K-complex, a reactive EEG graphoelement of NREM sleep: an old chap in a new garment

This review summarises data gathered on the KC phenomenon over the past 70 yr. The following issues are discussed: definitions, morphology and topography of KC, the regular participation in NREM sleep, elicitability features of evoked KC, autonomic and motor concomitants, relationship of KC with inf...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sleep medicine reviews 2005-10, Vol.9 (5), p.391-412
Main Author: Halász, Péter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antiarousal response
Arousal - physiology
Cerebral Cortex - physiology
Delta Rhythm
Electroencephalography
Humans
K-complex
Mental Processes - physiology
Micro-arousal
Microstructure of sleep
Muscle, Skeletal - physiology
Periodicity
Sleep Stages - physiology
Synchronization type micro-arousal
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This review summarises data gathered on the KC phenomenon over the past 70 yr. The following issues are discussed: definitions, morphology and topography of KC, the regular participation in NREM sleep, elicitability features of evoked KC, autonomic and motor concomitants, relationship of KC with information processing during NREM sleep, relationship of KC and deltas of NREM sleep, and relationship of KC with sleep cyclicity. KC is a complex multifunctional phenomenon of the sleeping brain involved in information processing and defence against the arousal effect of sensory stimuli. To put the old chap in a new garment, the relationship of KC with synchronisation-type and desynchronisation-type micro-arousals, and the ‘cyclic alternating pattern’, will be discussed, with an emphasis on the sleep-protecting role of KC and synchronisation-type answers in sleep regulation executed by phasic events. Lastly, the role of KC providing gating functions in idiopathic generalized epilepsies and other, different, sleep disorders are characterised. A ‘theoretical epilogue’ is appended to show some system theoretical and regulational aspects.
ISSN:1087-0792
1532-2955
DOI:10.1016/j.smrv.2005.04.003