Application of cross-frequency coupling to EEG signals of epileptic patients

Patients suffering from eyelid myoclonia with absences are characterized by photosensitivity and paroxismal EEG discharges triggered by eye closure. We have investigated the functional brain activation reflected by cross-frequency coupling in the electroencephalogram after eye closing. Specifically, the phase-amplitude coupling between alpha and gamma rhythms was compared when the pathological activity on the EEG was evoked or not. Statistically significant variations were found in some frontal, parietal and occipital areas.