Biomedical subjects

Kastytis Dapsys

Publications and source records attributed to Kastytis Dapsys.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Transcranial magnetic stimulation: the method and application.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a noninvasive method for stimulation of brain that is based on the ability of magnetic field to penetrate skull and brain meninges, subsequently inducing electric current in the brain tissues that produces neuronal depolarization and generation of action potentials. Moreover, transcranial magnetic stimulation has effects on neurochemical and synaptic processes in neurons. Due to its easy use and relatively fair side effects, nowadays, transcranial magnetic stimulation is widely used in neurosciences and medicine. The main areas of transcranial magnetic stimulation application are: 1) the investigation of cortical and spinal excitability, 2) the investigation of neuronal plasticity, 3) the investigation of neuronal connectivity, 4) functional mapping, and 5) the treatment of some neurological and psychiatric disorders. Transcranial magnetic stimulation alone or in combination with other noninvasive neuroimaging (PET--positron emission topography, MRI--magnetic resonance imaging) and neurofunctional (EEG--electroencephalography, ERP--event-related potentials, fMRI--functional magnetic resonance imaging) methods allows conducting research on brain functions. Thus, transcranial magnetic stimulation is suitable as a diagnostic tool in neurologic and neuropsychiatric brain research.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2005

Does electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) affect cognitive components of auditory evoked P300?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as a treatment tool for psychiatric disorders, is believed to be safe and effective. Nevertheless, it has a negative impact on cognitive functioning, especially on memory, causing both retrograde and anterograde amnesia. However, ECT effects on more subtle stages of information processing are not studied enough. Event-related potentials, and especially P300, are thought to reflect physiology of cognition. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effects of ECT treatment on parameters of endogenous components (N2, P3) of the P300 potential. Seventeen patients suffering from schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and recurrent depressive disorder participated at the study. After the course of ECT, significant increase of N2 amplitude in parietal midline region and prolongation of P3 latency in frontal midline region, of which the magnitude positively correlated with the number of ECT procedures, have been obtained.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Evaluation of new MMN parameters in schizophrenia.

ERPs could be helpful in the objectification of many psychological measures. In the last few decades one of the most commonly used ERPs has been the mismatch negativity (MMN) potential. It may be used to detect cognitive dysfunction in patients suffering from schizophrenia, dementia, depression, and can also be successfully applied in treatment monitoring. Nevertheless, changes of MMN parameters (prolongation of latency or reduction of amplitude) are not sufficiently specific to help to diagnose particular diseases. In this study we looked for more strict and specific MMN characteristics selective for schizophrenia. Fifteen healthy human subjects and twelve suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders were studied. Two new parameters were considered: the speed of ascending part of MMN slope (SAS) and the half area of the MMN wave. These two measures could differentiate the early stages of cognitive processing disturbances in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Adolescent↗