Visual event-related potential changes in multiple system atrophy: Delayed N2 latency in selective attention to a color task

Kamitani, Toshiaki; Kuroiwa, Yoshiyuki

doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2008.02.009

« Previous Next »Parkinsonism & Related Disorders
Volume 15, Issue 1 , Pages 36-40, January 2009

Visual event-related potential changes in multiple system atrophy: Delayed N2 latency in selective attention to a color task

Toshiaki Kamitani
- Department of Clinical Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawaku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
- Department of Stroke Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawaku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Saitama Hospital, 2-1 Suwa, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0102, Japan
Yoshiyuki Kuroiwa
- Department of Clinical Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawaku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
- Department of Stroke Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawaku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
- Corresponding author. Department of Clinical Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawaku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan. Tel.: +81 45 787 2725; fax: +81 45 788 6041.

Received 11 December 2007; received in revised form 14 February 2008; accepted 18 February 2008.

Abstract

Recent studies demonstrated an altered P3 component and prolonged reaction time during the visual discrimination tasks in multiple system atrophy (MSA). In MSA, however, little is known about the N2 component which is known to be closely related to the visual discrimination process. We therefore compared the N2 component as well as the N1 and P3 components in 17 MSA patients with these components in 10 normal controls, by using a visual selective attention task to color or to shape. While the P3 in MSA was significantly delayed in selective attention to shape, the N2 in MSA was significantly delayed in selective attention to color. N1 was normally preserved both in attention to color and in attention to shape. Our electrophysiological results indicate that the color discrimination process during selective attention is impaired in MSA.

Keywords: Multiple system atrophy, Selective attention, Color, Event-related potentials, N2, P3