Confirmation of deviant EEG-evoked potential relationships in the neuroses

A previous study of relationships between EEG and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) measurements in psychiatric patients showed correlations between EEG and SEP amplitudes to be negative in nine neurotic patients and positive in nine age- and sex-matched nonpatients. The present study attempted to replicate this finding in 35 neurotics and 35 age- and sex-matched nonpatients. Data involved amplitudes of SEPs to right median nerve stimuli from frontal, central, and parietal leads and central and parietal EEG amplitudes (eyes open and closed), both obtained in the context of our comprehensive EP recording procedure. Correlations between SEP and EEG amplitudes in controls were generally positive, while those in patients tended to be negative or close to zero. No specific neurosis group differed from the others. The results confirm the previous finding in showing absence of normal EEG-SEP amplitude relationships in neurotic disorders.