title: Duration of EEG alpha wave blockade by tone stimulation is prolonged in early stage of presenile onset dementia of the Alzheimer type.
abstract: The EEG alpha rhythm suppression by sudden unexpected tones in a relaxed wakefulness state (Berger response) was measured in four groups of patients and healthy control subjects. One patient group with early cognitive deficits probably caused by a mild stage of presenile onset primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT), a second patient group with cardiovascular disease and a stage of questionable dementia, an age-matched group of older healthy control subjects and a younger control group. Only half of the DAT group in the mild stage had significantly prolonged Berger responses and a retarded or disturbed habituation. In agreement with other data of their cognitive deficits this indicated a weakening in focussing attention and selective inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Paul Flechsig Institute of Brain Research, Department of Neurophysiology, University of Leipzig, FRG.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weisbrod
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Klingberg
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001299:Audiometry; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged