Early detection of cognitive impairment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: an event-related potential study

Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded to visual stimuli in a task that required matching the shape and serial position of the probes against previously memorized items. The effects of hypoxia on ERP were investigated in 24 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and a matched control group. N2b-late positive-going (LPC) components were elicited by probes that identically matched the memorized items (no-conflict condition). In contrast, N270-LPC and N270-N430-LPC components were elicited by probes having low-conflict and high-conflict with the memory set. Conflict ERP effect decreased in mild, while both no-conflict and conflict ERP effects decreased in amplitude in severe OSAS patients. Conflict ERPs associated with processing of conflicting information are more vulnerable than no-conflict ERPs to hypoxic cerebral damage.

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