Item type:Thesis, Open Access

Veränderung der elektrischen Hirnaktivität während Vigilanzuntersuchungen im Hinblick auf unterschiedliche motivationale Testbedingungen

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Philipps-Universität Marburg

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Abstract

Introduction and method: In the Center of Sleep-Medicine at Philipps-Universtiy Marburg daytime drowsiness and reduction of vigilance are currently under examination by using both a Marburg developed quadruple-choice reaction time test called VigiMar and by a pupillografic PST drowsiness test. Both of these vigilance-tests were carried out on brain electrical correlates of reduction of vigilance and sleepiness with the help of EEG-tests. Furthermore we tested how differently, high-motivation was shown in the EEG-test results. Brain electrical activity during the night, and test results obtained the following day, were also taken into consideration. From October 2012 to September 2013 we tested 20 student assistants from the Center of Sleep medicine after having worked nights and with moderate sleep deprivation (average sleep 2.25 hours), while carrying out VigiMar and PST and making EEG recordings. Every proband was examined twice: Once under the test condition “Reward” and once under the test condition “Participation”. Test condition “Reward” meant that the experimentee could receive a payment up to 400 Euros according to how awake they were. Under test condition “Participation” there was only a flat sum of 25 Euros offered, irrespective of the results of the tests. The relative and absolute power in the frequency bands Delta (0.5-4.0 Hz), Theta (4.0-8.2 Hz), Alpha (8.0-13 Hz), Beta (13-30 Hz) and Gamma (30-70 Hz) was calculated from the EEG recordings. In addition, the total power from each band was determined. Results: High Alpha and Theta activity during the VigiMar correlated with slower reaction times, meaning lower vigilance. High total power, Delta, Beta and Gamma activity on the other hand was accompanied by shorter reaction times and consequently higher vigilance. The correlation between high Beta and Gamma-activity and vigilance was more distinct under conditions of reward than under conditions of participation. In the PST the correlation was not as clearly marked but a high total power, as well as high occipital Beta and Gamma activity, also corresponded in the test with a smaller pupillary unrest index (PUI), therefore higher vigilance. The next morning longer reaction times in the VigiMar followed on from high Beta activity during the night. High Delta activity at night corresponded to better results in the tests. For the PST, similar correlations were only observed under conditions of reward: Increased nightly Beta and Gamma activity correlated with higher PUI, meaning lower vigilance. On high Delta and Theta activity a lower PUI could be seen, as well as a higher vigilance. Discussion: Plausible results for brain electrical activity during VigiMars could be shown to agree with the literature using similar test methods. The frequency bands associated to being awake (Beta and Gamma) corresponded to good test results. Alpha (relaxed state of being awake) and Theta activity (transition toward sleep) showed bad test results. A similar correlation with the Beta and Gamma band shown for the PUI for the first time in this study led in a similar direction, without being too robust. The correlation between EEG frequency bands during nightly phases of short sleep and the results of the vigilance test the next morning are, on the face of it, valid and, as far as we can judge, the first ever recordings of it. Worse test results following high nightly Beta activity suggests wakefulness. Better Test results match higher Delta activity being associated with deep-sleep. Similar results can be shown for the PST, which, however, only reached statistical significance under the conditions of reward. The results of the PST being less clear may be due to a shorter testing time (11 versus 90 minutes, with an appropriately smaller data base of the power spectra) or indicate that VigiMar results correlate better with the EEG indicators of wakefulness. The results of this research study can be evaluated as a “Proof of Concept” for the VigiMar and to a lesser degree for the PST, because brain electrical activity during the tests correlated with the results of the forgoing short sleep phase in a physiologically expected manner.

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Saßmannshausen, Christina: Veränderung der elektrischen Hirnaktivität während Vigilanzuntersuchungen im Hinblick auf unterschiedliche motivationale Testbedingungen. : Philipps-Universität Marburg 2018-10-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17192/z2018.0420.

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This item has been published with the following license: In Copyright