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Permanent brain potentials
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Registration of the level of constant potential of the brain is a special section of electrophysiology of the brain. The level of constant potential with an amplitude of the millivolt range and its ultra-slow oscillations (ω-waves with periods from several seconds to several tens of minutes and even hours) is an integral reflection of the metabolism of the brain (the sum of the membrane potentials of neurons and glial cells, as well as the potentials of the blood-brain barrier and vessels).
[ Research methodology
The level of constant potential is recorded from the scalp using non-polarizing electrodes and DC amplifiers. According to the international standard, 5 active electrodes are fixed to the scalp at points Fpz, Cz, Oz, T3 and T4 according to the International 10-20% System for EEG. The reference electrode is placed on the wrist of the right hand. Using a computer program, the level of constant potential is measured and its values are topographically mapped on the scalp.
Interpretation of results
Intensive studies of the diagnostic informativeness of the level of constant potential in healthy subjects of different sexes and ages in different functional states, as well as in patients with logoneurosis, drug addiction, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinsonism, stroke and brain tumors have shown that in normal conditions and under stress, an increase in the level of constant potential corresponds to an increase in local cerebral blood flow, an increase in cerebral metabolism and a decrease in blood pH. With aging and under pathological conditions, when local cerebral blood flow decreases, an increase in the level of constant potential and a decrease in blood pH reflect an increase in anaerobic glycolysis processes.