Topographic mapping of P300 and frontal cognitive function in Parkinson's disease

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between P300 that is one of the event-related potentials and frontal cognitive functions in Parkinson's disease (PD) without clinically apparent dementia. Subjects were 20 PD cases 48 to 79 years of age, all of whom were within normal limits on the Mini-Mental State examination, and 55 age-matched healthy adults. P300 was elicited with an auditory oddball paradigm and recorded at 15 sites on the scalp. Cognitive functioning of the frontal lobe was evaluated using the New Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Letter Pick-Out Test (LPOT) which reflects selective attention and semantic categorization. P300 latency was delayed in 30.0% of P300 demonstrated abnormal distribution in 20.0%. the WCST and the LPOT were abnormal in 15.0%, P300 latency significantly correlated with number of subcategories achieved on the WCST. P300 amplitude correlated with scores on the LPOT. These results suggest that cognitive dysfunction which linked partly to the frontal lobe might begin in PD even without clinically apparent dementia.