The relationship between cerebral blood flow and the EEG in normals

Using the Xe133 inhalation technique, measurements of the blood flow to the left and right parietal and temporal regions of the cerebrum were obtained in 5 healthy individuals while simultaneously recording their EEGs. Up to 3 measurements were obtained from each of the subjects the first while they were mentally at rest and the others while they were engaged in prescribed forms of mental activity. Relationships between the measured blood flow through grey matter, initial slope index, relative grey weight, percent grey flow and power in the delta, delta-theta, alpha, beta and gamma rhythms of the EEG were examined. The results showed that for the subject group as a whole there was a strong correlation between the power present in the low frequency components of EEG and the grey flow and relative grey weight parameters of blood flow. On an individual basis, the observed relationships were highly variable particularly at high flow rates and at low relative grey weights, but became much more definitive at low flows and high weights. The results as they relate to previous work of this kind are discussed.