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Acute changes in carbon dioxide levels alter the electroencephalogram without affecting cognitive function
Author(s) -
BlochSalisbury Elisabeth,
Lansing Robert,
Shea Steven A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/1469-8986.3740418
Subject(s) - psychology , carbon dioxide , electroencephalography , cognition , function (biology) , cognitive psychology , neuroscience , chemistry , organic chemistry , evolutionary biology , biology
The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood (PaCO 2 ) is usually tightly regulated, yet it varies among healthy people at rest (range ∼32–44 mmHg) as well as within an individual during many natural life situations. The present study examined whether modest changes in end‐tidal PCO 2 (P et CO2 ; a noninvasive measure of PaCO 2 ) affect electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, cognitive function, and vigilance. Nine adults were ventilated mechanically using a mouthpiece; respiratory rate and breath size were held constant while P et CO2 was set to levels that produced minimal discomfort. Despite discrete changes in EEG, neither acute P et CO2 increases (mean = 47 mmHg) nor decreases (mean = 30 mmHg) from resting levels (mean = 38 mmHg) affected performance on cognitive tasks, latency or amplitude of the N1, P2, or P3 event‐related potential, or alertness. Modest changes in P et CO2 may cause significant alterations in the EEG without disturbing cognitive function.