Quantitative analysis of the EEG during tonic REM sleep--methodology.
Frequency and amplitude characteristics of the clinical (waking) electroencephalogram (EEG) can be diagnostically useful in neuronal degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's or other cortical dementias. However, interpretation of the clinical EEG may be limited by many factors, including movement and muscle artifacts and uncontrolled variations along the alert/drowsy continuum. Moreover, the clinical EEG involves subjective judgement by experts whose opinions often differ. In an effort to address these problems, we have developed a computer-automated technology that examines the digitized, all-night sleep EEG for frequency and amplitude characteristics of potential diagnostic relevance to Alzheimer's dementia. Robust time series analysis techniques and a modified power spectral analysis (Z-spectra) are used to suppress artifactual information and to automatically select samples of tonic REM sleep EEG. The spectra (amplitude vs. frequency relationship) of this specific EEG state is then assessed for diagnostically relevant information.
Larsen
L H
LH
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Prinz
P N
PN
Moe
K E
KE
D000465:Algorithms; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*