Analysis of clinical and electrophysiological findings in Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease

Serial EEG and EMG investigations were performed in the course of a histologically verified case of Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease. Some electrophysiologic data, including visual-evoked responses were analyzed using a computer. Correlations between clinical and EEG findings suggest that the generator of the periodic discharges may be localized in some circumscribed area of the upper brain stem, probably the thalamus. The inhibitory effect of various narcotics suggests that the pacemaker of the triphasic discharges has relations to the nonspecific activating system.