Long Latency Event-Related Potentials In Rats: Effects Of Nucleus Basalis Magnocellularis Lesions

The effects of AMPA lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) on EEG and event-related potentials (ERPs) generated by an auditory discrimination task were examined. The lesions significantly reduced choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) activity in frontal and parietal cortex. NBM lesions produced significantly more errors in the task. Significant increases in EEG spectral power in the fronto-parietal cortex were found, most predominantly in the higher frequencies (8 - 32 Hz), suggesting increases in arousal in the lesioned animals. Additionally, the lesion resulted in an increase in the area, the standard deviation of the amplitude of the N1 component, as well as instability in the amplitudes of several other ERP components. These results suggest that NBM lesions may impair ability to correctly respond in a discrimination task by a combination of increased arousal and an inability to maintain stable attentional capacity.