Final answer:
Low frequency/high amplitude EEG waveforms are seen in deep stages of NREM sleep or in pathological conditions such as epilepsy. Environmental and physiological factors such as ion concentration, temperature, oxygen levels, pH, and certain medications can also affect EEG patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
Low frequency and high amplitude EEG waveforms are typically associated with certain states of brain activity, such as sleep or pathological conditions like epilepsy. In the context of sleep, as a person transitions from wakefulness, characterized by beta waves, to sleep, particularly non-REM (NREM) sleep, brainwave patterns change. The first stage of NREM sleep involves alpha waves, which have a lower frequency (8-12 Hz) compared to beta waves. As the sleep deepens into the third stage of NREM sleep, the frequency further decreases, producing delta waves which may range from 0.5 to 4 Hz with high amplitude.
Pathologically, conditions that can lead to low frequency/high amplitude EEG include brain dysfunctions like epilepsy, where seizures are characterized by recurring abnormal electrical activity. Moreover, various physiological and environmental factors can alter EEG patterns, such as high or low levels of potassium ions, and sodium, low body temperature, hypoxia, abnormal pH balance, and the use of certain drugs like calcium channel blockers. Each of these factors can affect the neurochemical environment of the brain, leading to changes in neuronal excitability and, consequently, alterations in EEG waveforms.