Time–frequency analyses of reaction times and theta/beta EEG ratio in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury: A preliminary study. (3rd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gazzellini, Simone; Napolitano, Antonio; Bauleo, Graziella; Bisozzi, Eleonora; Lispi, Maria Luisa; Ardu, Eleonora; Castelli, Enrico; Benso, Francesco
• Is Part Of: Developmental neurorehabilitation. Volume 20:Number 7(2017)
• Page Start: 393
• Page End: 407
• Publication Date: 2017-10-03
• Subjects: Attention -- children -- EEG spectral analysis -- RT variability -- TBI; Children with disabilities -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 615.542
• DOI: 10.1080/17518423.2016.1216470
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8423

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Purpose : The literature on patients with attention deficit reports peculiar reaction time (RT) oscillation at very low frequencies (VLFO=0.06–0.2 Hz). The data were explained as default mode network (DMN) intrusion in goal-oriented activity. The present study investigates whether a pattern of recurrent lapses in attention can be detected in TBI patients and whether VLFO can be generalized to the sustained attention deficit, regardless of etiology. Methods : Groups of pediatric TBIs and healthy controls performed four attentional tasks. RT and theta/beta timeseries were subjected to wavelet analyses. Results : Significant high-power VLFOs were recorded in patient group performances but not in those of controls, both for RTs and theta/beta in all the tasks. Conclusion : This preliminary study suggests that central-midline theta/beta ratio could be considered a neurophysiological correlate of RT variability and that the general continuous goal-oriented activity can be cross-etiologically affected by recurrent lapses in attention regardless of the specific cognitive component involved.