P-2-04-07
A STUDY OF MIDRIN (ISOMETHEPTENE MUCATE) FOR RELIEF OF COGNITIVE FATIGUE
Lynn W. Yang (Graduate Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.)
Richard P. Bonfiglio (Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospitals, Erie, PA, U.S.A.)
A 34-year-old female status post motor vehicle accident with a mild traumatic brain injury had been most impaired by cognitive fatigue. Sustained concentration lead initially to slowed mentation, but eventually caused a temporary mute and catatonic state. Diagnostic testing included normal brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. However, a positive emission tomography (PET) scan showed decreased activity in the caudate nuclei bilaterally. Treatment with Amantadine, Ritalin, and rehabilitation measures did not improve her cognitive functioning. Concomitant headaches were treated with Midrin. The medication relieved her headaches and also significantly reduced her cognitive fatigue. She is now maintained on one Midrin three times per day. Midrin's vasoconstrictive properties may allow for more effective perfusion of the injured brain areas allowing improved cognitive functioning. Midrin should be considered as an alternate medication for treatment of impaired cognition, especially concentration and attention following traumatic brain injury.
P-2-04-08
RIGHT HEMISPHERE DOMINANCE FOR FIGURE RECOGNITION
Kenji Numata (Shouwa University College of Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan)
Toshio Nakajima (Chiba university, Chiba, Japan)
Shinobu Shimizu (Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan)
Purpose: The aim of this study is to know the hemispher dominance for figure recognition.
Method: Event related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from Fz and Pz. Normal subjects were asked to discriminate the figure stimulation presented left or right visual field.
Result: The following results were obtained. The latencies of P300 compnent from Fz and Pz of ERP were found to be significantly short when the stimuli was presented at the left visual field (LVF) compared with the right visual field (RVF). In addition, reaction time was short in LVF compared with RVF.
Conclusion: These results showed that the right hemisphere utilized less time for visual cognitive process than left hemisphere. This give support that the right hemisphere dominance for figure recognition.
