Tadahiko Shibata

The synchronization between brain areas under motor inhibition process in humans estimated by event-related EEG coherence.

To investigate the functional connection of brain areas under motor inhibition, the event-related coherence (ERCoh) of the electroencephalogram (EEG) was calculated for 10 subjects who were asked to perform a visual discrimination (GO/NO-GO) task. The subjects were instructed to push (GO) or not to push (NO-GO) a micro-switch according to different visual stimuli. Twenty-one-channel scalp EEGs were recorded and the surface Laplacians were calculated at F3, F4, C3, C4, P3 and P4 using the source derivation method. The time-courses of the inter- and intra-hemispheric coherence were calculated using the fast Fourier transform for each condition (GO or NO-GO), and were compared statistically between the two conditions. The results suggest that the ERCoh under the NO-GO condition consisted of two components; alpha band synchronization between bilateral frontal areas and theta band synchronization among bilateral frontal, central and parietal areas. It is likely that the former is related directly to the decision not to move, and the latter is related to the motor inhibition process.

EVENT-RELATED DYNAMICS OF THE GAMMA-BAND OSCILLATION IN THE HUMAN BRAIN : INFORMATION PROCESSING DURING A GO/NOGO HAND MOVEMENT TASK

To investigate the gamma band activity relating to the discrimination process and motor behavior in the human brain, the event-related dynamics of the EEG spectrum was calculated during the visual GO/NOGO hand movement task and a control task (the visual element of the GO/NOGO task only) in eight subjects. The subjects were instructed to push (GO) or not to push (NOGO) a microswitch according to different visual stimuli and 21-channel scalp EEGs were recorded. The time courses of the power spectra after the stimuli were calculated using the fast Fourier transform for each condition (GO, NOGO and the control task), and were compared statistically between the conditions. The results suggested that a high gamma band oscillation, occurring at the frontal and left parieto-occipital areas at around 90 ms after the stimuli, relates to the discrimination process. Under the GO condition, this oscillation continued until 140 ms, and a subsequent oscillation occurred over the motor areas at around 200 ms, which seemed to be related to the motor action. On the other hand, under the NOGO condition, a low gamma band oscillation occurred in the central area at around 230 ms, which seemed to be related to the inhibition process.

The time course of interhemispheric EEG coherence during a GO/NO-GO task in humans

Event-related coherence of the EEG was calculated for 10 subjects performing a visual discrimination GO/NO-GO task. The subjects were instructed to push (GO) or not to push (NO-GO) a button according to visual stimuli. Twenty-one-channel scalp EEGs were recorded and the surface Laplacian was calculated using the source derivation method. The time courses of the coherence between F3 and F4, C3 and C4, and P3 and P4 were calculated using the fast Fourier transform for each task and were compared between conditions. Statistical analysis showed that coherence in the NO-GO condition became significantly higher than that in the GO condition between F3 and F4. The synchronization between bilateral dorsolateral frontal areas might therefore play an important role in the motor inhibition process.

Intracerebral source localization of mental process-related potentials elicited prior to mental sweating response in humans

We measured the mental sweating response (MSR) and the skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA). Mental arithmetic or recall questions first elicited SSNA and then elicited MSR. MSR was used as the trigger point of time 0 ms to average EEGs. The averaged EEGs contained slow wave fluctuations, which occurred 5 s prior to the MSR onset. The current source locations of the MSR-related potentials were estimated by EEG dipole tracing method in two subjects. Mental stress activated the inferior frontal gyrus 5.5 s prior to the MSR and then 0.5 s later, the lateral part of the hippocampus in a subject, and they activated the medial part of the amygdala 5 s prior to the MSR in another subject. Indirect contact of the brain with the mind associated with mental questions was discussed.

Different patterns of dipole source localization in gelastic seizure with or without a sense of mirth

Dipole source localization corresponding to interictal spikes were estimated using EEG dipole tracing with a realistic three-shell head model in three patients with cryptogenic gelastic epilepsy. The dipole sources in two patients, whose gelastic seizures were accompanied by a subjective feeling of mirth, were estimated in the right or left medio-basal temporal regions. In the other patient, with gelastic seizures without a sense of mirth, the dipole sources were localized in the right frontal region corresponding to the anterior cingulate. The results suggest that the neural activities in hippocampal regions are involved with the generation of gelastic seizures with a sense of mirth and those in the cingulate might be associated with the motor act of laughter.

Dipole source localization of ictal epileptiform activity.

DIPOLE source localization of ictal epileptiform activity recorded by scalp EEG was performed in patients prior to surgical treatment. The dipole tracing method combined with the scalp—skull—brain head model was used to locate epileptogenic foci. A digital EEG system was used for data collection. The accuracy of dipole source localization was evaluated by comparing the focus location with that obtained by chronic subdural electrocorticography. In a case of frontal lobe epilepsy with epileptogenic focus in the frontoparietal convexity, the results of dipole source localization agreed well with those obtained with chronic subdural electrocorticography. In a case of lateral temporal lobe epilepsy, the results of dipole source localization were consistent with those obtained with chronic subdural electrocorticography, but a small localization error was observed. The clinical usefulness of and suggestions for improving this method are discussed.

Visual evoked potentials relating to imagery: words for concrete objects versus absolute concepts.

SummaryWe recorded visual evoked potentials (VEPs) elicited with high or low imaginable Chinese characters (HIC or LIC), representing concrete objects or absolute concepts, respectively. A closed circle (CC) acts as control stimulus. These were displayed (at 1.6° visual angle) for 35 ms on a TV monitor. Twenty-one channel VEPs (band-pas filter: 0.05–60 Hz), using balanced non-cephalic electrodes, were recorded from −100 to 924 ms for 11 right-handed male volunteers. The VEPs were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and comparison of topographies at four remarkable peaks (P110, N160, P230 and N320). MANOVA showed significant differences (p< 0.001) for both conditions of channel and stimuli (HIC, LIC or CC). P100 for the CC-VEPs, N160 for the HIC-and LIC-VEPs, P230 for the CC-VEPs, and N320 for the HIC-VEPs were remarkable in the posterior scalp regions. Topographies at P100 and N160 showed no difference between the HIC-and LIC-stimuli. However, those at N320 showed difference between the HIC-and LIC-stimuli over the occipital and posterior temporal areas. Those results suggest that the responses at P100 and N160 might segregate Chinese characters from non Chinese characters. N320 suggested certain processes in imagery on recognizing Chinese characters over the occipital and posterior temporal areas.

Estimation of Electrical Sources of Interictal Spikes in FrontalLobe Epilepsy with the Dipole Tracing of the Scalp-Skull-Brain Head Model: Comparison with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

cryptogenic BECT more clearly than did EEG, in terms of localization and current moment of the dipoles. Epileptic discharges in idiopathic BECT appear to be generated by synchronous activation of a larger neuronal population than those in cryptogenic BECT and SPE. Our earlier study on children with RD in 1992 showed that those with sylvian seizures had a benign outcome regardless of the presence of organic background in pathoetiology, whereas those with an organic background and complex partial seizures without sylvian seizures had an outcome as unfavorable as that of other SPEs. This shows that RD is not a hallmark indicating benignancy of partial epilepsy in children. It is likely that there is a wide spectrum of clinical expression among children with RD. It is possible that MEG can elucidate this spectrum.

DIFFERENCES IN AUDITORY SCALP POTENTIALS EVOKED BY MEANINGFUL WORDS AND NONLINGUISTIC STIMULI

Differences in auditory evoked potentials with meaningful words and their reverse playback may reflect different neural processes in recognizing auditory Stimuli. Auditory evoked potentials with the words and their reverse playback were analyzed for eight volunteers, and a maximal difference was observed at a latency around 400 msec. over the left middle temporal central area.

Binocular interactions in visual evoked cortical potentials with two light-emitting-diodes

Binocular interaction for a central field was studied with transient scalp visual evoked cortical potentials (VECPs) using two light-emitting-diodes. VECPs were obtained for binocular and monocular visions with dominant and non-dominant eyes, and arithmetical sums of monocular VECPs with dominant and non-dominant eyes were calculated. Amplitude and latency of remarkable initial three peaks were tested with the multivariate analysis of variance. Significant differences were noted among the four VECPs. Pairwise comparisons showed that (1) the amplitude of the first peak for the binocular VECPs was larger than that for the monocular VECPs but smaller than that for the sum-VECPs; the latency of the first peaks for the binocular VECPs were earlier than that for the monocular VECPs with the non-dominant eye; (2) the amplitude of the first negative peak for the sum-VECPs was larger than that for the binocular VECPs, and the peak latency for the sum-VECPs showed later than that for the binocular VECPs; (3) the amplitude of the second positive peak for the binocular VECPs and monocular VECPs with the dominant eye was larger than that with the non-dominant eye, but smaller for the binocular VECPS than that for the sum-VECPs; the latency for the binocular VECPs showed earlier than that for the monocular VECPs with the dominant eye and for the sum-VECPs. Binocular suppression was noted in amplitude for the three peaks and binocular facilitation was noted in latency for the latter two peaks.