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Brain dynamics as a function of iron status: Relating electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns and body iron measures in Indian adolescents
Author(s) -
Wenger Michael J,
Scott Samuel P,
MurrayKolb Laura E,
Ghugre Padmini,
Udipi Shobha,
Haas Jere D.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.845.6
Subject(s) - electroencephalography , iron deficiency , cognition , audiology , soluble transferrin receptor , ferritin , psychology , developmental psychology , medicine , iron status , neuroscience , anemia , psychiatry
World‐wide, iron deficiency (ID) is the most common micronutrient deficiency, and has been linked in both human and animal models to deficits in perceptual, cognitive, and globally adaptive behaviors. In addition, studies using electroenchelography (EEG) have suggested abnormal patterns of brain activity (lower amplitudes and longer latencies of EEG components) in ID vs. non‐ID populations. The present study was one part of a randomized, double‐blind feeding trial testing the efficacy of iron‐biofortified pearl millet as a mechanism to improve iron status. Subjects ( n = 75, 12–16 y, 38 females) were from two residential schools in Maharashtra, India. Blood measures included hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and serum transferrin receptor. Brain functioning was assessed using EEG while subjects completed five tests of perceptual and cognitive performance, selected to assess perceptual and cognitive components of schoolwork and for comparability to previous work in adults. We found relationships between baseline iron measures and the magnitude (positive) and latency (negative) of a set of EEG components relevant to the behavioral expression of selective attention and episodic memory, suggesting a functional role for iron in determining healthy brain dynamics. Supported by HarvestPlus/IFPRI.