ABSTRACT
This study had two goals: (a) to describe the results of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) and of the quantitative analyses of electroencephalograms (EEG) in elderly adults (60-84 y.o.) that are both healthy and active, and (b) to explore the relationship between the WAIS-III results and EEG in this group. A correlation analysis was made between WAIS-III scores and the Z-transformed absolute power (AP) and relative power (RP) values of delta, theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands. Lower values of delta and theta and higher values of alpha AP and RP were significantly related to better scores in the WAIS-III subtest scores. There were few significant relationships between WAIS-III scores and beta activity. These results suggest that the WAIS-III could be used as a brain function indicator in this age group, paying special attention to the subtests that correlated most significantly with EEG values.
Subject(s)
Aging/physiology , Brain Waves/physiology , Brain/physiology , Cognition , Electroencephalography , Wechsler Scales , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Alpha Rhythm/physiology , Beta Rhythm/physiology , Delta Rhythm/physiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Theta Rhythm/physiologyABSTRACT
In normal elderly subjects, the best electroencephalogram (EEG)-based predictor of cognitive impairment is theta EEG activity abnormally high for their age. The goal of this work was to explore the effectiveness of a neurofeedback (NFB) protocol in reducing theta EEG activity in normal elderly subjects who present abnormally high theta absolute power (AP). Fourteen subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group; the experimental group received a reward (tone of 1000 Hz) when the theta AP was reduced, and the control group received a placebo treatment, a random administration of the same tone. The results show that the experimental group exhibits greater improvement in EEG and behavioral measures. However, subjects of the control group also show improved EEG values and in memory, which may be attributed to a placebo effect. However, the effect of the NFB treatment was clear in the EG, although a placebo effect may also have been present.