Abstract
THE nature of the sinusoidal cortical activity in man, particularly the alpha rhythm first explored by Berger1, remains obscure. Andersen and Andersson2, among others, consider the alpha rhythm to be the result of summated post-synaptic potentials largely under the control of recurrent inhibitory thalamic networks. From a theoretical viewpoint Weiner3 suggested that the alpha rhythm could be produced by a population of coupled non-linear oscillators. Some preliminary results, based on four normal human subjects, of a method of separation of EEG components are reported here. They provide new information about these concepts and also on the nature of the “after discharge” of the averaged visual evoked response as well as its relationship to the primary components of the waveform.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berger, H., Arch. Psychiat. Nervenkr., 87, 527 (1929).
Andersen, P., and Andersson, S. A., Physiological Basis of the Alpha Rhythm (Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1968).
Weiner, N., Nonlinear Problems in Random Theory (Wiley, New York, 1958).
Horstfehr, H. O., EEG Clin. Neurophysiol., Suppl. 26, 139 (1967).
Rémond, A., and Lesèvre, N., EEG Clin. Neurophysiol., Suppl. 26, 42 (1967).
Minsky, M., in Basic Mechanisms of the Epilepsies (edit. by Jasper, H. H., Ward, A. A., and Pope, A.) (Churchill, London, 1969).
Bartley, S. H., and Bishop, G. H., Amer. J. Physiol., 103, 159 (1933).
Gaarder, K., Koresko, R., and Kropfl, W., EEG Clin. Neurophysiol., 21, 544 (1966).
Lansing, R. W., EEG Clin. Neurophysiol., 9, 497 (1957).
Blackman, R. N., and Tukey, J. W., The Measurement of Power Spectra (Dover, New York, 1958).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MAYNARD, D. Separation of the Sinusoidal Components of the Human Electroencephalogram. Nature 236, 228–230 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/236228a0
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/236228a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.