Modifications of event-related evoked potentials in physiological and pathological aging of the brain

We compared the parameters of acoustic event-related evoked potentials (ERP; tone stimulation) in healthy young and healthy aged persons with those in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (groups 1–3, respectively). It was found that the mean peak latencies (PL) of the components P1-N2 in group 1 were longer than those in group 2, and the absolute values of the amplitudes of these components were more negative. In Alzheimer patients (group 3), the PL of the components P1–P2 were much longer than those in group 2, and their peak-to-peak amplitudes dropped. The latencies of a simple sensorimotor reaction in groups 1–3 progressively increased (about three times). The ERP observed in two modes (“blackground” and “attention,” the latter with the performance of the sensorimotor reaction) were subjected to spectral analysis. Possible reasons for and mechanisms of those modifications of evoked potentials, which relate to physiological and pathological aging of the brain, are discussed.     

Changes in visual evoked potentials observed in humans involved in cleanup work after the Chernobyl’ catastrophe

We studied the parameters of visual evoked potentials (VEP) recorded in humans involved in the cleanup work after the Chernobyl’ catastrophe and in persons of the control group. The VEP evoked by presentation of a reversing chessboard pattern were significantly modified in the group of cleanup workers: in many subjects their shape was drastically changed, the mean latent periods for P100 and N145 waves increased, and their amplitudes significantly dropped. The amplitude of the P200 component somewhat increased in the group of cleanup workers. Possible reasons for the observed changes in the evoked electrical activity and the mechanisms underlying the changes in the visual analyzer of the persons subjected to long-term irradiation are discussed.