Source estimation of spontaneous MEG activity and auditory evoked responses in normal subjects during sleep

This study focuses on source estimation of spontaneous MEG activity and auditory evoked responses during sleep. Sources of K-complexes and auditory evoked responses were investigated by magnetoencephalograph (MEG) and electroencephalograph (EEG) measurements, simultaneously. Sources of K-complexes during stage 2 sleep were investigated. The MEG results suggested that the sources of K-complexes can be modeled by two current dipoles. Dipoles for the K-complexes were estimated to be located 5 mm away from the sources of the N100 components of auditory evoked responses during wakefulness. Sources of auditory evoked responses during each sleep stage were also investigated to clarify the origins of the K-complex, the vertex sharp transient, and delta waves. Estimated dipoles for the N100 component for each sleep stage were estimated to be at slightly different locations in the auditory area. Based upon results of the MEG measurements and the EEG topographies, sources of the N330 component can be modeled by multiple current dipoles, which are seen to be distributed diffusely throughout the cerebral cortex.