Dynamic Changes in the Quantitative Electroencephalographic Spectrum During Attention Tasks in Patients With Prader–Willi Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Attention problems are frequently observed in patients with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS); however, only few studies have investigated the severity and mechanisms of attention problems in them. In this study, we aim to evaluate dynamic changes in the quantitative electroencephalographic (EEG) spectrum during attention tasks in patients with PWS.Method: From January to June 2019, 10 patients with PWS and 10 age-matched neurotypical control participants were recruited at Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital. Each participant completed Conners’ continuous performance test, third edition (CPT-3), tasks with simultaneous EEG monitoring. The dynamic changes in the quantitative EEG spectrum between the resting state and during CPT-3 tasks were compared.Results: Behaviorally, patients with PWS experienced significant attention problems, indicated by the high scores for several CPT-3 variables. The theta/beta ratio of the resting-state EEG spectrum revealed no significant differences between the control participants and patients with PWS. During CPT-3 tasks, a significant decrease in the alpha power was noted in controls compared with that in patients with PWS. The attention-to-resting alpha power ratio was positively correlated with many CPT-3 variables. After adjusting for genotype, age, intelligence, and body mass index, the attention-to-resting alpha power ratio was still significantly correlated with participants’ commission errors.Conclusion: This study provides evidence that attention problems are frequently observed in patients with PWS, while attention impairment can be demonstrated by dynamic changes in the quantitative EEG spectrum.

Red blood cells as glucose carriers to the human brain: Modulation of cerebral activity by erythrocyte exchange transfusion in Glut1 deficiency (G1D)

“…On days 1 and 3, the subjects underwent these performance assessments: Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II 12 ) Expressive Vocabulary Test (EVT-3 13 ) Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-5 13 ) Symbol Digit Modalities Test, Oral (SDMT 14 ) Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT-R 15 ) Connors Continuous Performance Test (CPT-3 16 ) Revised Abbreviated Finger Tapping Test; 17 Purdue Pegboard; 18 Grooved Pegboard; 19 spiral drawing; 20 line drawing and clock drawing. 21 Practice effects were minimized via alternate forms where available (EVT-3, PPVT-5, HVLT-R) and randomized presentation of stimuli (CPT-3).…”

Theta/beta ratio in EEG correlated with attentional capacity assessed by Conners Continuous Performance Test in children with ADHD

“…After visual inspection of artifact rejection, a 10-s EEG recording during the eye-closed waking state was retrieved for further analysis. Digitized EEG data were processed offline using in-house MATLAB scripts developed for frequency analyses, which were transformed into frequency domains via a power spectral density (PSD) function (by Welch's method with the Hanning window, sampling rate at 200 Hz in a data block of 1 s, administered at a frequency resolution of 1 Hz and with half of the data overlap in each step), similar to our previous study (13,15,16). We calculated the normalized PSD at a specific frequency by measuring the ratio of the PSD of that specific frequency to the sum of the total PSD of 0-50 Hz, and analyzed in theta (4-7 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), and beta (13-25 Hz) frequency bands.…”

“…Behavioral tests, such as the Conners Continuous Performance Test-3rd edition (CPT-3), have been employed to assess attentional capacity in individuals with ADHD (12). These tests provide additional objective measures, such as omissions, commissions, and hit reaction time, that can aid in the diagnostic process of ADHD (13). However, there are instances where CPT-3 results may contradict the clinical impression (14), further highlighting the complexity of ADHD diagnosis and the need for additional objective measures like TBR.…”