Attention cognitive deficiency in 6-8-year-old children with sleep disordered breathing: an ERP study

Objective To investigate the cognitive dificiency characteristics and the neuro electrophysiological mechanism of sleep disordered breathing(SDB) in school-age children. Methods 20 cases of SDB children and 20 cases of normal group at 6-8 years old participated in the continue performance test(CPT-AX). The amplitude and latency of N2, P3 of event related potentials(ERPs) were measured and analysed at Fz leads, and the behavioral results were recorded at the same time. Results There were no significant differences between SDB group and normal group in behavioral correct number (36.10±4.69 vs 35.05±3.49), the reaction time ((523.77±68.73)ms vs (496.59±78.65)ms) and false alarm number (1.0 (0.25, 3.75) vs 0.5 (0.00, 3.00))(all P>0.05). The SDB group showed significant increase in Go-P3 amplitudes compared with the normal group((10.25±6.46)μV vs (6.56±4.63)μV, P<0.05). The Go-P3 latency in SDB group was significantly prolonged than that in the normal group((438.80±59.72)ms vs (406±36.30)ms, P<0.05), and the Nogo-N2 amplitude in SDB group significantly decreased compared with the normal group ((-12.46±4.75)μV vs (-15.50±3.82)μV, P<0.05). Conclusion The children aged 6 to 8 years old with sleep disordered breathing consume more resources and time to complete the attention process, like a compensatory response. And during the monitoring process there is a resource shortage that results in obvious defect in process of inhibition. Key words: Sleep disordered breathing; Event related potential; Children; Go-P3; Nogo-N2; Executive function