[EEG spectral analysis in normal children between the ages of 6 to 16. Choice and validation of the most significant parameters].

Numerous parameters have been proposed in order to describe the EEG power spectrum. Within the scope of an EEG study on the normal child between 6 and 16 years of age, the following problem had to be solved: given a group of 19 variables measured on 232 subjects in 5 situations, which of these variables best describe the population under examination. The algorithm proposed to answer this question is based on principal component analysis on the correlation matrix. Only 4 parameters are necessary to describe the EEG of a normal child of 6 to 16 years--these are Hjorth's parameters (activity, mobility and first order complexity) and alpha band power. They allow the observation of individual differences and the quantification for a given subject of the reaction to eyes opening, sensitivity to hyperventilation or even reactions that are difficult to perceive visually such as those resulting from doing arithmetic or vocabulary tests.