New Electroencephalogram (EEG) Neuroimaging Methods of Analyzing Brain Activity Applicable to the Study of Human Sexual Response

Abstract

Introduction Electroencephalogram (EEG) combined with brain source localization algorithms is becoming a powerful tool in the neuroimaging study of human cerebral functions. Aim The present article provides a tutorial on the various EEG methods currently used to study the human brain activity, notably during sexual response. Main Outcome Measures Review of published literature on standard EEG waveform analyses and most recent electrical neuroimaging techniques (microstate approach and two methods of brain source localization). Methods Retrospective overview of pertinent literature. Results Although the standard EEG waveform analyses enable millisecond time-resolution information about the human sexual responses in the brain, less is clear about their related spatial information. Nowadays, the improvement of EEG techniques and statistical approaches allows the visualization of the dynamics of the human sexual response with a higher spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we describe these enhanced techniques and summarize along with an overview of what we have learned from them in terms of chronoarchitecture of sexual response in the human brain. Finally, the speculation on how we may be able to use other enhanced approaches, such as independent component analysis, are also presented. Conclusions EEG neuroimaging has already been proven as a strong worthwhile research tool. Combining this approach with standard EEG waveform analyses in sexual medicine may provide a better understanding of the neural activity underlying the human sexual response in both healthy and clinical populations.

Understanding Actions of Others: The Electrodynamics of the Left and Right Hemispheres. A High-Density EEG Neuroimaging Study

“…This GFP measure, first introduced by Lehman and Skrandies (1980), is equivalent to the spatial standard deviation of the scalp electric field calculated as the root mean square across the average-referenced electrode values at a given instant in time [34]. GFP yields larger values for stronger electric fields [32], [44].…”

“…As a technique, we used high-density electrical neuroimaging, which combined a cluster-analysis of brain topography (a technique elaborated by Lehmann, [28]) with inverse solutions [29], [30], [31], [32]. This technique has the advantage of providing high temporal and a relatively high spatial resolution about stimulus information processing by unraveling the temporal sequence of the brain topographies (brain microstates) that are stable after a stimulus onset and the spatial location of the brain generators of these brain topographies [31], [32], [33], [34], [35].…”

“…This technique has the advantage of providing high temporal and a relatively high spatial resolution about stimulus information processing by unraveling the temporal sequence of the brain topographies (brain microstates) that are stable after a stimulus onset and the spatial location of the brain generators of these brain topographies [31], [32], [33], [34], [35]. This technique has proven to be a reliable research tool during the past decade [35], [36], [37], [38], [39], [40].…”

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“…First of all, further studies need to test further how and when the understanding of actions and intentions of other people (notably significant others) may be distorted and transformed into false beliefs. To do so, researchers need to use neuroimaging techniques (such as high-density 4D electroencephalogram (EEG) neuroimaging [76]) that provide high spatial and temporal resolution in order to study the brain chronoarchitecture (i.e., brain spatio-temporal dynamics) of people experiencing delusional jealousy.…”

Modulation of Neurotransmission by a Specified Oregano Extract Alters Brain Electrical Potentials Indicative of Antidepressant-Like and Neuroprotective Activities

“…Thus, Tele-Stereo-EEG technique and recorded electropharmacograms provide detailed insight into the time and dose dependency of the effects of pharmacological compounds. One of the biggest advantage of EEG, apart from being a predictive method for determining neurotransmitter function in the brain, is its high temporal resolution in the range of milliseconds [17][18][19]. Meanwhile, electropharmacogram data are available from rats after treatment with more than 150 compounds from a wide range of drug categories (for example, analgesics, antidepressants, neuroleptics, stimulants, tranquilizers, sedatives and narcotics), providing a valuable tool for prediction of the properties of an unknown ingredient.…”