[EEG of the interstimulus intervals during habituation of auditory evoked potentials in depressive moods]

Averaging of EEG of interstimulus intervals in the process of study of habituation of auditory evoked potentials (EPs) in healthy subjects and patients with endogenous depression, revealed a rhythmic wave process (RWP) especially expressed in patients. RWP appeared and became stronger in successive averaging of 10 realizations completing each of four series of 30 clicks; often (especially in depressive patients) it was manifest in averaging of all 120 realizations with an amplitude comparable with that of main EPs components and even greater. A significant correlation was found of RWP parameters with characteristics of melancholic mood in both subgroups. It is suggested that RWP appears as a result of regular changes of EEG background during multiple stimuli repetition in connection with increased "slow" habituation and in a special manifestation of perceptive defence during depression including mechanisms of active isolation from external world.