title: [Cognitive processes in unconscious patients? A brain mapping study of the P300 potential].
abstract: P300 is the most investigated component of the event-related potentials. Being the correlate of an active target discrimination and decision making process it is seen as related to cognition. Such elementary cognitive processes--as expressed in P300--can happen even in states of coma. In four of 35 comatose patients with diffuse head injury we were able to measure the P3-wave showing frontal and parietal components. Accordingly some unawakable patients can still recognize differences in pitch. The structure of components and their psychophysiological meaning are discussed.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Linke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurthen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003128:Coma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010897:Pitch Discrimination / Q000502:physiology; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
vernacular_title: Kognitive Prozesse bei Bewusstlosen? Eine Brain-Mapping-Studie zu P300.