Event-related potential components analysis of cognitive impairment in patients with multiple lacunar infarcts.

We measured the visual event-related potentials (ERPs) and reaction time (RT) in 21 patients with multiple lacunar infarcts and in 8 age-equivalent normal subjects. The N2 latency of the infarct patients was significantly longer than that of the normal subjects, although the NA and the P3 latencies and RT did not differ between the two groups. The N2 latency was negatively correlated with the scores of Mini-Mental State Examination or the Hasegawa's dementia scale. These results suggest that the impairment of cognitive information processing in these patients arises from an uncertainty in the classification of a perceived event. In addition, the N2 latency may be more sensitive in detecting cognitive impairment in multiple infarct patients.