title: P300 auditory event-related potentials in nontraumatic coma. Association with Glasgow Coma Score and awakening.
abstract: Auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) were performed in 20 patients with nontraumatic coma to determine the presence of a P300 ERP in coma and its association with the Glasgow Coma Score and awakening (Glasgow Outcome Score, > or = 3). A standard "oddball" paradigm was used: frequent tone, 1 kHz; rare tone, 2 kHz and 4 Hz; probability, 20%. The Glasgow Coma Score was determined concurrently with the P300 ERP. Thirty percent (6/20) of the comatose patients had a P300 ERP. The mean Glasgow Coma Score was significantly higher for those with a P300 ERP. Eighty-three percent (5/6) of those with a P300 ERP awoke. Presence of a P300 ERP was associated significantly with awakening, but absence of a P300 ERP did not preclude it.
authors.affiliation: EEG/Evoked Potential Laboratory, Los Angeles County, CA.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Gott
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rabinowicz
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: DeGiorgio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003128:Coma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged