title: Power spectral analysis of auditory brainstem responses and MRI findings in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration.
abstract: Power spectrum analysis of auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were obtained from 14 patients, 9 with olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA; Dejerine-Thomas type) and 5 with Holmes-type cerebello-olivary degeneration, and compared to data from normal controls. The power spectrum was divided into three components according to frequency: up to 400 Hz (slow component); from 400 to 800 Hz (middle component); and 800 to 3,000 Hz (fast component). In patients with OPCA, the slow component appeared significantly less often than in both groups, normal controls (p < 0.0005) and patients with Holmes-type degeneration (p < 0.005), and the middle component appeared significantly more often than in both groups (p < 0.0005). There was a significant positive correlation between the proportion of the slow component and midbrain diameter (p = 0.04) and a significant negative correlation between the proportion of the fast component and midbrain diameter (p = 0.02). We conclude that the power spectrum differs between OPCA and Holmes-type degeneration, and that the proportion of each component of the power spectrum is related to midbrain volume.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Neurology), Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan. ryoichi@gipac.shinshu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokutake
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hanyu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D013132:Spinocerebellar Degenerations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*