Exploring resting-state EEG brain oscillatory activity in relation to cognitive functioning in multiple sclerosis

Publication date: Available online 14 July 2017
Source:Clinical Neurophysiology
Author(s): Philipp M. Keune, Sascha Hansen, Emily Weber, Franziska Zapf, Juliane Habich, Jana Muenssinger, Sebastian Wolf, Michael Schönenberg, Patrick Oschmann
ObjectiveNeurophysiologic monitoring parameters related to cognition in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are sparse. Previous work reported an association between magnetoencephalographic (MEG) alpha-1 activity and information processing speed. While this remains to be replicated by more available electroencephalographic (EEG) methods, also other established EEG markers, e.g. the slow-wave/fast-wave ratio (theta/beta ratio), remain to be explored in this context.MethodsPerformance on standard tests addressing information processing speed and attention (Symbol-Digit Modalities Test, SDMT; Test of Attention Performance, TAP) was examined in relation to resting-state EEG alpha-1 and alpha-2 activity and the theta/beta ratio in 25 MS patients.ResultsIncreased global alpha-1 and alpha-2 activity and an increased frontal theta/beta ratio (pronounced slow-wave relative to fast-wave activity) were associated with lower SDMT processing speed. In an exploratory analysis, clinically impaired attention was associated with a significantly increased frontal theta/beta ratio whereas alpha power did not show sensitivity to clinical impairment.ConclusionsEEG global alpha power and the frontal theta/beta ratio were both associated with attention. The theta/beta ratio involved potential clinical sensitivity.SignificanceResting-state EEG recordings can be obtained during the routine clinical process. The examined resting-state measures may represent feasible monitoring parameters in MS. This notion should be explored in future intervention studies.



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