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Delta Rhythms: Models and Physiology

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Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience

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Synonyms

Slow oscillation; Slow-wave oscillation (SWO)

Definition

A high amplitude brain rhythm with frequency between 1 and 4 Hz.

Detailed Description

History

The term “delta” was first introduced by Walter in 1936 to describe frequencies below the alpha (9–11 Hz) band while attempting to diagnose tumors using EEG signatures (Walter 1936). He subsequently, with Berger, subdivided this band to include theta rhythms (between 4 and 8 Hz). Since then the presentation of delta rhythms has been shown to be variable in frequency and amplitude during sleep (Church 1975), and some observers subdivide delta further into delta1 (1–2 Hz) and delta2 (3–4 Hz); this may have some mechanistic validity given the different potential origins of the rhythm (see below, Weiss and Rappelsberger 2000).

Association with Brain State

Delta rhythms (1–4 Hz) are predominantly associated with deep sleep (stage N3). These sleep stages are manifest most strongly during the first few hours of sleep in humans,...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Sciences, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, 211, 10598, Yorktown Heights, NY, USA

    Roger Traub M.D.

  2. Hull-York Medical School, Hull/York, UK

    Miles Whittington

Authors
  1. Roger Traub M.D.
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  2. Miles Whittington
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Correspondence to Roger Traub M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Dieter Jaeger

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

    Ranu Jung

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Traub, R., Whittington, M. (2014). Delta Rhythms: Models and Physiology. In: Jaeger, D., Jung, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_305-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_305-1

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