Vagus somatosensory evoked potentials are delayed in Alzheimer's disease, but not in major depression.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), the degeneration of brainstem nuclei is different from major depression (MD). Thus, vagus somatosensory evoked potentials (VSEP) proposed for the functional assessment of brainstem nuclei should show prolonged latencies in AD but not in MD. In 55 AD patients, 57 MD patients and two age-matched control groups evoked potentials were recorded upon stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.

Dopamine transporter (DAT1) and dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) genotypes differentially impact on electrophysiological correlates of error processing.

Recent studies as well as theoretical models of error processing assign fundamental importance to the brain's dopaminergic system. Research about how the electrophysiological correlates of error processing--the error-related negativity (ERN) and the error positivity (Pe)--are influenced by variations of common dopaminergic genes, however, is still relatively scarce. In the present study, we therefore investigated whether polymorphisms in the DAT1 gene and in the DRD4 gene, respectively, lead to interindividual differences in these error processing correlates.

The effect of ADHD symptoms on performance monitoring in a non-clinical population.

Recent studies suggested deficits in error processing in patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but some inconsistencies are still present. Using the ADHD screening questionnaire, the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, we investigated the association between the amount of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms in a non-clinical population of healthy students (n=56) and the neural correlates of error processing measured with event-related potentials. We found reduced amplitudes of error-positivity (Pe) with increasing symptoms of inattention, but no correlation with error-related negativity.

Neural correlates of performance monitoring in adult patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Introduction: In this study, the neural correlates of error processing in adult patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are to be investigated for the first time. Recent studies in children with ADHD suggested, with some inconsistencies, deficits in error processing. Based on an analogue study with students, we hypothesized that ADHD patients show reduced amplitudes in the event-related potential (ERP) of the Pe (error positivity) but normal amplitudes of the ERN (error-related negativity) after incorrect responses.

[Quantitative effect of treatment with methylphenidate on EEG--a pilot study].

Objective: As a presumptive side effect, a lowered seizure threshold due to medication with methylphenidate remains controversial. The pilot study at hand addresses the experimental verification of this claim. Furthermore, quantitative effects of methylphenidate treatment on EEG are measured.

[Encopresis--predictive factors and outcome].

Objectives: comparison of diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic features and their predictive value for the outcome of encopresis in children and adolescents.

Methods: 85 children and adolescents (aged 9.6 +/- 3.

Altered response control and anterior cingulate function in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder boys.

Objective: To investigate mechanisms and structures underlying prefrontal response control and inhibition in boys suffering from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Method: Sixteen boys with ADHD and 19 healthy controls were investigated electrophysiologically during performance of a visual Go-Nogo task (Continuous Performance Test, CPT). An electrophysiological source localization method was employed to further analyze the data.

Multicenter P300 brain mapping of impaired attention to cues in hyperkinetic children.

Objective: To measure specific neurophysiological attention deficits in children with hyperkinetic disorders (HD; the ICD-10 diagnosis for severe and pervasive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]).

Method: In a multicenter sample of 148 children with HD and control children aged 8 to 14 years, event-related potential maps were recorded during a cued continuous performance test (A-X/O-X). Maps to cues (requiring attention but no response) and distractors and performance were tested for differences between age- and sex-matched HD and control groups (n = 57 each), as well as between clinics (n = 5).