Features of the auditory p300 evoked potentials in adults with symptomatic focal epilepsy

193 patients with symptomatic focal epilepsy (SE) under epileptologist's observation have been were examined. The localized forms of epilepsy with neocortex defeat (SCE) have been diagnosed in 116 (60.1 %), with limbic cortex defeat (MTLE) in 77 (39.9 %) patients. The group of comparison was made by 139 healthy volunteers. Neuropsychological and neurophysiological investigations to estimate higher cortical functions were carried out. In patients with SCE we noted a significant decrease in cognitive performance according to tests' results. The latency of P2, N2 and P3 components of the auditory P-300 wave targeted stimuli in patients with SCE was in statistical terms significantly longer when compared to control group. In patients with MTLE only N2 and P3 component's latency was longer. We suppose that the revealed disturbances may be used in the diagnosis of SE.