The Effects of EEG Power and Coherence on Cognitive Function in Normal Elderly, Non-Demented Elderly With Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Demented Elderly During Working Cognition Task

The purpose of this study was to find out the effects of electroencephalograph (EEG) power and coherence on cognitive function in normal elderly, non-demented elderly with mild cognitive impairment, and demented elderly during working cognition tasks. Forty elderly women (19 demented elderly, 10 non-demented elderly with mild cognitive impairment, 11 norma1 elderly) participated in this study, All subjects performed working cognition tasks with Raven's CPM while EEG signal was recorded, EEGs were measured continuously at rest and during the working cognition task. EEG power and coherence was computed over 21 channels: right and left frontal, central, parietal, temporal and occipital region. We found that there were more correct answers among normal elderly women than in other groups Owing the working cognition task, ${\Theta}$ wave at Fp1, Fp2 and F8, a wave at Fp2, ${\beta}$ wave at Fp1, Fp2. F4 and F8 of the frontal region was increased significantly in the demented elderly group. On the other hand. ${\Theta}$ wave at Fp1, Fp2 and F7, ${\beta}$ wave at Fp1, Fp2, F3 and F7 of the frontal region was increased significantly in the group of non-demented elderly with mild cognitive impairment. In contrast. in the normal elderly group, all of the ${\Theta}$ wave and ${\beta}$ wave at Fp1, Fp2, F3, F4, F7 and F8 of the frontal region (except ${\beta}$ wave at F3) was increased significantly, These results suggest that the nerves in prefrontal and right hemisphere regions were most active in the demented elderly group during problem solving, and the nerves in the prefrontal and left hemisphere lobe were most active in the group of non-demented elderly with mild cognitive impairment. In contrast, me majority of nerves in the frontal region were active in the normal elderly group.