Alpha-theta continuum: underlying neurophysiological mechanism
Abstract
Thalamo-cortical interactions within the framework of contemporary neurophysiology are to be regarded as the key mechanism of integral bioelectrical activity generation. According to the “thalamic” theory of alpha-rhythm generation, the frequency of burst-activity in thalamic neurons depends on their level of membrane polarization. The findings accumulated to date allow us to attribute the generation of alpha-rhythm and the theta-range oscillations on EEG to the same mechanisms. While hyperpolarized thalamic pacemaker neurons alter the frequency of their discharge activity from 10-12 Hz to 4-7 Hz. Consequently the overall EEG-activity demonstrates the decrease in frequency of predominant activity. The range of oscillation frequency between 4 and 13 Hz might be considered an “alpha-theta continuum”.
About the Authors
M. V. Aleksandrov
Scienific Research Institute of Neurosurgery
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
A. A. Chukhlovin
Scienific Research Institute of Neurosurgery
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
M. E. Pavlovskaya
Scienific Research Institute of Neurosurgery
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
I. A. Kostenko
Scienific Research Institute of Neurosurgery
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
N. B. Arkhipova
Scienific Research Institute of Neurosurgery
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
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Review
For citations:
Aleksandrov M.V., Chukhlovin A.A., Pavlovskaya M.E., Kostenko I.A., Arkhipova N.B. Alpha-theta continuum: underlying neurophysiological mechanism. Medical alphabet. 2017;1(14):46-50. (In Russ.)
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