Changes in quantitative EEG and blood flow velocity due to standardized hyperventilation; a model of transient ischaemia in young human subjects.

A standardized hyperventilation (HV) procedure has been developed in which the end-tidal pCO2 was decreased to 2 kpa. In 24 young male subjects blood flow velocity and qEEG were studied before, during and after HV. This standardized hyperventilation procedure gave rise to a decrease in blood flow velocity to 40% of baseline value and highly significant qEEG changes in 3 derivations. Both relative and absolute band power estimates showed an increase in slow activity and a decrease in alpha and beta activity. The use of subtraction spectra led to a more precise and detailed presentation of these changes than the use of classical qEEG parameters. These changes were reproducible after 1 week. The effects found in the presented model of HV-induced ischaemia appeared to be twice as large as those found in a model of hypobaric hypoxia. The present model might be used to test the efficacy of anti-ischaemic drugs in young human subjects.