P69-F A short computerized cognitive training may improve cortical neural synchronization mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease patients

Background Previous evidence showed abnormal posterior sources of resting-state electroencephalographic (rsEEG) delta ( 4 Hz) and alpha (about 8–12 Hz) rhythms in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) as cortical neural synchronization markers in quiet wakefulness. We hypothesized that a relatively short computerized cognitive training in PD patients might affect these mechanisms. Methods Clinical and rsEEG data were collected in PD patients with cognitive deficits (e.g., dementia or mild cognitive impairment), undergoing a standard levodopa therapy, and normal elderly (Nold) subjects. The rsEEG data in PD patients were recorded in three phases: before intervention (baseline), after two weeks of a computerized cognitive training (executive and episodic memory functions), and after two weeks of a computerized control procedure (watching favorite videos), in a cross-over design. Cortical rsEEG sources were estimated by exact low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA). Results During baseline recordings, the PD group showed reduced posterior alpha and increased widespread delta source activities compared to the Nold group. In PD patients, the widespread delta source activities significantly decreased after cognitive training but not after the control intervention. Conclusions These results suggest that in PD patients with cognitive deficits a relatively short computerized cognitive training may have beneficial effects on cortical neural synchronization mechanisms generating abnormal cortical delta rhythms in quiet wakefulness.