Localization of the sources of EEG delta, theta, alpha and beta frequency bands using the FFT dipole approximation

FFT dipole approximation and 3-dimensional dipole modelling were used to determine the locations of the equivalent dipole model sources of the delta, theta, alpha, beta-1 and beta-2 frequency bands in 13 normal subjects during resting. From each subject, 2 successive data sets were analysed, each consisting of 10 epochs of 2 sec randomly collected during 30 min. ANOVAs showed that over subjects, the source locations of EEG frequency bands differed significantly in the vertical and antero-posterior dimensions. Results of data set 2 confirmed those of data set 1. The source of delta was deepest and most anterior, theta more posterior and less deep, alpha most posterior and highest on the vertical dimension, beta-1 deeper and slightly more anterior than alpha, and beta-2 again more anterior and deeper than beta-1. Thus, the depth of source location was not linearly related to temporal frequency. The sources of all 5 bands were oriented in the sagittal direction; delta mean fields had steeper gradients anteriorly, alpha and beta-1 posteriorly. The power map for any frequency was well described by a single phase angle. The results indicate that the different EEG frequency bands during a given EEG epoch are generated by neural populations in different brain locations.