Evoked brain rhythms are altered markedly in middle-aged subjects: single-sweep analysis

Int J Neurosci. 1996 Mar;85(1-2):155-63. doi: 10.3109/00207459608986360.

Abstract

In this study, a new method for analysis of single frequency responses was applied to compare auditory evoked potentials between young (18-30 years old) and middle-aged (50-55 years old) adults. The method was related to the evoked brain rhythmicities concept and permitted to quantify separately the magnitude, phase-locking, and enhancement against prestimulus activity of single sweeps. Thus, a constellation of three single-sweep parameters was used. No differences could be detected between the two age groups in the conventionally averaged potentials. However, significant age-related alterations were found at the level of single sweep analysis: 1) At the three midline locations (Fz, Cz, and Pz) older adults manifested theta phase-locking and enhancement that were significantly stronger than those in young adults; 2) In contrast, the alpha responses only over the frontal brain area were stronger in phase-locking and enhancement in middle-aged than in young adults, which implies that the alpha response system may be specifically related to frontal brain functioning during aging.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Alpha Rhythm
  • Electroencephalography
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reference Values
  • Theta Rhythm