Cited by 2,869EEG and Brain-Computer InterfacesNeural dynamics and brain functionGeophysical and Geoelectrical Methods

Low resolution electromagnetic tomography: a new method for localizing electrical activity in the brain

Pascual-Marqui, R.D., Michel, C.M., Lehmann, D.·1994·International Journal of Psychophysiology

Abstract

This paper presents a new method for localizing the electric activity in the brain based on multichannel surface EEG recordings. In contrast to the models presented up to now the new method does not assume a limited number of dipolar point sources nor a distribution on a given known surface, but directly computes a current distribution throughout the full brain volume. In order to find a unique solution for the 3-dimensional distribution among the infinite set of different possible solutions, the method assumes that neighboring neurons are simultaneously and synchronously activated. The basic assumption rests on evidence from single cell recordings in the brain that demonstrates strong synchronization of adjacent neurons. In view of this physiological consideration the computational task is to select the smoothest of all possible 3-dimensional current distributions, a task that is a common procedure in generalized signal processing. The result is a true 3-dimensional tomography with the characteristic that localization is preserved with a certain amount of dispersion, i.e., it has a relatively low spatial resolution. The new method, which we call Low Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA) is illustrated with two different sets of evoked potential data, the first showing the tomography of the P100 component to checkerboard stimulation of the left, right, upper and lower hemiretina, and the second showing the results for the auditory N100 component and the two cognitive components CNV and P300. A direct comparison of the tomography results with those obtained from fitting one and two dipoles illustrates that the new method provides physiologically meaningful results while dipolar solutions fail in many situations. In the case of the cognitive components, the method offers new hypotheses on the location of higher cognitive functions in the brain.

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Crossref · 10.1016/0167-8760(84)90014-x

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Authors
Pascual-Marqui, R. D., Michel, C. M., & Lehmann, D.
Affiliations
  • University Hospital Zurich (CH)
  • University Hospital of Geneva (CH)
Corresponding author
Michel, C.M.
Venue
International Journal of Psychophysiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1994-10
Volume
18
Issue
1
Pages
49-65
ISSN
0167-8760 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2037420423
Cited by
2,869
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 52 · 2025: 82 · 2024: 91 · 2023: 101 · 2022: 74 · 2021: 117 · 2020: 97 · 2019: 110 · 2018: 108 · 2017: 117 · 2016: 110 · 2015: 142 · 2014: 139 · 2013: 133 · 2012: 134
FWCI
4.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • International Journal of Psychophysiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geophysical and Geoelectrical Methods
Keywords
LORETA, neuronal synchronization, evoked potentials, P100, N1 component, P300, CNV, checkerboard stimulation, dipole fitting
MeSH terms
Brain, Cognition, Computer Simulation, Contingent Negative Variation, Electrodes, Electroencephalography, Electrophysiology, Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Evoked Potentials, Visual, Humans, Models, Neurological, Retina, Tomography

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