title: Computer analysis of the telemetered EEG in the study of epilepsy and schizophrenia.
abstract: Computation of power spectra from averaged brief epochs of spike free scalp EEG coincident with the subcortical spike has revealed a distinctive spectral configuration characterized by smooth monotonic decline in power from lowest to highest frequencies. Nine out of 10 patients with epilepsy display similar patterns preceeding long latency responses to a verbal motor reaction time task. Although subcortical spike activity has been recorded from the parasental region of patients with schizophrenia by several investigators half of our patients with schizophrenia displayed a different pattern which resembles a "white noise" spectrum during the delayed reaction time of incorrect response trials. Power spectra derived from 24-hour telemetered scalp EEGs from patients with epilepsy and schizophrenia are also sharply differentiated by similar criteria. These non-invasive methods for analysis of the scalp EEG in relation to careful and controlled behaviour observations may give useful information regarding subcortical activity when intracranial electrodes cannot be utilized.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003201:Computers; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000503:physiopathology; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013686:Telemetry