Related Experiment Videos
Positive occipital sharp transients in the human sleep EEG
Folia Psychiatrica Et Neurologica Japonica
|January 1, 1983
Summary
Positive occipital sharp transients (POSTs) in sleep EEG share similarities with waking lambda waves. POSTs were observed in 57% of subjects, particularly in younger adults and those with high alpha wave activity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Medicine
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
Background:
- Positive occipital sharp transients (POSTs) are EEG waveforms observed during sleep.
- Lambda waves are observed in the occipital EEG during the waking state.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize POSTs in human sleep EEG.
- To compare POSTs with lambda waves during wakefulness.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of sleep EEG recordings from 189 subjects.
- Comparison of waveform morphology and topography between POSTs and lambda waves.
- Evaluation of POSTs' incidence, frequency, and amplitude in relation to age, alpha wave index, sleep stage, and environmental factors.
Main Results:
- POSTs were detected in 57% of subjects, with highest incidence in the 21-30 year age group.
- A high alpha wave index correlated with a higher incidence of POSTs.
- POSTs exhibited similar waveform and topography to lambda waves.
- POST frequency peaked in the first 30 minutes of NREM sleep.
- POST characteristics were unaffected by ambient light levels.
- No correlation was found between POST frequency and dream experience.
Conclusions:
- POSTs are a common finding in human sleep EEG, sharing similarities with waking lambda waves.
- Age and alpha wave activity are associated with POST occurrence.
- POSTs appear early in NREM sleep and are not influenced by light, suggesting endogenous mechanisms.