Inga Griskova-Bulanova1, Ramune Griksiene2, Aleksandras Voicikas2, Osvaldas Ruksenas2. 1. Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vilnius University, Sauletekio 7, LT-10222, Vilnius, Lithuania. i.griskova@gmail.com. 2. Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vilnius University, Sauletekio 7, LT-10222, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Abstract
RATIONALE: The behavioral and electrophysiological responses in a Go/NoGo task are objective measures of executive functioning that may be impaired in clinical conditions. Prior to the wider application of Go/NoGo tasks in clinics, it is tempting to evaluate factors causing modulation of the responses. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effect of different levels of female sex steroids on Go/NoGo task-related ERPs in healthy females. METHODS: Thirty-four young healthy females performed an equiprobable (50/50) auditory Go/NoGo task. Amplitudes and latencies of N2 and P3 peaks from Fz, Cz, and Pz electrodes were evaluated. 17β-estradiol and progesterone levels in saliva samples were measured. Electrophysiological measures were correlated to 17β-estradiol and progesterone concentrations. RESULTS: The diverse pattern of modulation of P3 latencies was shown: higher levels of 17β-estradiol contributed to Go-P3 latency prolongation, and higher levels of progesterone contributed to NoGo-P3 latency shortening. Higher levels of 17β-estradiol were associated with more negative frontal N2 amplitude in both conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between electrophysiological correlates of executive functioning to individual hormonal levels points to a broader range of variation sources in healthy subjects which might mask or pronounce between-group differences in clinical studies.
RATIONALE: The behavioral and electrophysiological responses in a Go/NoGo task are objective measures of executive functioning that may be impaired in clinical conditions. Prior to the wider application of Go/NoGo tasks in clinics, it is tempting to evaluate factors causing modulation of the responses. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effect of different levels of female sex steroids on Go/NoGo task-related ERPs in healthy females. METHODS: Thirty-four young healthy females performed an equiprobable (50/50) auditory Go/NoGo task. Amplitudes and latencies of N2 and P3 peaks from Fz, Cz, and Pz electrodes were evaluated. 17β-estradiol and progesterone levels in saliva samples were measured. Electrophysiological measures were correlated to 17β-estradiol and progesterone concentrations. RESULTS: The diverse pattern of modulation of P3 latencies was shown: higher levels of 17β-estradiol contributed to Go-P3 latency prolongation, and higher levels of progesterone contributed to NoGo-P3 latency shortening. Higher levels of 17β-estradiol were associated with more negative frontal N2 amplitude in both conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between electrophysiological correlates of executive functioning to individual hormonal levels points to a broader range of variation sources in healthy subjects which might mask or pronounce between-group differences in clinical studies.
Authors: Eric R Braverman; Thomas J H Chen; Amanda L C Chen; Mallory M Kerner; Howard Tung; Roger L Waite; John Schoolfield; Kenneth Blum Journal: BMC Res Notes Date: 2009-07-07