Colin B. Holman

Electroencephalographic rhythms from the depths of the parietal, occipital and temporal lobes in man ☆

Abstract Further studies have been done in an effort to establish additional patterns of the electric activity in the depths of the human brain. It has been demonstrated that somatic, sensory, motor, auditory and visual activity can be recorded from the depths of the brain. Synchronous activity recorded from the ventromedial part of the frontal lobe, parts of the temporal lobe, parts of the parietal lobe and the region of the hypothalamus indicates connections between these regions. Profound changes in the electric activity in these regions during acute episodes of agitation and hallucination have been observed.

Electroencephalographic rhythms from the depths of the frontal lobe in 60 psychotic patients.

Abstract The following waves were consistently recorded from the depths of the frontal lobes in 60 psychotic patients: (1) alphalike 8 to 12 c/sec. waves in the uppermost layers; (2) arrhythmic 2 to 4 c/sec. waves maximal in the ventral medial portions; (3) fast 25 c/sec. waves maximal in the lateral portions; (4) rhythmic 26 to 38 c/sec. waves from the olfactory bulb and (5) flat recordings, probably from the central white matter. Of 40 patients who had normal preliminary recordings from the scalp, 23 showed bilateral rhythmic bursts of high-voltage, 2 to 5 c/sec. waves, occasionally simulating slow sharp waves, in depth recordings. To allow assessment of the properties of the rhythms encountered in the depths of the frontal lobe, recordings were made under varied conditions, such as mental activity, hyperventilation, sleep, ether and barbiturate anesthesia, and various types of stimulation. Light ether anesthesia, as well as that induced by thiopental sodium, increased the voltage of the 25 c/sec. waves. Ether increased their frequency, whereas thiopental decreased it. Deep anesthesia further enhanced the changes in frequency. Evoked olfactory potentials were not abolished by deep anesthesia. Ether increased their frequency up to 48 c/sec. and thiopental sodium decreased it to 17 c/sec. We have attempted to contribute to the recognition and understanding of the wave forms in the frontal lobe and their distribution in the hope that such work will be of value in the establishment of base lines for depth electrography. As the recordings in this study were derived from psychotic patients, we have purposely avoided any statement regarding the normalcy of the waves described.

Craniosynostosis involving the sagittal suture only: Guilt by association?

Summary The clinical findings in 42 cases of craniosynostosis are summarized. Eighteen patients had craniosynostosis involving only the sagittal suture. Ten of the 18 did not have surgical treatment, while 5 had inadequate and 3 had adequate surgical procedures. We believe that patients with craniosynostosis involving the sagittal suture alone have been given an unwarrantedly poor prognosis in regard to development, and we question advocation of craniectomy for cosmetic reasons alone.

The Roentgenologic Manifestations of Meningiomas in the Region of the Tuberculum Sella

Although meningiomas of the tuberculum sellae had been described previously, Cushing and Eisenhardt (1) made the first extensive study of these tumors, emphasizing the fact that they seldom caused gross roentgen abnormalities. More recently Weyand and Camp (2) and di Chiro and Lindgren (3) have shown that evidence of such tumors often can be detected by careful roentgenographic evaluation of the sella turcica. Carotid angiography and cerebral pneumography have been used widely for the study of suprasellar tumors. List and Hodges (4) and Wood (5) have found angiography useful. Wickbom (6) believed that pneumoencephalography and carotid angiography should be used as complementary diagnostic examinations. Schlezinger and Teplick (7) and Dyke and Davidoff (8) described the abnormalities noted on pneumoencephalographic examinations. Many of the published series have included suprasellar tumors other than meningiomas of the tuberculum sellae. Present Study The present study was undertaken to re-evaluate abnorma...

Technics and Potentialities of Intracranial Electrography

Intracranial electrography is an extension of scalp and surface electro-encephalography in which electric impulses are obtained from the depths of the human brain. The surgical technic required for the placement of deep electrodes is simple, and the multi-contact electrodes are well tolerated. Pertinent information may be obtained by means of electric recording from or stimulation of the subcortex. This method portends to become a valuable diagnostic and investigative aid.

Cerebral angiography in agenesis of the corpus callosum.

A genesis of the corpus callosum is an interesting and rather uncommon error in the development of the brain. According to Davidoff and Epstein (1), it was first described by Reil in 1812, and 83 cases of partial or complete agenesis of the corpus callosum found at necropsy had been recorded prior to 1934. These writers credited Guttman with the first description of the pneumoencephalographic changes in 1929, although the diagnosis in that particular case was made at necropsy. Davidoff and Dyke (2), in 1934, reported 3 cases, 2 of which were recognized by their pneumoencephalographic characteristics; the lesion in one of these was subsequently proved by operation. At the present time, although the features of complete or relatively complete agenesis of the corpus callosum are well known, little has been written concerning the changes demonstrated by cerebral angiography. Because of the frequency of cerebral angiographic examinations now being carried out on patients who show rather nonspecific clinical sy...

Neurologic Changes, Surgical Treatment, and Postoperative Evaluation

Our analysis suggested that in patients operated on for primary lumbosacral disc protrusion, a more lasting postoperative result could be anticipated if disc removal and fusion were carried out simultaneously, but statistical analysis did not substantiate this impression. Patients who experienced a recurrence after removal of the protruded fifth lumbar intervertebral disc without fusion usually required fusion later. At the fourth lumbar level, on the other hand, the addition of a fusion operation at the time of the primary operation did not appear to increase the chances for a good postoperative result. Disc protrusions at the third lumbar level usually were removed without fusion because the likelihood of pseudarthrosis increased proportionately with the length of the bone graft applied. With disc protrusions occurring simultaneously at the lumbosacral interspace and the interspace above, a fusion operation performed at the same time as removal of the two discs appeared to offer a more lasting result. Since our patients were selected for operation by an orthopaedic surgeon as well as a neurosurgeon, a valid objection could be made on the basis of selection of patients. Although the results in all categories are encouraging, it is disappointing that they are not better. Pain in the lower part of the back and in the leg is not always due to degenerative disc disease and careful selection of patients appears essential to achieve better long-term postoperative results.

INTRACEREBRAL ELECTROGRAPHIC STUDY OF 93 PSYCHOTIC PATIENTS 1

Il;lectro-encephalographic recording from electrodes on the scalp has given valuable information in the diagnosis and treatment of a number of neurologic disorders, such as brain injuries, brain tumors and epilepsy. However, the results have been rather disappointing with respect to mental disorders. On the other hand, recording from the depths of the brain by means of intracerebral microelectrodes has given valuable diagnostic, therapeutic and neurophysiologic information in patients suffering from mental disorders. It should be pointed out immediately that such examinations have been carried out only in connection with operations on the brain. The results of such recordings frequently have made it possible to limit substantially the final surgical operation.

Sequential arrangement of multiple roentgenograms. A simple method.

A radiologist may waste much of his time arranging in sequence multiple roentgenograms of many special procedures before he is able to consider the examination in an orderly fashion. This is particularly true in instances such as cerebral angiography, in which there may be anywhere from 8 to 30 or more separate films. Much time is also wasted in assembling films taken at various times for comparative purposes, and most of this sorting has to be done by someone familiar with the examination. It is difficult to rely on nonprofessional help for this type of activity. Even if the sequential numbers can be easily read, it is nevertheless necessary to put the films up on the view box in some order for proper arrangement. Once this sorting procedure has been accomplished, however, it is possible to mark the films in the following manner so that they can be reassembled in order with ease and convenience. After the films are stacked in the proper sequence and order, the margins of one side are offset by about 1/8 ...