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Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2007; 05(03): 199-208
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1557385
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

Event-related potentials in Japanese childhood chronic fatigue syndrome

Authors

  • Akemi Tomoda

    a   Department of Child Developmental Sociology, Faculty of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan

  • Kei Mizuno

    b   Department of Child Development, Faculty of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan

  • Nobuki Murayama

    b   Department of Child Development, Faculty of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan

  • Takako Joudoi

    c   Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan

  • Tomohiko Igasaki

    d   Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan

  • Makoto Miyazaki

    b   Department of Child Development, Faculty of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan

  • Teruhisa Miike

    c   Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan

Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

27 November 2006

25 January 2007

Publication Date:
30 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate cognitive functions such as allocation and information processing in patients with childhood type chronic fatigue syndrome (CCFS) using event-related potentials. A total of 190 healthy children as controls and 414 patients with CCFS participated in this study. Both patients and controls had (i) event-related potentials (including P300, P100, N150 and P200 measurements); (ii) component analysis of electrocardiographic R-R interval to evaluate autonomic function; and (iii) KANA-Pick-out test to evaluate frontal lobe function. The cutoff threshold defining abnormal P300 latency to target stimuli and amplitude to non-target stimuli was set at two standard deviations above the mean values of controls. Forty patients (classified as Type-I) had an abnormally-prolonged P300 latency to target stimuli, and 49 patients (classified as Type-II) had an abnormally-exaggerated P300 amplitude, and the remaining 325 patients whose P300 latency and amplitude ranged below the above-mentioned threshold were classified as Type-III. All patient groups had normal P100, N150 and P200 measurements. Component analysis of electrocardiographic R-R intervals revealed that the power of high-frequency components was lower in all patient groups, compared to controls. The score in KANA-Pick-out test was worse in all patient groups compared to controls; Type-I Group had the worst score and Type-II Group had the best score among the patients. Taken together, we speculate that abnormally-prolonged P300 latency to target stimuli might be associated with learning disability and abnormally-exaggerated P300 amplitude to non-target stimuli might be associated with hypersensitivity such as phobia in patients with CCFS. Psychosomatic symptoms in patients with CCFS might be associated with higher-order level cognitive dysfunction.

Keywords

Event-related potential - P300 - childhood type chronic fatigue syndrome - electrocardiographic R-R interval - frontal lobe function