title: Multiple Electrophysiological Markers of Visual-Attentional Processing in a Novel Task Directed toward Clinical Use.
abstract: Individuals who have sustained a mild brain injury (e.g., mild traumatic brain injury or mild cerebrovascular stroke) are at risk to show persistent cognitive symptoms (attention and memory) after the acute postinjury phase. Although studies have shown that those patients perform normally on neuropsychological tests, cognitive symptoms remain present, and there is a need for more precise diagnostic tools. The aim of this study was to develop precise and sensitive markers for the diagnosis of post brain injury deficits in visual and attentional functions which could be easily translated in a clinical setting. Using electrophysiology, we have developed a task that allows the tracking of the processes involved in the deployment of visual spatial attention from early stages of visual treatment (N1, P1, N2, and P2) to higher levels of cognitive processing (no-go N2, P3a, P3b, N2pc, SPCN). This study presents a description of this protocol and its validation in 19 normal participants. Results indicated the statistically significant presence of all ERPs aimed to be elicited by this novel task. This task could allow clinicians to track the recovery of the mechanisms involved in the deployment of visual-attentional processing, contributing to better diagnosis and treatment management for persons who suffer a brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Lucie-Bruneau Rehabilitation Centre, 2275 Laurier Avenue East, Montreal, QC, Canada H2H 2N8 ; Centre for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognition, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7 ; Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, Montréal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bolduc-Teasdale
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jolicoeur
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKerral