The thalamus as the generator and modulator of EEG alpha rhythm: a combined PET/EEG study with lorazepam challenge in humans

2003

Background: Purpose of this study was to investigate the functional relationship between electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha power and cerebral glucose metabolism before and after pharmacological alpha suppression by lorazepam. Methods: Ten healthy male volunteers were examined undergoing two F18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) scans with simultaneous EEG recording: 1× placebo, 1× lorazepam. EEG power spectra were computed by means of Fourier analysis. The PET data were analyzed using SPM99, and the correlations between metabolism and alpha power were calculated for both conditions. Results: The comparison lorazepam versus placebo revealed reduced glucose meta…