诊断有参考意义。     

老年抑郁症和阿尔茨海默病的事件相关电位P300及关联性负变研究

目的探讨老年抑郁症(GD)和阿尔茨海默病(AD)患者的事件相关电位P300及关联性负变(CNV)变异。方法应用美国Nicolet Bravo脑诱发电位仪记录35例GD患者(GD组)、40例AD患者(AD组)和39例健康老年者(对照组)的P300和CNV,对3组研究对象的P300和CNV进行比较。结果 1 3组P2、N2潜伏期和P3波幅之间差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。与对照组比较,AD组P2潜伏期、N2潜伏期延长(P0.05);GD组N2潜伏期延长,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),P3波幅均降低(P0.05)。AD组与GD组比较,AD组N2潜伏期延长(P0.05),P3波幅较GD组低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。2 3组M2潜伏期、M1波幅及反应时间(RT)之间的差异有显著统计学意义(P0.01)。与对照组比较,AD组M2潜伏期明显延长,差异有显著统计学意义(P0.01),AD组与GD组M1波幅均降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),RT均延长,差异有显著统计学意义(P0.01)。AD组与GD组比较,AD组M2潜伏期延长,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),RT延长更明显,差异有显著统计学意义(P0.01)。结论 P300、CNV可作为反映GD和AD患者认知功能障碍的客观生理指标,对GD和AD诊断有一定的参考价值。