title: Ingested oat herb extract (Avena sativa) changes EEG spectral frequencies in healthy subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at using quantitative assessment of human electric brain activity during mental work for determining acute effects of ingested oat herb extract on cognitive performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study, two dosages of a special oat preparation of Avena sativa herba (1250 or 2500 mg of Neuravena®) were compared to placebo. An electroencephalogram was recorded while the patient had eyes open for 6 minutes, eyes closed for 4 minutes, performance of a concentration test (d2) for 5 minutes, and performance of mental arithmetic (KLT) for 5 minutes. Source density was calculated and spectral frequency changes were averaged to give one value for each frequency range.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using quantitative brain mapping technology (CATEEM®), main effects were observed in the left frontotemporal area, known to be involved in cognitive tasks. Statistically significant differences were observed during resting (lowering of spectral δ power) and during performance of the d2-concentration test (enhancement of spectral θ power) (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Also, during performance of mental arithmetic, greater enhancement of θ power was observed but only at a lower error probability (p = 0.115). No effects could be seen using the P300 paradigm during presentation of a visual stimulus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These changes suggest that oat herb extract might be effective in healthy subjects, resulting in a positive impact on cognitive performance.
authors.affiliation: Justus Liebig University Giessen, Wetzlar, Germany.
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dimpfel
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Storni
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verbruggen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D018554:Avena; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012146:Rest; D013850:Thinking / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts