Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element with well characterized neurotoxic effects in high concentrations. Neurochemically, the initial neurotoxic effect of Mn is the perturbation of striatal γ-aminobutyric acid levels. Specific tasks for the assessment of cognitive functions subserved by fronto-striatal loops are available as the stop-change task (SCT) assessing control of multi-component behavior and action cascading. In a cross-sectional study, fifty male welders and 28 age-matched controls completed the SCT during a whole day examination. Reaction times, responses accuracy, and event-related potentials (ERPs) from electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were analyzed. The shift exposure of the welders to respirable Mn was stratified by 20 µg/m3 in 23 low-exposed (median = 4.7 µg/m3) and 27 high-exposed welders (median = 86.0 µg/m3). Welders graduation was lower and was therefore included in the analyses. The task-related factor (stop-change delay, SCD) modified the responses as expected; however, the lack of an interaction "SCD × group" revealed no differences between welders and controls. EEG data showed that the "SCD" modulated the amplitude of the P3 ERP in controls stronger than in welders. There was no difference between the two groups of welders and no association between airborne or systemic Mn and the P3 ERP. Moreover, the P3 amplitude was smaller in subjects with lower education. These results showed that multitasking performance and cognitive flexibility are not impaired in welders. The electrophysiological results gave a weak hint that relevant neurobiological processes were different in welders as compared to controls but this may be related to lower education.

• Klíčová slova
• Cognitive functions, Electrophysiology, Manganese, Neurobehavioral testing, Toxicity,
• MeSH
• elektroencefalografie MeSH
• kognice účinky léků   MeSH
• kognitivní neurověda metody   MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch v pracovním prostředí analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mangan analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• neuropsychologické testy MeSH
• pracovní expozice škodlivé účinky   analýza   MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• reakční čas MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• svařování * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující vzduch v pracovním prostředí MeSH
• mangan MeSH