OBSERVATIONS ON THE WAVE AND SPIKE COMPLEX IN THE ELECTRO-ENCEPHALOGRAM

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Abstract
The wave and spike complex (WS), consisting of 3 c/sec. wave= and negative spikes, associated primarily with petit mal, was investigated in 100 cases whose records showed this phenomenon. Bipolar recordings, 15-20 min. long, with 2 rows of saline pad electrodes over each hemisphere were made with observation of the effects of opening and closing the eyes (OE, CE) and overbreathing (OB). In the 100 records atypical and abortive forms were disregarded. Subjects were all known or suspected epileptics, 75 being 5-20 yrs. old, 8 over 30, the eldest 46. Normal alpha rhythm was dominant in post-central areas in 88, having an amplitude of 50 uv. or more in 57 and being irregular, ill-defined or absent in 12. Apart from WS 58 cases had normal records: abnormal rhythms in the remining 42 cases being: 6 range (1-4 c/sec), 17 cases; 0 range (4-7c/sec), 13; generalized dysrhythmia, 9; and high voltage fast activity, 6. WS appeared without OB in 80, in 20 only with OB, and 74 of 82 developed WS as a result of OB. OE caused WS in 8, CE in 15, both OE and CE in 4. In 3 cases OE inhibited WS. Number of WS outbursts averaged 3-4, was 10 or more in 10 cases, with spread from 1 to 29. Duration of WS averaged 8 sec., was over 15 sec. in 20 cases, with spread from 1 sec. to almost continuous. Duration in some individuals was strikingly constant, in others variable. The pattern of WS was generalized in 94 cases; in frontal leads only in 3, and generalized and localized at different times in 3. WS usually appeared abruptly, the longer bursts progressively decreasing in frequency. WS, usually longer than average, was accompanied by petit mal attacks in 29 cases. Clinical history of petit mal attacks and number of WS outbursts showed little or no correlation. Liability to the former is related to duration rather than frequency of WS. Tridione had inconstant effects on WS in 4 cases.