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Temporal Distribution and Ontogenetic Development of EEG Activity During Sleep
Author(s) -
Keane Barry,
Smith Jack,
Webb Wilse
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.1977.tb01185.x
Subject(s) - electroencephalography , ultradian rhythm , psychology , sleep (system call) , alpha (finance) , audiology , ontogeny , age groups , beta (programming language) , alpha rhythm , developmental psychology , neuroscience , demography , circadian rhythm , endocrinology , biology , medicine , psychometrics , construct validity , sociology , computer science , programming language , operating system
The purpose of this study was to investigate nightly patterns of temporal organization of EEG alpha, beta, delta, and sigma spindle activities and to measure changes in these patterns with age. A total of 50 nights of EEG recordings were obtained from normal subjects from various age groups, ranging from 3 to 79 yrs. A Sleep Analyzing Hybrid Computer (SAHC) measured min by min amounts of each EEG waveform. The amount of beta activity occurring in the first half of the night increased with age, whereas the amount occurring later in the night decreased. An opposing trend was observed in the occurrence of delta activity. Alpha activity increased significantly for subjects in their 50's and increased tremendously after age 65. In the oldest group the alpha had developed a very definite ultradian pattern and appeared coincident with REM. This alpha‐REM pattern was suppressed in the younger age groups.