It is reasonable to hypothesize that dipoles estimated from grand averaged event-related potentials based on summed-up data
obtained from multiple subjects and standard head models could correspond to typical brain regions associated to a particular
event. Six healthy subjects were enrolled in a study to test this hypothesis. We estimated dipoles from somatosensory-evoked
potentials (SEP) elicited by electrical stimulation to the left median nerve. We also created individual three-layered (scalp,
skull, and brain) head models from each subject’s magnetic resonance imaging scan, and dipoles were estimated from the individual
averaged SEP with each individual head model. We then estimated dipoles using grand averaged SEP across all subjects on the
standard head model created from the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) standard coordinate system brain template to compare
the estimated dipoles located on our own head model and those on the MNI. The dipoles in the post-central gyrus were estimated
from negative potentials at 20 ms from the grand averaged data incorporated with the MNI head model, corresponding to a typical
location related to SEP stimulation. The results suggest the validity of estimating the dipole location from the grand averaged
potential of all subjects with the MNI model if we focus on typical regions related to the task.
Keywords Dipole estimation - Grand averaged potentials - Individual head model - Montreal Neurological Institute - Somatosensory-evoked potentials