[A study of cerebral maturity by means of quantitative analysis of the electroencephalogram]

The objective of this study is to evaluate cerebral maturity by means of quantitative analysis techniques applied to the electroencephalogram (EEG).

A transversal study of cerebral maturity was carried out in 403 persons who had undergone an EEG. A previous pilot study had been carried out of 103 persons. A series of spectral parameters of the EEG were selected so that all those studied were in the most similar conditions possible. Different frequency bands were analyzed choosing the one with best discrimination of the maturity aspect. Classification of the different levels of cerebral maturity was done with the help of multivariant analysis. The value of the median of the frequencies and the spectrum of relative potencies at the moment when a frequency band is at a maximum are the parameters which evolve best with age and best discriminate maturity Spectral analysis allows selection of the frequency bands most suitable to the problem. Working with two frequency bands is sufficient to evaluate cerebral maturity.

The variables obtained in the occipital channels were sufficient for evaluation of cerebral maturity. Those of the right hemisphere were more significant for diagnosis. The occipital channels are the most relevant in the study of cerebral maturity.

The neuronal network is the most efficient classifier for classification of different groups of maturity The next most efficient method is by quadratic discriminant analysis. Consideration of the variables, taking into account the factors of stability and regularity of the EEG signals improves discrimination with respect to the average of those recorded during the entire procedure.