The slow and infraslow oscillations of cortical neural network

Abstract

Objective: In this study we investigated the properties of infraslow oscillations (ISOs) ≤0.05 Hz and delta frequency band in the patients during the epileptic discharges and in healthy persons who performed a variety of mental and physical tasks. Methods: The EEG signals were recorded on the subjects who were divided into three groups. In the first group were patients with global epileptic seizures, while in the second group were patients with focal epileptic seizures. In the third group were healthy volunteers who performed different mental and physical tasks. Results: By analyzing EEG data of epileptic patients, we showed that frequency peak exists at 1.5 Hz which is typical for general and focal epileptic seizures. In the type of general epileptic discharges the role of the slow rhythms at 0.05 Hz, was particularly pronounced and their origin was in fluctuations of cortical neural network. The properties of parameter spectral coherency of ISOs in healthy persons point to their important role in brain functioning. Conclusions: Our results suggested that the role of ISOs could be extended, because they were detected in healthy human subjects during carrying out different tasks. Investigating the properties of parameter spectral coherency, we showed that in this case correlation between different regions of the brain was significantly modulated with ISOs.© 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.