title: [Specificity of auditory evoked potencials changes in participants of Chernobyl accident consequences: I. Analysis of early N1 component].
abstract: Amplitude-time characteristics analysis of the N1 component of auditory cognitive evoked potentials (EP) was made in 10 persons who had participated in the cleanup of the Chenobyl Accident - liquidators (mean age 50.5 +/- 4.0 years old) and in 10 healthy subjects (mean age 47 +/- 6.0 years old). Comparison of amplitude features of the N1 auditory EP component in liquidators of the Chernobyl Accident found a decrease in all areas of the cortex with the maximum decrease in the central and frontal leads, and also an inversion in reactive changes to stimuli of different significance in comparison to healthy subjects of the same age. The most distinct differences between the healthy subjects and liquidators of the Chernobyl Accident were found for time characteristics of the N1 component. They show a significantly smaller value of latent period (LP) for all stimuli and for all experimental tasks in comparison with healthy subjects and more distinct for a significant stimulus when persons counted these stimuli. Analysis of regional changes in LP of the N1 component found that liquidators, in comparison with healthy subjects, have maximal differences in the frontal area of the left hemisphere which were accompanied with inversion asymmetry of LP in this component. Less distinct changes were observed in the central area with relatively little damage in the parietal area. Detected changes in the amplitude-time characteristics of the N1 component of the auditory cognitive EP in liquidators of Chernobyl Accident can show an abnormality in primary attention and its reserves due to weakened inhibitory processes in comparison with healthy subjects, which has similarities of old age. The obtained data supports the hypothesis about the accelerated brain aging in liquidators of Chernobyl Accident as a result of low dosage radiation effects; however, it also allows the pathological development of the brain ageing due to the effects of radiation.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Zhavoronkova
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Belostotskiĭ
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kulikov
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Oknina
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Kholodova
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kuptsova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D047852:Chernobyl Nuclear Accident; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*