Computed tomographic findings in relation to event-related potentials during visual discrimination tasks in patients with multiple cerebral infarcts.

Event-related potentials were recorded for 29 patients with multiple cerebral infarcts (MCI) (mean age, 65.7 years) during visual discrimination tasks to clarify the relationship between computed tomographic findings (CT) and P300 component. P300 latency in patients with MCI was significantly longer than that of 15 age-matched normal subjects (mean age, 65.4 years), although no significant difference was found in P300 amplitude between the two groups. There was a significant negative correlation between P300 latency and mental status as determined by the Hasegawa's Dementia Scale. Significant correlation was also found between P300 latency and the degree of ventricular dilatation or severity of periventricular lucency (PVL) on CT scan. P300 latency was not significantly correlated with the number of infarcts. P300 latency in patients with MCI thus appears related to the severity of PVLs and degree of ventricular dilatation in addition to mental status.