THE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM AFTER INJURY TO THE SPINAL CORD IN MAN

Abstract

IT IS WELL established that various forms of sensory stimulation may, under certain conditions, evoke changes in the electrical potentials of the brain of the experimental animal¹ and of man.² It has also been demonstrated that the spontaneous electrical activity of the cortex of the anesthetized animal may be modified by reducing the afferent inflow to the cerebrum.³ There is little direct evidence to indicate that the normally incident afferent inflow by way of the spinal cord in man plays a role in determining the character of the cortical potentials. Kaplan⁴ recently reported electroencephalographic studies in 10 cases of disease of, or involving, the spinal cord and stated that in all cases there were manifest abnormalities in the records. The electroencephalograms were characterized by the occurrence of paroxysmal 5 to 7 cycle per second activity, in most cases appearing focally in the motor, and occasionally in