Spatial Structure of Brain Electric Fields during Intermittent Photic Stimulation

Abstract

EEG changes in 27 young healthy male right-handed volunteers on intermittent photic stimulation (IPS) were estimated using global field power (GFP), EEG microstate modeling and analysis (EMMA), and low-resolution electromagnetic brain tomography (LORETA). The GFP significantly increased at flashing frequency and high harmonics. Three model maps were extracted with the EMMA procedure, from which high alternation rates of each microstate were observed. Moreover, two of the three model maps contributed very highly, occurring most frequently. LORETA imaging of the three model maps obtained from the EMMA procedure showed that both visual dominant cortical areas were activated, especially in the left hemisphere. These results suggest that IPS does not cause peculiar spatial configurations of the brain electric field, but does cause acceleration and deviation of the microstate alternation. Also, a functional laterality between hemispheres might be enhanced by symmetric IPS.

Investigation of the electrophysiological correlates of negative BOLD response during intermittent photic stimulation: An EEG-fMRI study

“…IPS in general was found to induce an EEG power increase at 8 and 10 Hz, result that is in agreement with the observation of increased alpha power during IPS. Similarly to IPS at 12 Hz, we found that this increase was enhanced in the left occipital area than in the right one, supporting the physiological photic driving laterality that was reported in previous studies [Hirota et al, ; Lansing and Thomas, ].…”

“…BOLD dynamics in the significant ROIs of the 8, 10 and 12 Hz EEG contrasts (Table IV) Similarly to IPS at 12 Hz, we found that this increase was enhanced in the left occipital area than in the right one, supporting the physiological photic driving laterality that was reported in previous studies [Hirota et al, 2001;Lansing and Thomas, 1964].…”

Topographic aspects of photic driving in the electroencephalogram of children and adolescents

“…Various types of interhemispheric differences in the EEG driving reaction were observed in adult subjects and patients (7)(8)(9) and it was shown that IPS may emphasize the functional asymmetry (10). It has even been proposed that in certain cases the sensitivity of the left and right hemispheres to IPS may differ in relation to high and low stimulation frequencies (11).…”

EEG photic driving: Right-hemisphere reactivity deficit in childhood autism. A pilot study

“…In these pathologies, topographic evaluation of the photic driving response in different brain areas has shown a promising potential for revealing subtle functional disturbances in regional reactivity (Jin et al, 2000). It was demonstrated that IPS can emphasize the functional interhemispheric asymmetry (Hirota et al, 2001) and can also indicate regional functional alterations through asymmetric driving effects (Scheuler, 1983;Beydoun et al, 1998).…”