A Controlled Study of the Fourteen- and Six-Per-Second EEG Pattern

Introduction  Do patients with 14- and 6-per-second positive spiking in their electroencephalograms have a unique type of behavior disorder? Is this electrical abnormality a sign of an “epileptic equivalent” with largely autonomic symptomatology ?Since the original report of Gibbs in 1951,¹ a number of studies have appeared describing both the details of this electroencephalographic pattern and positive clinical correlates.^2-15 The symptoms reported have been quite diverse, some authors stressing primarily behavioral abnormalities characterized by aggressive outbursts, others reporting on the commonness of paroxysmal autonomic manifestations, and others stressing its relation to the convulsive disorders and possible organic brain disease.It has been difficult to develop an over-all picture both of the incidence of this EEG abnormality and of its clinical significance. The 14- and 6-per-second spiking is seen primarily in children, and occurs almost always during drowsiness and light sleep, so that technical