Electroencephalography.

OBJECTIVE: Amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) is a single channel EEG recorded from two parietal electrodes. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that aEEG maturation follows postmenstrual age (PMA) irrespective of gestational age (GA). METHODS: We recruited inborn infants with a GA <33 weeks and without evidence of neurologic anomaly. Serial aEEG recordings were assessed for: presence of continuous activity and mature sleep-wake cycling (SWC); low base voltage (V), that is, the lowest amplitude margin; high base V, that is, the most common amplitude margin; upper high V, that is, upper margin during highest activity; and span, that is, the difference between upper high and simultaneous high base V. Statistical analysis included logistic regression and repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: We obtained 119 aEEG recordings in 31 preterm infants (GA 25 to 32 weeks; birth weight 600 to 1704 g, PMA 25 to 35 weeks). The frequency of mature SWC increased with PMA independent of GA, while the frequency of continuity increased with PMA and was higher in extremely preterm infants after correcting for PMA. Low base and high base V increased with PMA, while span and upper high V significantly decreased with PMA. In addition, high base V was higher in extremely preterm infants after correcting for PMA. CONCLUSIONS: In preterm infants aEEG matures predominantly with PMA. Our data suggest that some aspects of aEEG maturation are enhanced, rather than inhibited by extremely preterm birth. These data suggest that aEEG in preterm infants may need to be analyzed by comparing results with standards of similar PMA and GA.

Electroencephalography↗

PubMed2005

["If Berger had survived the second world war - he certainly would have been a candidate for the Nobel Prize". Hans Berger and the legend of the Nobel Prize].

The public opinion pays much attention to the Nobel Prize as an indicator for the scientific efficiency of a university or a country in connection with foundation of so-called elite universities. The former holder of the psychiatric chair in Jena and discoverer of the electroencephalogram Hans Berger (1873 - 1941) came into discussion as candidate for the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. The current medical-historical publications maintain the view that Berger should have received the Nobel Prize in 1936 as well as in 1949. This was prevented in 1936 by an enactment from Hitler, which forbid him to accept the prize, and later in 1949 by Berger's own death. According to documents of the Nobel archives these statements can be disproved. Berger was only nominated three times out of 65 nominations in 1940. Because of his death the other two recommendations in 1942 and 1947 were never evaluated.

Electroencephalography↗