During a preliminary study comparing 5 normal subjects and 5 alcoholics (25 experiments) changes in evoked potentials were found in these patients. There was mainly a reduction in these potentials during the first 100 milleseconds following stimulation. Such a reduction generally means a disorder of the arrival of the influx at the level of the cortex and may be found mainly in peripheral nerve involvement. A complementary study of the H reflex (34 experiments) showed that this reflex was affected in 60% of chronic alcoholics whether or not they had liver cirrhosis. The theory according to which the EEG abnormalities observed may be linked to a metabolic disorder of the amino-acids was not confirmed. The changes of the first 100 milleseconds of the evoked potential associated with the change in Hoffman's reflex are in favour of early peripheral involvement even in alcoholics who do not appear to have any peripheral neuritis. These signs are different from those which are observed in marijuana or psylocybine poisoning where the EEG signs are due to central involvement.

Alcoholism↗

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[Neurological aspects of infantile autism].

Childhood autism is not usually considered as a neurological disease although frequent antecedents of ante, peri and postnatal injuries are found in its antecedents. Several symptoms of autism particularly in the early development, resemble the signs observed in frontal, temporal, striatal and brainstem dysfunctioning. These cerebral structures are connected with the central dopaminergic system which may be disturbed in autistic children. Such hypotheses suggest the necessary elaboration of an infant and child "behavioral neurology".

Animals↗

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[Clinical (behavior scale items), electrophysiologic (conditioned evoked potentials) and biochemical (urinary homovanillic acid) markers in infantile autism].

Infantile autism is a behaviorally defined syndrome. Many investigators suggest that it is probably related to a brain dysfunctioning in which catecholamine metabolism is involved. The aim of the following paper is to study the validity of different clinical and biological markers of this syndrome: 1. clinical scores using a behavioral rating scale, 2. amplitude and variability of conditioned auditory evoked potentials, 3. urinary levels of homovanillic acid. The response of these markers in autistic children treated with vitamin B6 and magnesium have been assessed. The relationships found between clinical and biological data are discussed. It can be expected that such an approach would contribute to a better understanding of the underlying mechanism of autism.

Autistic Disorder↗

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[Electrophysiologic aspects of infantile autism].

Since the first description of infantile autism by Kanner, many physiopathological hypotheses have been suggested to explain this syndrome. In order to confirm these hypotheses, a lot of biological technics have been used among which the cerebral electroencephalography plays a leading part. The authors describe the main electroencephalographical technics used in autistic children. For each sort of examination, the physiopathological contribution has been studied. Then, these electrophysiological data have been confronted with neuroanatomical hypotheses (temporal, frontal, mesencephalic functional troubles) or neurobiochemical hypotheses (dysfunctioning of the corresponding dopaminergic systems).

Autistic Disorder↗

PubMedDate not supplied