[Mathematical analyses in the study of electroencephalographic signals].
OBJECTIVE
The principal mathematical techniques applied to the EEG are reviewed.


METHODS
After the introduction of digital EEG, new mathematical tools have been developed for the EEG analysis. Nowadays there are several techniques that analyse the EEG signal in different ways, getting a better understanding of the EEG: development of new montages; artifact removal; analysis in time domain, phase coherence and synchrony; source analysis; epileptic seizures detection and prediction; superposition of electrical activity and other neuroimaging techniques. Although they have demonstrated their efficacy, the comparison between them is not always easy.


CONCLUSIONS
The development of mathematical tools for EEG analysis has improved the knowledge of the electric cerebral activity in normal and pathological conditions. They study many different aspects of the EEG signal. Their continuous development will produce an increase the knowledge of the normal and pathological cerebral functions.
Urrestarazu
E
E
Departamento de Neurología, Clínica Universitaria, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.
Iriarte
J
J
D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted