Summary
A "picture book" of surface potentials, Laplacians, and magnetic fields due to distributed, neocortical sources is presented. The mathematically simulated data is based on 4200 current sources at the macrocolumn scale. Estimated scalp surface maps are based on the three-concentic spheres model of the head. Emphasis is placed on the effects of sampling with a limited number of electrodes, the choice of reference electrode, and the use of the spline Laplacian to improve spatial resolution. The spline Laplacian is applied to median and ulnar nerve somatosensory evoked potentials and to auditory evoked potentials including P300. Substantial improvement in spatial resolution over conventional methods is obtained. The implementation of practical high resolution EEG systems based on the spline Laplacian is considered.
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The authors greatfully acknowledge the technical assistance of Chris Fritton, Laurie Orth, and Chiraprakash Nayak. This research was supported by NIH grant RO1 NS24314.
Invited paper, Submitted to Brain Topography, July, 1991
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Nunez, P.L., Pilgreen, K.L., Westdorp, A.F. et al. A Visual study of surface potentials and Laplacians due to distributed neocortical sources: Computer simulations and evoked potentials. Brain Topogr 4, 151–168 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01132772
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01132772