Mismatch Negativity and Auditory Sensory Memory in Chronic Alcoholics

Abstract

These results indicate that the automatic stimulus-change detector mechanism associated with MMN generation is impaired in chronic alcoholics over the age of 40, suggesting that the neurotoxic effects of chronic consumption of alcohol are more prone to appear after a critical age.

Mismatch negativity impairment associated with alcohol consumption in chronic alcoholics: A scalp current density study

“…The variable 'maximum alcohol consumption per day' showed negative correlations with SCD in left frontal (r = 0.59, p b 0.05) and right anterior (r = 0.64, p b 0.05) and posterior (r = 0.72, p b 0.01) temporal areas, suggesting an alcohol dose-effect related decrease of the activity of these areas; the variable 'alcohol abstinence' showed positive correlation with SCD in the left temporal area (r = − 0.72, p b 0.01), which could be interpreted as an early recovery index; and the age presented significant negative correlations in left frontal (r = − 0.64, p b 0.05) and right (r = − 0.54, p b 0.05) and left (r = − 0.73, p b 0.01) temporal posterior areas, in agreement with previous age related alterations of the MMN described in alcoholics (Polo et al, 1999). No other significant correlations were found between clinical data and SCD values.…”

“…3), and a negative correlation between alcohol consumption and SCD amplitude; and b) left posterior temporal area, with a delay in SCD activation and a rapid recovery of SCD amplitude with the duration of alcohol abstinence. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between age and SCD amplitude at left frontal and right and left temporal posterior areas, supporting previous findings suggesting a reduction in the amplitude of MMN for alcoholic patients over 40 years old (Polo et al, 1999). However the relatively small number of subjects (N = 12) does not allow us to make strong inferences about these effects.…”

“…Enhancement of MMN amplitude has been shown (see review in Ahveninen et al, 2000a), but several studies reported normal MMN in the patients (Polo et al, 1999(Polo et al, , 2003Grau et al, 2001;Fein et al, 2004), leaving the status of MMN in alcoholism as an open question. In addition, Polo et al (1999) proposed a key role of age in the generation of MMN in chronic alcoholic people, as they showed that alcoholic patients over 40 years had an accelerated attenuation of MMN amplitude, compared to the normal aging effect on MMN in healthy subjects (Pekkonen et al, 1993(Pekkonen et al, , 1996.…”

Understanding alcohol use disorders with neuroelectrophysiology

“…The automatic stimulus change detector mechanism associated with MMN generation is impaired in chronic alcoholics over the age of 40, suggesting that the neurotoxic effects of chronic consumption of alcohol are more prone to appear after a critical age (Polo et al, 1999). One study showed no MMN differences between controls and alcoholics who were abstinent for an average of 6 years (Fein et al, 2004), while another (Pekkonen et al, 1998) observed that increasing durations of abstinence reduced the MMN amplitude, perhaps indicating improved efficiency of covert processes upon abstinence.…”

The Decade 1989–1998 in Spanish Psychology: An Analysis of Research in Psychobiology

“…This component may be an electrophysiological indicator of functional integrity of the brain mechanisms of attention and sensory memory in Alzheimer's disease, coma, or neurodevelopmental disorders (Grau, Escera, Yago, & Polo, 1998;Polo, Escera, Gual, & Grau, 1999). This component may be an electrophysiological indicator of functional integrity of the brain mechanisms of attention and sensory memory in Alzheimer's disease, coma, or neurodevelopmental disorders (Grau, Escera, Yago, & Polo, 1998;Polo, Escera, Gual, & Grau, 1999).…”