Reduced sensory gating of the P1 potential in rape victims and combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder

The P1 midlatency auditory evoked potential was studied in female rape victims with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and compared to an age-matched female control group; and in male combat veterans with PTSD and compared to three groups of age-matched male control subjects. Sensory gating of the P1 potential was determined using a paired click stimulus paradigm in which the stimuli were presented at 250, 500 and 1000 msec interstimulus intervals (ISI). Results showed that sensory gating of the P1 potential was significantly decreased at the 250 msec ISI, and that there was a numerical, but not a statistically significant, decrease in sensory gating at the other intervals tested in both male and female PTSD subjects compared to all control groups. Since the P1 potential may be generated, at least in part, by the reticular activating system, dysregulation of sensory processing by elements of this system may be present in PTSD.