Separation of the Sinusoidal Components of the Human Electroencephalogram

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.