Spatiotemporal Changes of Eeg Activity During Waking-Sleeping Transition Period

Abstract

To evaluate the spatiotemporal changes of EEG during waking-sleeping transition or hypnagogic period, spectral analysis of the five scalp EEG on the midline (Fpz, Fz, Cz, Pz and Oz) referenced to the left ear lobe was carried out on seven young male subjects. Power spectra from consecutive samples of 5.12 sec period with 0.2 Hz resolution were studied from 10 min before the manually scored stage 1 onset to 30 min after the onset of stage 1.

The average power spectra over 1 min segments and corresponding coefficient of variation (CV) were determined for the frequency bands of delta (1–3 Hz), theta (4–7 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), sigma (13–15 Hz) and beta (16–19 Hz). The latency score was denned as the time elapsed from the onset of stage 1 to the first epoch when the frequency band power, using the ANOVA significantly increased (or decreased) in comparison with the average level at the onset of stage 1.

Median latency scores for each band were similar to the Cz scores, with a ranking, from early to late, of: alpha (2 min), theta (3 min), delta (5 min) and sigma (5 min). Significant change was not observed on the beta band activity. In terms of the EEG areas, the shortest latency was found in the theta band activity of the Fz EEG (2 min), and the longest was the sigma band activity of the Fpz and Oz EEG (8 min). The average stage 2 latency was 3.5 min when it was measured as time elapsed between the onset of stage 1 and 2.

The average curves of delta, theta and alpha band CVs, started to increase just before or immediately after stage 1 onset and continued to increase for about 10 min. If the increased CV or unsteadiness of EEG activity is taken as a characteristic of the hypnagogic period, hypnagogic states may be considered to have continued until about 10 min after the stage 1 onset.

Delta-theta activity showed a rapid rise in power after the onset of stage 1 for all areas. Delta power at the occipital, however, increased more gradually, and consistently remained at a lower level. The differences of delta power between Oz and other four electrode sites became clear at 7 min after the onset of stage 1. These regional differences may reflect the termination of hypnagogic effects.

These results suggest that EEG structures of hypnagogic state were not uniform across the EEG areas and the hypnagogic state probably started before the onset of stage 1 to continue for several minutes after the onset of stage. 2.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tadao Hori

Joyce Laing works in the Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, Playfield House, Cupar, Fife, and is a Consultant Art Therapist to Psychiatric Hospitals and Prisons and Chairwoman of the Scottish Society of Art and Psychology.