EEG

Jorge G Burneo

ƒ What generates the EEG waves?

ƒ Collective behavior of cortical neurons
ƒ Extracellular current flow from the summated
activity of many neurons.
ƒ Not all cells contribute the same.
ƒ Reflects activity of neurons close to electrode
ƒ Deep structures do not contribute.

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 Action Potential

IPSPs and EPSPs

ƒ Summation of IPSPs and EPSPs Æ EEG
waves.

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 PDS
ƒ Paroxismal Depolarization Shift:
ƒ Large depolarization that triggers a burst of
action potentials.
ƒ Dependent on AMPA and NMDA channels
activated by glutamate and voltage-
dependent Calcium
ƒ Happens in neurons within a seizure focus.

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ƒ How do we check electrical charge in one
spatial point?
ƒ We need to compare

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ƒ How do we record brain waves?
ƒ Signal is distorted:
ƒ Brain
ƒ CSF
ƒ Meninges
ƒ Bone
ƒ Muscle
ƒ Fat

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10-20 International System

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 Montages
ƒ Bipolar:
ƒ Longitudinal
ƒ Transverse
ƒ Referencial:
ƒ Ear
ƒ Cz
ƒ Average (CAR)

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Polarity

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Normal waves

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 EEG
ƒ Frequencies: delta: < 4 Hz, Theta: 4-7Hz,
Alpha: 9-13Hz, Beta:>13Hz.
ƒ Awake, normal adult: posterior alpha, anterior
18-22Hz, low voltage.
ƒ Sleep:
ƒ Non-
Non-REM:
ƒ 1: (drowsiness) no alpha, vertex transients.
ƒ 2: sleep spindles (12-
(12-14Hz), delta 20%, V, K-
K-complex.
ƒ 3: delta 20-
20-50%
ƒ 4: delta >50%
REM:
Like drowsiness, alpha-
alpha-like activity. Saw-
Saw-tooth waves.

Awake

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Stage 1

Stage 2

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Stage 3

Stage 4

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 REM

K-complex

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 Epileptiform activity
ƒ Spike: 20-70 ms
ƒ Sharp wave: 70-200 ms
ƒ Generate cerebral fields + after slowing
ƒ Bipolar: look for the phase reversal
ƒ Referencial: look for the wave with the
highest amplitude

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