Dynamics of directed interactions between brain regions during interburst–burst EEG patterns in quiet sleep of full-term neonates

Abstract

The study investigates time-variant directed interactions between brain regions during the interburst–burst EEG pattern (tracé alternant) characteristic of quiet sleep in healthy neonates. The transition from interburst to burst is of particular interest as the generation of the EEG characteristics at burst onset reflects timing and time-variant interplay between the cortical and the thalamo-cortical brain structures. To study the dynamics of the interactions, time-variant partial directed coherence (PDC), a measure of effective connectivity, was used which allows analysis in the time–frequency range. The main results of the grand mean PDC analysis are: (1) PDC time–frequency patterns are frequently associated with phase-locked oscillations. (2) Interhemispheric interactions are dominant between frontal, central and occipital electrodes and intrahemispheric interactions are much less substantial. (3) An interaction breakdown for the frequency ranges 1–4Hz (Fp1⇒Fp2) and 0.5–3Hz (Fp2⇒Fp1) exists which lasts about 2.5s and which is located at about burst onset. (4) Strong interactions in the high-frequency range 3.5–4.5Hz between the frontal electrodes can be observed for both directions at the burst onset. It can be concluded that the evolution of strong interactions in the high-frequency range, which starts shortly before or at the burst onset from frontal regions to anteroposterior directions as well as the frontal interhemispheric interactions, are associated with the burst onset generation. Additionally, the collapsing of the interactions before burst onset and after the burst are indicative of neuronal reorganisation processes.