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The 8th international congress of EEG and clinical neurophysiology
N20 Under well-defined conditions, toad compensation implying b y the m o t o r cortex has a characteristic of a reflex. However, it may be modified as a function of previous learning. The plasticity of this reflex action can be observed at the level of the pyramidal cells of the m o t o r cortex. A concluding round table discussion was animated by H.L. Teuber with the collaboration of R. Jung, E.V. Evarts, C.G. Phillips, P.B.C. Matthews and A.T. Wetford. Among the different topics discussed it is worth mentioning the problem raised by E.V. Evarts of the semantic change which progressively occurred in some important classical concepts of sensorimotor integration : the concept of the reflex, of ballistic movement, of sensory input gating, of servocontrol v e r s u s servo-assistance and of active movement v e r s u s passive movement. The value of the concept of a single channel analyser, introduced by Prof. A.T. Welford and experimental psychologists, has also to be reapp~'aised at a neurophysiological level. THE 8TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF EEG AND CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY M. DONDEY
(Paris)
The 8th Congress was held at the Faculty of Medicine of Marseille (France), September 1--7, 1973. This congress was organized, as were the previous ones, by the International Federation of EEG and Clinical Neurophysiology and the inviting (French) national society. Since the first congress held in London in 1947, the attendance has increased, and this trend has continued: more than 1500 people from 52 different countries gathered in Marseille. The electroencephalographers and electromyographers, technologists and scientists from related disciplines presented more than 500 communications. The scientific program committee, chaired by C. Ajmone Marsan, President of the Federation, grouped all of these contributions in parallel sessions, and furthermore, organized round tables, didactic lectures mad scientific demonstrations. At the opening session the President of the Congress, H. Gastaut, the President of the Federation, and the President of the French speaking S o c i e t y of EEG and Clinical Neurophysiology, F. Rohmer, welcomed all the participants. H. Gastaut chose as subject of the inaugural conference the controversial theme of the alpha rhythm. After a survey of the neurophysiological significance of the alpha rhythm, he presented a critical analysis of the new technique of relaxation based upon apparatus using the alpha r h y t h m as a means of 'biological feed-back', and concluded by discussing the use of the electrical activities of the brain in the field of electronic music. A rather strange b u t interesting demonstration of this aesthetic approach was given during the congress in the lovely Romanesque church of St. Victor by the
N21 composer Pierre Henri, who used elaborate electronic equipment developed by M. Lafosse from the Art Signa group of Bordeaux, put at the disposal of the electronico-musician. Each didactic lecture (2 or 3 per day} presented a critical review of the principal neurophysiological contributions to the various fields of clinical, scientific and computerized neurophysiology. This form of presentation was suggested by the high quality courses on EEG and clinical neurophysiology which have been organized in the past prior to earlier International Congresses. The daily round tables, simultaneously translated into French and English, concerned clinical electroencephalographers, electromyographers and technicians. (1) The EEG round tables dealt with two topics. (a) The use of computers in the analysis and presentation of EEG data, with special emphasis on the practical problems of organization in the use of this expensive electronic equipment: this round table was chaired by M.G. Saunders. (b) The second round table was on recent developments in knowledge of epileptic seizures, chaired by C. Ajmone-Marsan. It was certainly not by chance that the main contributions centered upon intracerebral recordings, the automatic analysis of such data, and related ethical problems in exploring the human brain. (2) The subject of the first EMG round table, directed by J.E. Kaeser, was the histopathology of nerve, and emphasized the necessity for strict histometric evaluation to establish electrophysiological correlations. The number of communications dealing with polyneuropathies was good testimony to the pertinence of this topic. The choice of computerized analysis of the EMG was the subject of the second EEG round table, chaired by R. Willison, proof also of current interest in this question. (3) The technologists held two round tables: (a) bedside electrophysiological study of acutely ill patients, chairmain C.E. Henry; and (b) planning, execution and factual reporting of clinical EEG investigations, chairman J.W. Osselton. (4) A common session for all of the participants dealt with the general and quite intricate problems of the clinical neurophysiology of speech and related mechanisms. The chairman, H.L. Teuber, succeeded not only in organizing a very lively discussion on aspects as different as anatomical data, the modifications of cerebral blood flow during speech tasks or verbal impairment, and electromyographic studies of phonation based on new psychophysiological experiments, but also succeeded in presenting a synthetic view of a n e w methodological approach to these problems. The 378 free communications dealing with central neurophysiology and the 132 communications dealing with peripheral neurophysiology covered most of the basic neurophysiological and physiopathological aspects of the field. It should be noted that one-third of all these contribution, s referred to problems in the automation of pattern recognition, of tactics of auto- and
N22 cross-correlation, or of organizing ' c o m p u t e r centers' to stock and treat data. As always, a large n u m b e r of the c o m m u n i c a t i o n s on central n e u r o p h y s i o l o g y dealt with various aspects of epilepsy. In peripheral n e u r o p h y s i o l o g y the principal lines o f research were related to reflexology. Scientific dem ons t r a t i ons were presented, either live, or with movies, showing new techniques for the exploration of the nervous system and J~ew means o f dealing with neural information. During the General Assembly the officers of the Federat i on for t;he n e x t 4 years were a n n o u n c e d : W.A. Cobb will be President. This r e p o r t can give only a general impression of the exchange of ideas which t o o k place during the Congress. Between the sessions, unfortunately t o o o f t e n competitive, members met either in the exhibition hall, where mo r e than 50 firms displayed their latest equi pm ent , or on the faculty lawn. The Mediterranean sun was certainly a c o n t r i b u t o r to the success of this meeting, but greatest tribute should go to G.C. Laity, General Secretary of the Congress, to J. Courjon, Treasurer, and to R. N aquet who organized .... with the local arrangement c o m m i t t e e -~ the reception of the participants and that mo s t m e m o r a b l e ba nque t at the Palais des Papes in Avignon.
Announcements This section will publish news items of interest to the international community of workers in brain research and the neurosciences. Possible sub-sections will include: IBRO announcements, international fellowships and scholarships, research grants, scheduled meetings and symposia, travel support, travel schedules of visiting scientists, new journals and new organisations, etc. Contributions are invited from individuals and organisations. MEETINGS
The Experimental Study of Human Sleep: Methodological Problems, April 3--5, 1974, Bardolino {Lake of Garde), Italy. This international symposium is organized by G.C. Lairy and P. Salzarulo. For i nf or m a t i on and registration write to Prof. P. Salzaruto, Hbpital Henri Rousselle, Paris 14, France.
International Symposium on EEG and Sleep, May 9--11, 1974, Hospital Clinico, Madrid 3, Spain. Invited papers and free communications. F o r furt her i n f o r m a t i o n write to Dr. J.C. Oliveros, Servicio Central de Etectroneurofisiologia Ctinica, Hospital Clinico, Madrid 3, Spain.
Neurobiology of CNS--Hormone Interactions, May 14--16, 1974, Carolina Union, University o f N o r t h Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C., U.S.A. The purpose of this conference is to provide a n e u r o e n d o c r i n e
(Paris)
The 8th Congress was held at the Faculty of Medicine of Marseille (France), September 1--7, 1973. This congress was organized, as were the previous ones, by the International Federation of EEG and Clinical Neurophysiology and the inviting (French) national society. Since the first congress held in London in 1947, the attendance has increased, and this trend has continued: more than 1500 people from 52 different countries gathered in Marseille. The electroencephalographers and electromyographers, technologists and scientists from related disciplines presented more than 500 communications. The scientific program committee, chaired by C. Ajmone Marsan, President of the Federation, grouped all of these contributions in parallel sessions, and furthermore, organized round tables, didactic lectures mad scientific demonstrations. At the opening session the President of the Congress, H. Gastaut, the President of the Federation, and the President of the French speaking S o c i e t y of EEG and Clinical Neurophysiology, F. Rohmer, welcomed all the participants. H. Gastaut chose as subject of the inaugural conference the controversial theme of the alpha rhythm. After a survey of the neurophysiological significance of the alpha rhythm, he presented a critical analysis of the new technique of relaxation based upon apparatus using the alpha r h y t h m as a means of 'biological feed-back', and concluded by discussing the use of the electrical activities of the brain in the field of electronic music. A rather strange b u t interesting demonstration of this aesthetic approach was given during the congress in the lovely Romanesque church of St. Victor by the
N21 composer Pierre Henri, who used elaborate electronic equipment developed by M. Lafosse from the Art Signa group of Bordeaux, put at the disposal of the electronico-musician. Each didactic lecture (2 or 3 per day} presented a critical review of the principal neurophysiological contributions to the various fields of clinical, scientific and computerized neurophysiology. This form of presentation was suggested by the high quality courses on EEG and clinical neurophysiology which have been organized in the past prior to earlier International Congresses. The daily round tables, simultaneously translated into French and English, concerned clinical electroencephalographers, electromyographers and technicians. (1) The EEG round tables dealt with two topics. (a) The use of computers in the analysis and presentation of EEG data, with special emphasis on the practical problems of organization in the use of this expensive electronic equipment: this round table was chaired by M.G. Saunders. (b) The second round table was on recent developments in knowledge of epileptic seizures, chaired by C. Ajmone-Marsan. It was certainly not by chance that the main contributions centered upon intracerebral recordings, the automatic analysis of such data, and related ethical problems in exploring the human brain. (2) The subject of the first EMG round table, directed by J.E. Kaeser, was the histopathology of nerve, and emphasized the necessity for strict histometric evaluation to establish electrophysiological correlations. The number of communications dealing with polyneuropathies was good testimony to the pertinence of this topic. The choice of computerized analysis of the EMG was the subject of the second EEG round table, chaired by R. Willison, proof also of current interest in this question. (3) The technologists held two round tables: (a) bedside electrophysiological study of acutely ill patients, chairmain C.E. Henry; and (b) planning, execution and factual reporting of clinical EEG investigations, chairman J.W. Osselton. (4) A common session for all of the participants dealt with the general and quite intricate problems of the clinical neurophysiology of speech and related mechanisms. The chairman, H.L. Teuber, succeeded not only in organizing a very lively discussion on aspects as different as anatomical data, the modifications of cerebral blood flow during speech tasks or verbal impairment, and electromyographic studies of phonation based on new psychophysiological experiments, but also succeeded in presenting a synthetic view of a n e w methodological approach to these problems. The 378 free communications dealing with central neurophysiology and the 132 communications dealing with peripheral neurophysiology covered most of the basic neurophysiological and physiopathological aspects of the field. It should be noted that one-third of all these contribution, s referred to problems in the automation of pattern recognition, of tactics of auto- and
N22 cross-correlation, or of organizing ' c o m p u t e r centers' to stock and treat data. As always, a large n u m b e r of the c o m m u n i c a t i o n s on central n e u r o p h y s i o l o g y dealt with various aspects of epilepsy. In peripheral n e u r o p h y s i o l o g y the principal lines o f research were related to reflexology. Scientific dem ons t r a t i ons were presented, either live, or with movies, showing new techniques for the exploration of the nervous system and J~ew means o f dealing with neural information. During the General Assembly the officers of the Federat i on for t;he n e x t 4 years were a n n o u n c e d : W.A. Cobb will be President. This r e p o r t can give only a general impression of the exchange of ideas which t o o k place during the Congress. Between the sessions, unfortunately t o o o f t e n competitive, members met either in the exhibition hall, where mo r e than 50 firms displayed their latest equi pm ent , or on the faculty lawn. The Mediterranean sun was certainly a c o n t r i b u t o r to the success of this meeting, but greatest tribute should go to G.C. Laity, General Secretary of the Congress, to J. Courjon, Treasurer, and to R. N aquet who organized .... with the local arrangement c o m m i t t e e -~ the reception of the participants and that mo s t m e m o r a b l e ba nque t at the Palais des Papes in Avignon.
Announcements This section will publish news items of interest to the international community of workers in brain research and the neurosciences. Possible sub-sections will include: IBRO announcements, international fellowships and scholarships, research grants, scheduled meetings and symposia, travel support, travel schedules of visiting scientists, new journals and new organisations, etc. Contributions are invited from individuals and organisations. MEETINGS
The Experimental Study of Human Sleep: Methodological Problems, April 3--5, 1974, Bardolino {Lake of Garde), Italy. This international symposium is organized by G.C. Lairy and P. Salzarulo. For i nf or m a t i on and registration write to Prof. P. Salzaruto, Hbpital Henri Rousselle, Paris 14, France.
International Symposium on EEG and Sleep, May 9--11, 1974, Hospital Clinico, Madrid 3, Spain. Invited papers and free communications. F o r furt her i n f o r m a t i o n write to Dr. J.C. Oliveros, Servicio Central de Etectroneurofisiologia Ctinica, Hospital Clinico, Madrid 3, Spain.
Neurobiology of CNS--Hormone Interactions, May 14--16, 1974, Carolina Union, University o f N o r t h Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C., U.S.A. The purpose of this conference is to provide a n e u r o e n d o c r i n e