Imaging procedures have been used for many years and are becoming increasingly important in a number of medical disciplines. This is due to recent technological advances, primarily computerization. The meth ods employed in CNS diagnostics are collectively referred to as "neu roimaging" and include procedures for investigating both cerebral morphology and cerebral function, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomogra phy (PET), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Topographic mapping of electroencephalograms (EEG) and evoked potentials represents one of the functional procedures and per mits topographic imaging of EEG, evoked potentials, and magnetic fields. The latter application includes not only magnetic fields evoked by stimuli relating to different sensory modalities, but also endogenous and motor fields resulting from spontaneous brain magnetic activity, as recorded by magnetoencephalograms (MEG), the magnetic comple ment of the EEG. The advantage of recording electric and magnetic fields over other neuroimaging procedures is that these techniques are completely noninvasive and have extremely short analysis times (in the millisecond range). The aim of this book is to clarify the current state of this emerging technology, to assess its potential for substantive contributions to brain research, to delineate areas for further research and, over all, to envis age clinical applications in disciplines such as psychiatry, neurology, and neuropsychology.

From its discovery in 1929 by Hans Berger until the late 1960s, when sensory visual and auditory evoked potentials were dis covered and became popular, the EEG was the most important method of neurophysiological examination. W-ith the advent of computer technology in the 1980s, it became possible to plot the potential fields of the EEG onto models of the scalp. This plot ting of information as neuroimages followed the structural and functional techniques of Cf, MRI, PET and SPECf. The success of this method, which began in the early 1980s, has led to the brain mapping of EEGs and EPs being increasingly used for di agnosistic purposes in neurology, psychiatry and psychopharma cology. The pioneers of this method believed in it and were commit ted to its success. However, many traditionalists felt that it gave no new information and so regarded the method with scepticism. Some found both the coloured maps and the mapping technique misleading, which led to unnecessary conflict between mappers and their chromophobic oponents. Emotions have run so high that some professional bodies have justifiably adopted guidelines and warned of the misuse of the method.

Electroencephalography is truly an interdisciplinary endeavor, involving concepts and techniques from a variety of different disciplines. Included are basic physics, neuro physiology, electrophysiology, electrochemistry, electronics, and electrical engineer ing, as well as neurology. Given this interesting and diverse mixture of areas, the train ing of an EEG technician, a neurology resident, or an EEG researcher in the basics of clinical electroencephalography presents an uncommon challenge. In the realm of technology, it is relatively easy to obtain a technically adequate EEG simply by learning to follow a protocol and by correctly setting the various switches on the EEG machine at the right time. But experience has shown that the ability to obtain high-quality EEGs on a routine, day-to-day basis from a wide variety of patients requires understanding and knowledge beyond what is learned by rote. Likewise, knowledge above and beyond what is gained by simple participation in an EEG reading is necessary to correctly and comprehensively interpret the record. Such knowledge comes from an understanding of the basic principles upon which the practice of clinical EEG is founded - principles that derive from the various disciplines cited.

The leading reference on electroencephalography since 1982, Niedermeyer's Electroencephalography is now in its thoroughly updated Sixth Edition. An international group of experts provides comprehensive coverage of the neurophysiologic and technical aspects of EEG, evoked potentials, and magnetoencephalography, as well as the clinical applications of these studies in neonates, infants, children, adults, and older adults. This edition's new lead editor, Donald Schomer, MD, has updated the technical information and added a major new chapter on artifacts. Other highlights include complete coverage of EEG in the intensive care unit and new chapters on integrating other recording devices with EEG; transcranial electrical and magnetic stimulation; EEG/TMS in evaluation of cognitive and mood disorders; and sleep in premature infants, children and adolescents, and the elderly. A companion website includes fully searchable text and image bank.

An authoritative reference giving a systematic overview of new electrical imaging methods. Provides a comprehensive and sound introduction to the basics of multichannel recording of EEG and event-related potential (ERP) data, as well as spatio-temporal analysis of the potential fields. Chapters include practical examples of illustrative studies and approaches.

In the spring of 1987, I was in Havana, Cuba, where I was participating in planning a large-scale longitudinal study of the neurophysiological, neurochemical, and behavioral characteristics of cohorts of patients with cerebrovascular disease, depression, senile dementia, schizophrenia, or learning disabilities; and also part of this study were their first-degree blood relatives. This study was the outgrowth of a long-term project on the practical application of computer methods for the evaluation of brain electrical activity related to anatomical integrity, maturational development, and sensory, perceptual;·-and cognitive processes, especially in chil dren. For many years, that project had been supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the National Scientific Research Center of Cuba (CNIC), and the Ministries of Public Health and of Education of Cuba. Since its inception, I had served as a technical advisor to the UNDP project. When the project began, I became acquainted with Dr. Jose M. Miyar Barrueco, who was at that time the Rector of the Medical School of the University of Havana. Because of his keen interest in the new computer technology and its potential utility in developing countries, we met from time to time during my visits. These occasional meetings continued after he became Secretary of the Cuban Council of State, so that he could remain apprised of progress and problems with which he might help.

The computer recognition systems are nowadays one of the most promising directions in artificial intelligence. This book is the most comprehensive study of this field. It contains a collection of 78 carefully selected articles contributed by experts of pattern recognition. It reports on current research with respect to both methodology and applications. In particular, it includes the following sections: Biometrics, Features, learning and classifiers, Image processing and computer vision, Knowledge acquisition based on reasoning methods Medical applications, Miscellaneous applications, This book is a great reference tool for scientists who deal with the problems of designing computer pattern recognition systems. Its target readers can be as well researchers as students of computer science, artificial intelligence or robotics.