Chronometrical analysis of event-related potentials and reaction time in patients with multiple lacunar infarcts

We measured the visual event-related potentials (ERPs) and reaction time (RT) in 31 patients with multiple lacunar infarcts and 18 age-equivalent normal subjects. The N2 and RT latencies of the patients were significantly longer than those of normal subjects, although P2 and P3 latencies did not differ between the two groups. However, the time from N2 to RT did not differ between the two groups. These observations suggest that the impairment of cognitive information processing in these patients arises from an uncertainty in classifying the perceived event, while motor organization time is relatively well preserved. In addition, the N2 latency may be more sensitive in detecting cognitive impairment in such patients.