Cross-sectional analysis of visual event related potential and its correlation with neuropsychological tests in mild cognitive impairment patients and healthy controls

ABSTRACTObjective: In the present study, it is aimed to investigate changing brain dynamics in individuals who are diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) by implying visual event related potantials and neuropsychological tests together.Method: EEG data and neuropsychological test scores that were collected from 23 MCI patients and 22 healthy controls. EEG data was acquired by using visual P300 oddball paradigm and obtained from F3, Fz, F4, C3, Cz, C4, TP7, TP8, P3, Pz, P4, O1, Oz and O2 channels.Results: Although there was not any difference in terms of latency, statistically significant amplitude difference between groups was found. As a result of post-hoc analysis amplitude values from F3, C3, Cz, P3 and Pz channels were greater in healthy control group than MCI group. Neuropsychological test comparisons between healthy controls and MCI group showed statistically significant difference in most of the tests in the battery. The values of amplitudes and latency from some channels and neuropsychological test scores including attention, memory and executive function tests were correlated moderately.Conclusion: A statistically significant difference in P300 amplitude is found between the groups. It is thought that since P300 wave reflects attention and memory processes, lower amplitude in MCI patients is an electrophysiological reflection of attention and memory deficits.Key Words: MCI, Neuropsychological Tests, EEG, P300, ERP