Snipes Sophia
Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Paris Brain Institute, Sorbonne Université, Inserm-CNRS, Paris, France.
J Neurophysiol. 2025 Jul 1;134(1):1-9. doi: 10.1152/jn.00081.2025. Epub 2025 May 13.
High-frequency brain oscillations in humans are currently categorized into beta (13-30 Hz) and gamma (>30 Hz). Here, I introduce a new class of oscillations between 25 and 35 Hz, which I propose to call "iota." Iota oscillations have low amplitudes but can still be measured with surface electroencephalography (EEG). Within an individual, iota activity has a narrow spectral bandwidth typically less than 3 Hz, thus distinguishing it from broadband beta and gamma. Iota oscillations occur in sustained bursts during both wakefulness and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. They are only found in a subset of individuals, more in children than in adults. Overall, iota oscillations are challenging to detect but could serve as a marker of both brain development and states of vigilance. Electrical brain waves are some of the only neuronal signals that can be measured noninvasively in humans. Until now, only six classes of waves have been identified. Here I introduce a new class, iota, specific to wakefulness and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This makes iota just the second class of brain wave known to characterize REM sleep (after theta), and opens up new opportunities to investigate this elusive state.
目前，人类的高频脑振荡被分为β波（13 - 30赫兹）和γ波（>30赫兹）。在此，我引入了一类新的振荡，频率在25至35赫兹之间，我提议将其称为“约塔波”。约塔波振幅较低，但仍可通过头皮脑电图（EEG）进行测量。在个体内部，约塔波活动具有较窄的频谱带宽，通常小于3赫兹，因此有别于宽带β波和γ波。约塔波在清醒和快速眼动（REM）睡眠期间均以持续爆发的形式出现。它们仅在一部分个体中被发现，儿童中比成人中更为常见。总体而言，约塔波难以检测，但可能作为脑发育和警觉状态的一个标志。脑电波是少数几种能够在人类中进行无创测量的神经元信号之一。到目前为止，仅识别出六类脑电波。在此我引入了一类新的、特定于清醒和快速眼动（REM）睡眠的脑电波——约塔波。这使得约塔波成为已知的第二类可表征快速眼动睡眠的脑电波（仅次于θ波），并为研究这种难以捉摸的状态开辟了新的机会。
