Event-related desynchronization/synchronization during an auditory-verbal working memory task in mild Parkinson's disease.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
Event-related desynchronization (ERD) and synchronization (ERS) were studied during an auditory-verbal working memory task in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODS:
PD patients (n=7, mean age 59) at a mild stage of the disease volunteered in the study. A group of healthy subjects (n=10, mean age 61) served as control group. ERD and ERS of the 1-25 Hz EEG frequencies were studied using wavelet transforms during memory encoding and retrieval.

RESULTS:
Both groups performed equally well on the memory task. Statistically significant differences in ERD/ERS responses were observed in posterior electrodes during encoding of the memory set due to the fact that alpha ( approximately 10-15 Hz) ERS was elicited in the controls, but not in the PD group. In broad frequency bands ( approximately 6-25 Hz) ERD responses were observed in both groups during memory retrieval. A pre-stimulus alpha ERS seen in the control group was absent in the PD group.

CONCLUSIONS:
The results of this preliminary study indicate that Parkinson's disease might affect brain oscillatory responses in the alpha frequency range in the encoding phase of auditory-verbal working memory.

SIGNIFICANCE:
The ERD/ERS patterns may reflect neurophysiological alterations in the processes underlying working memory deficits in PD.

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Author information

Author/s: Ellfolk, Ulla (U); Karrasch, Mira (M); Laine, Matti (M); Pesonen, Mirka (M); Krause, Christina M (CM);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Abo Akademi University, FIN-20500 Turku, Finland. ulla.ellfolk(-atsign-)abo.fi

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (Clin Neurophysiol), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 117 (issue 8) : pp 1737-45

Dates: Created 2006/07/31; Completed 2006/09/26; Revised 2008/09/10;

PMID: 16807091, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Female
Humans
Male
Memory, Short-Term - physiology
Middle Aged
Parkinson Disease - physiopathology

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