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Scalp Current Density Mapping in the Analysis of Mismatch Negativity Paradigms

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Abstract

MMN oddball paradigms are frequently used to assess auditory (dys)functions in clinical populations, or the influence of various factors (such as drugs and alcohol) on auditory processing. A widely used procedure is to compare the MMN responses between two groups of subjects (e.g. patients vs controls), or between experimental conditions in the same group. To correctly interpret these comparisons, it is important to take into account the multiple brain generators that produce the MMN response. To disentangle the different components of the MMN, we describe the advantages of scalp current density (SCD)—or surface Laplacian—computation for ERP analysis. We provide a short conceptual and mathematical description of SCDs, describe their properties, and illustrate with examples from published studies how they can benefit MMN analysis. We conclude with practical tips on how to correctly use and interpret SCDs in this context.

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Notes

  1. A « dipole-like » generator is used for sake of simplicity in Fig. 1. The SCD approach does not make any assumption about the nature, number, position or orientation of the intracerebral generators.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Zahra Hussain for careful reading of an earlier version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brain Dynamics and Cognition Team, INSERM, U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, CRNL, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Lyon, France

    Marie-Hélène Giard, Pierre-Emmanuel Aguera & Olivier Bertrand

  2. University Lyon 1, Lyon, France

    Marie-Hélène Giard, Pierre-Emmanuel Aguera & Olivier Bertrand

  3. MRC Institute of Hearing Research, Nottingham, UK

    Julien Besle

  4. UMR 930 Imaging and Brain, INSERM, Université Francois Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France

    Marie Gomot

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  1. Marie-Hélène Giard
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  2. Julien Besle
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  3. Pierre-Emmanuel Aguera
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  4. Marie Gomot
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  5. Olivier Bertrand
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Correspondence to Marie-Hélène Giard.

Additional information

This is one of several papers published together in Brain Topography in the “Special Issue: Mismatch Negativity”.

SCD computation is available in the ELAN pack software, that can be downloaded at: http://elan.lyon.inserm.fr/?q=download_page/.

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Giard, MH., Besle, J., Aguera, PE. et al. Scalp Current Density Mapping in the Analysis of Mismatch Negativity Paradigms. Brain Topogr 27, 428–437 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-013-0324-8

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