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Reduced Electroencephalographic Coherence Asymmetry in the Chernobyl Accident Survivors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2014

Ludmila A. Zhavoronkova ,
Nina B. Kholodova ,
Alexey P. Belostocky  and
Mikhail A. Koulikov
Ludmila A. Zhavoronkova*
Affiliation:
Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia)
Nina B. Kholodova
Affiliation:
Rentgenoradiological Centre, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Russia)
Alexey P. Belostocky
Affiliation:
Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia)
Mikhail A. Koulikov
Affiliation:
Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Ludmila A. Zhavoronkova, Institute of Higher Nervous Act. & Neurophysiology RAS, Butlerov str. 5a, 117485 Moscow, Russia. Work phone: +7-499- 97-85-59. Fax: +7-495-338-85-00. E-mail: Lzhavor@nsi.ru
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Abstract

An electroencephalograph (EEG) study was carried out from 1990 to 2006, using power spectra, averaged coherence, and integral EEG coherence asymmetry coefficients to compare 189 clean-up workers of the Chernobyl accident with 63 age-matched healthy controls. Most of the Chernobyl workers showed three abnormal EEG patterns, as indicated by EEG power mapping. The higher power, most prominent in slow alpha and theta bands, or in fast alpha frequencies, were observed in persons 3-5 years after the clean-up works (the early stage). The lower EEG power in alpha band was found in Chernobyl workers 10 or more years after the accident (the late stage). EEG coherence analysis revealed the existence of two stages in EEG alterations following the Chernobyl clean-up. In the early stage, an increase of EEG coherence in the central brain areas was observed, whereas at the later stage, a decrease of EEG coherence, most prominent in the frontal brain areas, and reduced brain asymmetry prevailed. These results allow us to propose that the described EEG signs may be a reflection of radiation-induced brain dysfunction at the late period after the Chernobyl clean-up and were similar to the EEG markers of brain ageing. The results, in comparison to data of the literature, provide additional support to the premature brain ageing hypothesis in Chernobyl survivors as a result of the radiation brain damage after-effect.

Se llevó a cabo un estudio electroencefalográfico (EEG) desde 1990 a 2006, empleando los espectros de energía, la coherencia promediada y los coeficientes integrales de asimetría de coherencia de EEG para comparar 189 trabajadores que participaron en la limpieza después del accidente de Chernobyl con un grupo control de 63 individuos sanos de la misma edad. La mayoría de los trabajadores de Chernobyl mostraron tres patrones anormales de EEG, como indica el mapeo de energía del EEG. La energía más alta, más prominente en las bandas lentas alfa y theta (1) o en frecuencias rápidas alfa (2), se observó en personas estudiadas 3 a 5 años después de los trabajos de limpieza (la fase temprana). La energía en el EEG más baja, en la banda alfa (3), se encontró en los trabajadores de Chernobyl 10 años o más después del accidente (la fase tardía). El análisis de coherencia del EEG reveló la existencia de dos fases en las alteraciones del EEG después de la limpieza de Chernobyl. En la fase temprana, se observó un incremento de la coherencia del EEG en las áreas centrales del cerebro, mientras que en la fase tardía, se observó una reducción de la coherencia del EEG, más prominente en las áreas frontales del cerebro, y prevaleció la reducción de la asimetría del cerebro. Estos resultados nos permiten proponer que los signos EEG descritos pueden ser un reflejo de disfunción cerebral inducida por radiación en la fase tardía después de la limpieza de Chernobyl y que son similares a los marcadores EEG del envejecimiento del cerebro. Los resultados, en comparación con los datos de la literatura, proporcionan apoyo adicional a la hipótesis del envejecimiento cerebral prematuro del cerebro en los supervivientes de Chernobyl como resultado del efecto secundario de lesiones cerebrales por radiación.

Keywords

EEG power and coherenceinterhemispheric asymmetryChernobyl accidentradiationbrain ageingenergía y coherencia de EEGasimetría inter-hemisféricaaccidente de Chernobylradiaciónenvejecimiento cerebral
Type
Articles
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , November 2008 , pp. 363 - 373
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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