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The K-complex: Its slow (<1-Hz) rhythmicity and relation to delta waves

From the Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, PQ, Canada.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Mircea Steriade, Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, PQ, Canada G1K 7P4.

The K-complex is a major graphoelement of sleep EEG. This report demonstrates that K-complexes emerge from a cortically generated slow(1-Hz) oscillation. Human EEG as well as cat cellular and field potential recordings converge into demonstrating that the K-complex results from a synchronized cortical network that imposes periodic excitatory and inhibitory actions on cortical neurons. We additionally show the correspondence between neuronal activities and the shape of the K-complex. Spectral analysis confirms the periodic recurrence of human K-complexes, with main peaks at 0.5 to 0.7 Hz. It is also shown that the spectral content in the delta band (1 to 4 Hz) is partially due to the shape and duration of the K-complex.

Supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada and Human Frontier Science Program. F.A. is a postdoctral fellow, partially supported by the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec.

Received January 31, 1997. Accepted in final form May 2, 1997.

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