Activités évoquées eeg (potentiels évoqués, ondes lentes) et troubles du métabolisme des acides aminés Chez Des Enfants Déficients Mentaux Profonds*

Summary This study proposes to show the possible relationships between, on the one hand, modifications of evoked potentials (E.P.) and slow potentials (S.P.) and, on the other hand anomalies in amino acid metabolism in mentally deficient children. Thirty-two mentally retarded children (I. Q.'s between 20 and 40) were examined and divided into two groups : R1 with no amino acid anomalies ; R2 with amino acid anomalies, « isolatedor associated with phosphocalcium metabolism perturbations or renal dysfunction. As predicted by previous observations, these mentally deficient children presented low amplitude E.P. and S.P. irrespective of their group assignment. Both pathological groups are characterised by a lack of E. P. conditioning. Moderate differences are observed between the two groups, R1 and R2. These differences are most evident in E.P. amplitude and less evident in S.P. These responses are weaker in group R2 than in R1. Within group R2 they are also weaker for those children with isolated amino acide anomalies. The low amplitude of evoked potentials observed in mentally retarded children can be linked, not only to perceptive and cognitive factors, but to biological factors.