Neuropsychological performance and cognitive olfactory event-related brainpotentials in young and elderly adults

The P3 event-related brain potential (ERP) reflects neuroelectric activity related to the speed of cognitive processing and allocation of attentional resources. The objective of the present study was to assess the relationshi p between the P3 and Slow Wave components of the olfactory event-related po tential (OERP) with neuropsychological performance in young (n = 16) and el derly (n = 16) adults. OERPs were recorded monopolarly from midline electro de sites while subjects estimated the odor magnitude of each stimulus, elic iting highly reproducible P3s. Results showed that the late cognitive compo nents (P3 amplitude, P3 latency and Slow Wave area) decline with age and th at this decreased neuronal efficiency is associated with reductions in the neuropsychological performance indexed by the Trail Making Test and the Cal ifornia Verbal Learning Test.