A1 Journal article (refereed)
Event-Related Potentials to Changes in Sound Intensity Demonstrate Alterations in Brain Function Related to Depression and Aging (2020)

Ruohonen, E. M., Kattainen, S., Li, X., Taskila, A.-E., Ye, C., & Astikainen, P. (2020). Event-Related Potentials to Changes in Sound Intensity Demonstrate Alterations in Brain Function Related to Depression and Aging. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 14, Article 98. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00098

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Ruohonen, Elisa M.; Kattainen, Saara; Li, Xueqiao; Taskila, Anna-Elisa; Ye, Chaoxiong; Astikainen, Piia

Journal or series: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

eISSN: 1662-5161

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 14

Article number: 98

Publisher: Frontiers Media

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00098

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/68472

Abstract

Measures of the brain’s automatic electrophysiological responses to sounds represent a potential tool for identifying age- and depression-related neural markers. However, these markers have rarely been studied related to aging and depression within one study. Here, we investigated auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) in the brain that may show different alterations related to aging and depression. We used an oddball condition employing changes in sound intensity to investigate: (i) sound intensity dependence; (ii) sensory gating; and (iii) change detection, all within a single paradigm. The ERPs of younger (18–40 years) and older (62–80 years) depressed female participants and age-matched non-depressed participants were measured. Intensity dependence was examined as the difference between N1 responses to repeated high- and low-intensity sounds, sensory gating as N1 responses to rare and repeated sounds, and change detection as indexed by the mismatch negativity (MMN). We found that intensity dependence was greater in older participants than younger ones, indicating effects related to aging but not to depression. For sensory gating, we found depression- and age-related alterations as increased N1 responses. No group differences were found for MMN. Although a sensory gating deficit was expected in older adults, this study is the first to demonstrate age-related overexcitability in sound intensity dependency. The results indicate that automatic brain responses to sound intensity changes are suitable for studying age- and depression-related neural markers but may not be sensitive enough to differentiate the effects of aging and depression.

Keywords: neuropsychology; ageing; depression (mental disorders); sense of hearing

Free keywords: aging; auditory-evoked potentials; depression; intensity dependence; sensory gating

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Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2020

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