title: Brain source localization of MMN, P300 and N400: aging and gender differences.
abstract: The localization of neuronal generators during an ERP study, using a high-density electroencephalogram (HD-EEG) equipment was made on three Evoked Related Potential (ERP) components, i.e., the Mismatch Negativity (MMN), the P300 and the N400. Furthermore, the ERP characteristics, their field distribution and the area of their maximum field intensity were extracted and compared between young and elderly, as well as between females and males. A two tone oddball experiment was conducted, involving 27 young adults and 18 elderly, healthy and right handed, and HD-EEG data were acquired. These data were then subjected to auditory ERPs extraction and thorough statistical analysis. The derived experimental results revealed significant age-related differences to both the latencies and the amplitudes of the MMN and the P300 and the topographic distribution of the HD-EEG amplitudes. Additionally, a shift in the maximum intensities from frontal to temporal lobe with aging appeared in the case of the P300, whereas no effect was observed for the MMN component. No statistical significant differences (p>0.05) due to age was found in N400 characteristics. Finally, gender-related differences were significant in the response time of the subjects, finding males response faster. The level and the location of the maximum intensity of sources also differed between genders, especially in young subjects. These findings justify the enhanced potential of HD-EEG data to accurately reflect the age and gender dependencies at the three components of simple auditory ERPs and pave the way for the investigation of neurodegenerative pathologies, such as the Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics Laboratory, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: tsolakianthoula@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anthoula
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsolaki
authors.affiliation: Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: kosmidou@iti.gr.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kosmidou
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: leontios@auth.gr.
authors.forename: Leontios
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hadjileontiadis
authors.affiliation: Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: ikom@iti.gr.
authors.forename: Ioannis Yiannis
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Kompatsiaris
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: tsolakim1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsolaki
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012727:Sex Characteristics
keywords: Age effect; Auditory ERPs; Gender effect; High-density EEG; sLORETA