Sustained potential shifts and changes in acoustic evoked potentials after presentation of a non-acoustic priming stimulus to carp (Cyprinus carpio).

1. Recordings were made from the region of the midbrain tectum and torus semicircularis of sustained potential shifts (SPS) to a non-acoustic priming stimulus and the change in subsequent acoustic evoked potentials (AEPs) to a train of six clicks after a long rest. 2. In the absence of priming stimuli (a jet of saline or water to the flank) the AEP to the first click in a train had the highest amplitude; with these stimuli it became the most attenuated. 3. The SPS to both non-acoustic stimuli was initially (ca 4 sec) negative, then became positive for a similar time period. 4. After saline jet the tectal and the torus AEP amplitude was significantly correlated with the torus SPS; after water jet, the tectal and the torus AEP durations were correlated with the SPS. 5. Application of alumina gel to the posterior telencephalic border caused elevation of the torus AEP amplitude after some 5 hr.     

Changes in early acoustic-evoked potentials by mildly arousing priming stimuli in carp (Cyprinus carpio).

1. Averaged acoustic-evoked potential (AEPs) in the medulla and midbrain were recorded, as were changes in heart rate, indicating arousal, to a previous non-acoustic priming stimulus. 2. Useful AEP measures were amplitude of the early biphasic wave (less than 10 msec) in medulla and amplitude and duration of this wave in midbrain. 3. There was a negative regression of heart rate and medullary AEP amplitude especially evident for a 2 sec light stimulus. Decreased AEP amplitude in both regions was induced by water movement and an increase in midbrain AEP duration by the tactile stimulus. 4. Arousal effects even on these early AEP measures are specific to the form of arousing stimulus.     

Sustained potential shifts,alterations in acoustic evoked potential amplitude and bradycardiac responses to the onset of illumination in the goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Sustained potential shift's (SPSs) and changes in acoustic evoked potential (AEP) amplitudes were recorded from medullary and mid-brain regions in restrained goldfish (Carassius auratus) in response to the onset of illumination against a sensory background restricted to repetitive (1/s) acoustic stimulation. At the tectal surface, a long duration negative SPS, significant 5–10 s after the onset of illumination, was recorded with a maximum negativity of ca. 145 V. Changes in acoustic responsiveness were also most apparent in the mid-brain where attenuations in AEP amplitude of ca. 15% were recorded.In general, AEPs exhibited attenuated amplitudes in response to the onset of illumination, perhaps reflecting attentional rather than arousal processes, arousal generally being associated with heightened sensory responsiveness. Changes in the amplitude of the medullary AEPs were directly related to the magnitude of bradycardiac responses such that lesser attenuations of the medullary AEP were associated with greater magnitude bradycardiac responses, suggesting a possible interaction of attentional and arousal processes.In response to repeated onset of illumination, SPSs tended towards increasing positivity (increasing in positivity at the medullary surface; decreasing in negativity at the tectal surface). The attenuation of AEPs recorded from the medulla and mid-brain habituated in response to stimulus repetition.Changes in amplitude of AEPs (AEP) recorded from the telencephalon and the torus semicircularis region of the mid-brain were correlated with locally recorded SPSs. At the telencephalon, this correlation was inverse; enhanced AEP amplitudes being associated with SPS negativity, attenuated AEP amplitudes with SPS positivity. In the torus semicircularis, experiential changes in SPS and AEP were directly correlated. As the SPS is considered to reflect glial redistribution of [K⁺]_e (Roitbak 1983), glia may contribute to changes in measures of sensory responsivity, such as the AEP, during changes in behavioural state.Abbreviations AEP Acoustic Evoked Potential - AEP Event-related change in amplitude of AEP following onset of illumination - SPS Sustained Potential Shift - [K⁺]_e Extracellular concentration of K⁺     

Brain amines and neocortical EEG in young and aged rats

1. Frontal and parieto-occipital electroencephalography (EEG) of young (4 months-old) and aged (17 and 22 months-old) Wistar rats were analyzed, both during movement and during waking immobility. 2. The levels of monoamines, serotonin and their metabolites were measured from the frontal cortex, parieto-occipital cortex, hippocampus, brainstem and midbrain. 3. In aged rats, as compared to young rats, the most apparent changes of the quantitative EEG spectrum were the decreased amplitude of alpha (5-10 Hz) and beta (10-20 Hz) frequency bands in the frontal and parieto-occipital cortices during both movement and waking immobility behavior (p less than 0.05). 4. The levels of dopamine (DA), homovanillinic acid (HVA), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) or the ratios of 5-HT/5-HIAA and DA/HVA did not differ between young and aged rats in any brain region studied, with the exceptions of brainstem DA and parieto-occipital 5-HIAA, which were elevated in aged rats (p less than 0.05). 5. In the frontal cortex, hippocampus and midbrain, noradrenaline (NA) levels of aged rats were slightly increased as compared to young rats (p less than 0.05). 6. NA levels of the parieto-occipital cortex and brainstem did not change during aging. 7. Furthermore, there were no clear correlations between the decreased amplitude of the quantitative EEG spectrum and monoamine or serotonin concentrations, or the ratios of 5-HT/5-HIAA and DA/HVA in the cerebral cortex of aging Wistar rat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Temporal resolution of the Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus, auditory system

Toothed whales and dolphins (Odontocetes) are known to echolocate, producing short, broadband clicks and receiving the corresponding echoes, at extremely rapid rates. Auditory evoked potentials (AEP) and broadband click stimuli were used to determine the modulation rate transfer function (MRTF) of a neonate Risso’s dolphin, Grampus griseus, thus estimating the dolphin’s temporal resolution, and quantifying its physiological delay to sound stimuli. The Risso’s dolphin followed sound stimuli up to 1,000 Hz with a second peak response at 500 Hz. A weighted MRTF reflected that the animal followed a broad range of rates from 100 to 1,000 Hz, but beyond 1,250 Hz the animal’s hearing response was simply an onset/offset response. Similar to other mammals, the dolphin’s AEP response to a single stimulus was a series of waves. The delay of the first wave, PI, was 2.76 ms and the duration of the multi-peaked response was 4.13 ms. The MRTF was similar in shape to other marine mammals except that the response delay was among the fastest measured. Results predicted that the Risso’s dolphin should have the ability to follow clicks and echoes while foraging at close range.     

Hearing sensation levels of emitted biosonar clicks in an echolocating Atlantic bottlenose dolphin

Emitted biosonar clicks and auditory evoked potential (AEP) responses triggered by the clicks were synchronously recorded during echolocation in an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) trained to wear suction-cup EEG electrodes and to detect targets by echolocation. Three targets with target strengths of -34, -28, and -22 dB were used at distances of 2 to 6.5 m for each target. The AEP responses were sorted according to the corresponding emitted click source levels in 5-dB bins and averaged within each bin to extract biosonar click-related AEPs from noise. The AEP amplitudes were measured peak-to-peak and plotted as a function of click source levels for each target type, distance, and target-present or target-absent condition. Hearing sensation levels of the biosonar clicks were evaluated by comparing the functions of the biosonar click-related AEP amplitude-versus-click source level to a function of external (in free field) click-related AEP amplitude-versus-click sound pressure level. The results indicated that the dolphin's hearing sensation levels to her own biosonar clicks were equal to that of external clicks with sound pressure levels 16 to 36 dB lower than the biosonar click source levels, varying with target type, distance, and condition. These data may be assumed to indicate that the bottlenose dolphin possesses effective protection mechanisms to isolate the self-produced intense biosonar beam from the animal's ears during echolocation.     

Evoked potentials in the reticular formation of the rabbit midbrain during formation of a dominant focus in it

During creation of a dominant focus in the midbrain reticular formation (RF) by its multiple stimulation with a high-frequency current (stimulation frequency 200 Hz, pulse duration 0.1-0.5 ms, voltage 1-3 V, duration 5 s) a statistically significant increase of the amplitude of the evoked potential (EP) in RF to light flashes was revealed in comparison with background data. Significant increase of EP amplitude was also observed in RF in response to the same stimuli applied in successive experiments without RF stimulation, which pointed to the existence of a latent dominant focus in the CNS.     

Effect of whole-body vibration with different frequencies and intensities on auditory evoked potentials and heart rate in man

Auditory evoked brain potentials (AEP) and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded from 9 healthy male subjects during sinusoidal whole-body vibration exposure (WBV) in the longitudinal (+/- az) direction with four frequencies (1 Hz, 2 Hz, 4 Hz, and 8 Hz) and two intensities as well as under non-WBV conditions. The sequences of the different experimental conditions were arranged according to a 9 X 9 Latin Square design. The sound of the electrohydraulic vibrator was masked by a constant noise level. A subtraction technique was used to eliminate vibration-synchronous activity contaminating the electroencephalogram. The AEP amplitude N1-P2 revealed systematic effects of different WBV frequencies and intensities. The amplitude decreased along with an increase in intensity (16 dB) by about 10 per cent. It diminished increasingly with a monotonic trend in the order non-WBV, WBV 8 Hz, WBV 4 Hz, WBV 2 Hz, and WBV 1 Hz. The interbeat-interval histograms computed from the ECG exhibited the highest mean values at MBV of 1 Hz, high intensity, and the lowest ones at WBV of 4 Hz, high intensity. The AEPs are reaffirmed as an informative measure for studying the WBV effect on central nervous information processing, although the modes of action are not yet fully known. Efferent influences on the acoustic input, cross-modality interaction, sensory mismatch, and changes of central nervous activation level are discussed as potential mechanisms.     

KILLER WHALE (ORCINUS ORCA) AUDITORY EVOKED POTENTIALS TO RHYTHMIC CLICKS

Temporal auditory mechanisms were measured in killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) by recording auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) to clicks. Clicks were presented at rates from 10/sec to 1,600/sec. At low rates, clicks evoked an AEP similar to the auditory brainstem response (ABR) of other odontocetes; however, peak latencies of the main waves were 3–3.7 msec longer than in bottlenose dolphins. Fourier analysis of the ABR showed a prominent peak at 300–400 Hz and a smaller one at 800–1,200 Hz. High-rate click presentation (more than 100/sec) evoked a rate-following response (RFR). The RFR amplitude depended little on rate up to 400/sec, decreased at higher rates and became undetectable at 1,120/sec. Fourier analysis showed that RFR fundamental amplitude dependence on frequency closely resembled the ABR spectrum. The fundamental could follow clicks to around 1,000/sec, although higher harmonics of lower rates could arise at frequencies as high as 1,200 Hz. Both RFR fundamental phase dependence on frequency and the response lag after a click train indicated an RFR group delay of around 7.5 msec. This corresponds to the latency of ABR waves PIII-NIV, which indicates the RFR originates as a rhythmic, overlapping ABR sequence. The data suggest the killer whale auditory system can follow high click rates, an ability that may have been selected for as a function of high-frequency hearing and the use of rapid clicks in echolocation.     

Responses of caudate neurons to acoustic stimulation in cats

Responses of 141 neurons of the caudate nucleus to acoustic stimuli — tones (500 and 2000 Hz) and clicks of different frequency (0.2 and 0.8/sec) and intensity (75, 80, 95 dB) — were recorded extracellularly in chronic experiments on cats. The responses recorded showed great variability with respect to character (phasic, tonic), structure (one or two phases of excitation), latent periods (from 7.5 to 300.0 msec), and burst discharge frequency (from 90 to 800 spikes/sec). Analysis of averaged poststimulus histograms and graphs of the dynamics of the responses showed that responses of 74% of neurons were much better expressed if less frequent stimuli were used: The regularity of the responses and the number of spikes in each response increased. Responses of neurons also increased and acquired a more distinct temporal structure if the intensity of the clicks increased. The character of responses to clicks and tones differed qualitatively in 17% of neurons studied: Phasic excitation arose in response to clicks, tonic changes in spike activity to tones. The particular features of responses of caudate neurons to acoustic stimulation with different parameters are discussed.A. A. Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 12, No. 6, pp. 588–595, November–December, 1980.     

Changes in the EEG Spectrum and Subjective Characteristics of the General State after Stimulation with Variable Frequency Photic Stimuli with Two Types of Organization

Two sinusoidal signals, one with a constant frequency of 13 Hz and the other with a frequency continuously changing from 1 to 6 Hz and back, were presented simultaneously to subjects through spectacles with light-emitting diodes either to both eyes as a product (amplitude modulation of a constant frequency by a variable one) or to each eye separately. Both kinds of variable frequency exposure revealed a rhomboid pattern of the resonance activation of the EEG spectrum, similar to the spectral dynamics of a signal subject to amplitude modulation. This testifies to the key role of EEG amplitude modulation in the responses of the nervous system to variable frequency rhythmic stimuli. Both types of photic stimulation led to a substantial increase in EEG spectral density and improved the subjects' self-rating of the overall state of well-being, activity, and mood. In addition, separate stimulation of each eye led to an improvement in the anxiety and exercise performance indices (the Luscher color test) and a significant correlation between the intensity of EEG responses and changes in the general state. These differences are explained in terms of the involvement of the interhemispheric interaction mechanisms in the processing of complex rhythmic signals by the brain.     

Electrographic correlates of "inner states" caused by positive conditioned stimuli in the course of instrumental conditioning in dogs

Energy characteristics (power spectra) of short-term (less than 1 s) EEG-reactions were studied in dogs in the course of instrumental conditioning. These reactions were observed in different areas of the cortex during selective attention in response to positive conditioned stimuli. They immediately preceded strong blow with a paw on the pedal of feeding cup and taking the reward. The EEG power at these moments was 1.5-3 times higher than the baseline EEG power level in a prestimulus period. The high-frequency structure of corresponding EEG reactions comprised discrete individual spectral peaks both in traditional (1-30 Hz) and gamma (30-80 Hz) ranges and higher-frequency components (80-200 Hz) as well. In some cases, the higher-frequency components (80-200 Hz) were most pronounced.     

Characteristics of evoked potentials and single neuron responses in the cat sensorimotor cortex to sound stimuli with different frequencies.

The characteristics of the averaged evoked potentials (AEP) (experiments with awake non-paralysed animals), of the evoked potentials (EP) and of the responses of single sensorimotor cortical neurons (acute experiments) of cats to tone-bursts with frequencies within 0.1-6.0 kHz were studied. Response selectivity to the tone-burst frequencies which are energetically pronounced in some biologically significant sounds for the cat was observed. The averaged curve of the dependence of the amplitude of AEP in the somatosensory cortical region (S1) on the tone-burst frequency has reliable maximum values at the frequencies of 0.8, 1.6 and 2.0-3.0 kHz. Most pronounced changes in the heart rhythm were observed within the tone-burst frequency ranges in which the AEP of the highest amplitudes were recorded. The amplitude of the AEP was found to increase during the conditioned reflex elaboration. The curve of the dependence of the probability of the EP occurrence on the frequency at equal sound pressure levels had maximum values at the frequencies of 1.6 and 3.2 kHz. The highest amplitude values of EP were found at frequencies of 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 kHz. More than half of the recorded neurons revealed the lowest values of the response thresholds and the maximum values of the occurrence probability under suprathreshold stimulation at frequencies close to 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 kHz. It is supposed that the above mentioned feature of the input frequency organization in sensorimotor cortex is connected with the selectivity as to the biological significance of acoustic stimuli.     

突触功能障碍大鼠模型EE G 频域特征

本文旨在探讨突触功能障碍大鼠模型在额叶、颞叶和海马这些与认知功能有关的脑区EEG频域特征。先用海马CA1区Aβ1-40加微量注射法制备突触功能障碍模型,用Morris水迷宫行为学测试系统检测其学习记忆能力;然后记录上述脑区的EEG并做频谱分析。结果显示：（1）模型组在第3,4、5、6训练时间段的平均逃避潜伏期较正常组明显延长,和第2训练时间段的相比较,正常组第5训练时间段平均逃避潜伏期明显缩短,模型组到第7训练时间段平均逃避潜伏期开始明显缩短（P〈0．05）;撤去平台后,模型组在原平台所在象限的时间百分比明显降低（P〈0．05）。（2）模型组的EEG表现为α节律慢化,功率下降,其主峰频率左移2Hz,并且额叶、颞叶和海马的δ波和θ波功率不同程度地增高。由此Aβ1-40微量注射法成功制备了突触功能障碍大鼠模型。该模型大鼠的学习记忆能力降低,其频谱特征表现为α节律慢化,功率下降或消失,慢波（δ波和θ波）活动增多,功率不同程度地增高。这些与阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer’s disease,AD）的EEG一致,可为以后对突触功能障碍时受累皮层进行深入的可塑性和神经再生的研究提供电生理基础。     

Changes in auditory evoked brain potentials during ultra-low frequency whole-body vibration of man or of his visual surround

Auditory evoked brain potentials (AEP) were recorded from nine healthy male subjects during three types of condition: A - subject and visual field stationary; B - subject vibrated (z-axis, 0.6 Hz, 1.85 ms-2 rms), visual field stationary; C - subject stationary, visual field vibrated (as for B). The visual surround was confined to a checkerboard pattern in front of the subject. Auditory stimuli (1000 Hz, 86 dB, interstimulus interval 7 s) were delivered via headphones to evoke AEP. Vibration-synchronous activity in the EEG was eliminated by a subtraction technique. In comparison with condition A, conditions B and C caused an attenuation of P2 and N1P2 components of AEP together with an increased latency of N1. Effects of conditions B and C did not differ. Direct vestibular stimulation and mechanisms specific for whole-body vibration were rejected as modes of action. The AEP-changes and the subjective evaluation of experimental conditions, arousal and performance, as well as symptoms of kinetosis (motion sickness) suggest a sensory mismatch, leading to a "latent kinetosis" with de-arousal, as the dominating mechanism by which the processing of information was affected. This suggestion was supported by an additional pilot study. Under real working conditions a similar effect can be expected during relative motion between the driver and his visual surround, i.e. even with perfect vibro-isolation of the driver's seat.     

Fast habituation of the long-latency auditory evoked potential in the awake albino rat

Fast habituation of the long-latency, vertex-recorded auditory evoked potential (AEP) peaks in humans was first described by Callaway (1973) as a reduction in AEP amplitude that occurs to the second of a pair of acoustic stimuli when both stimuli are presented with an interstimulus interval (ISI) of no more than 10 sec. When acoustic stimuli are presented in pairs with an ISI of 2 sec and an interpair interval (IPI) of approximately 10 sec, reduction in amplitude to the second tone occurs by as much as 30–50%. Fast habituation may depend somewhat on a subject's anticipation of the stimulus and on other factors related to attention and orienting. Studies in our laboratory have demonstrated this amplitude decrement to the second tone of a pair in human infants, children and adults and have explored the implications of this finding with respect to attentional processes and the allocation of cerebral resources. In the present investigation we describe an animal model of fast habituation. Here, vertex-recorded AEPs were obtained to paired tone stimuli delivered to awake adult male Sprague-Dawley rats chronically implanted with skull electrodes. Findings showed: (a) an AEP wave form with 8 distinct peaks, (b) for one component there was a marked decrement in amplitude from tone 1 to tone 2 in recordings obtained from an electrode placed slightly to the right of midline, and (c) that there were no significant differences in peak latencies across tones. This methodology may further our understanding of fast habituation in humans and may prove useful for studies of attention, orienting, and resource allocation using techniques that are not possible for use with human subjects.     

Auditory evoked potential in normal rats and after para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) treatment

We have studied the latency behaviour of an early component of the cortical acoustic evoked potentials (EAEP) in albino rats after administration of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), a rather selective tryptophan-hydroxylase inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg/kg daily for 3 days. The rats were implanted with 3 chronic electrodes: one in the bregma, one in the nasion and 3rd inserted in the periauricular skin. Series of clicks originating from a square pulse of 0.12 msec duration were administrated. Brain responses were amplified by an EEG and averaged by a computer with different post-stimuli analysis times. A first group of 4 rats was tested with clicks of 100 dB (HTL) intensity and brain responses were analysed at 5,10,25,50,100 msec post-stimuli times. Results demonstrate that after PCPA administration there is a latency reduction of EAEP components that have a latency higher than 20 msec. In a second group of 4 rats we have analysed those EAEP components with an intensity of clicks ranging from 60 to 110 dB and results demonstrate that, when PCPA was administered, Latencies of those components were significatively lower than the controls at each stimuli intensity tested. We concluded that 5-HT may influence the acoustic pathways activity and this is according to remarks of other A.A. that found a correlation between acoustic stress and brain 5-HT levels.     

EEG changes and platelet aggregation in experimental cerebral focal ischemia in rabbits

Nine white New Zealand rabbits were submitted to internal carotid embolization with microspheres which caused a histologically verified focal cerebral ischemia. Six animals were sham-operated. EEG, QEEG, ECG, blood pressure, rectal temperature and platelet aggregation were monitored in basal conditions and one hour after ischemia. Embolized animals showed an increase in power density spectrum (PDS) and delta activity (0.15-3.70 Hz) and the appearance of platelet aggregation. The QEEG changes were correlated to the degree of platelet aggregation after ischemia.     

Responses of the neurons of the cortical secondary auditory area to acoustic and non-acoustic stimuli in cats

The responses of the cortical secondary auditory area (AII) to the non-acoustic stimuli (electrical stimulation of the skin in the vibrissae area and light flash) and their combination with acoustic stimulation (sound click or tone) were studied in experiments on cats anesthetized by kalipsol using extra- and intracellular recording. Of the total number of neurons, 69% of the units generating spike responses to the acoustic stimulation responded to the non-acoustic stimulation too. The responses to the modal-nonspecific stimulation, as a rule, were weak and variable; they were mostly represented by a tonic change in the neuronal discharge frequency. The nonspecific stimulation evoked primary excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in 77% and 20% of the examined neurons, respectively. We found that synaptic effects of the nonspecific and specific stimulations interact with each other, ensuring considerable modulation of the latter (mostly a significant facilitation resulting from the EPSP summation and suppression of an inhibitory component of the response to acoustic stimulation). Possible participation of the midbrain reticular formation in the transmission of the modal-nonspecific influences to the cortical neurons is considered; stimulation of this structure evoked responses similar to those evoked by the modal-nonspecific sensory stimuli.Neirofiziologiya/Neurophhysiology, Vol. 26, No. 5, pp. 356–364, September–October, 1994.