THETA-RHYTHMS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCKING, CRYING, GAZING AND HANDLING ININFANTS

In order to specify the locations and to clarify the electrophysiologi cal significance of the transitory rhythmic theta activities detected on scalp electrodes in infants, we performed simultaneous EEG and vide o recording with power spectral map analysis in 29 normal infants of l ess than 1 year of age. The rhythmic theta activities appeared in post erior temporal regions with sucking or crying. in the parietal region with gazing, and in the frontal region with handling. Each specific lo cation of the theta rhythm seemed to correspond to the functional loca lization in the infant's brain. We thus concluded that these rhythmic theta activities might originate from direct cortical activation, or f rom the cortical activation driven by the neuronal impulses from the l imbic system through the connection between that system and the cortex . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.