The K-complex: Its slow (<1-Hz) rhythmicity and relation to delta waves

作者：Florin Amzica, Mircea Steriade · 发表于：Neurology · 年份：1997 · DOI：10.1212/wnl.49.4.952 · 被引用次数：335 · 研究领域：Neural dynamics and brain function、Photoreceptor and optogenetics research、EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces

The K-complex is a major graphoelement of sleep EEG. This report demonstrates that K-complexes emerge from a cortically generated slow (<1-Hz) oscillation. Human EEG as well as cat cellular and field potential recordings converge into demonstrating that the K-complex results from a synchronized cortical network that imposes periodic excitatory and inhibitory actions on cortical neurons. We additionally show the correspondence between neuronal activities and the shape of the K-complex. Spectral analysis confirms the periodic recurrence of human K-complexes, with main peaks at 0.5 to 0.7 Hz. It is also shown that the spectral content in the delta band (1 to 4 Hz) is partially due to the shape and duration of the K-complex.