It can be shown that dominant rhythmic signal components of neonatal EEG burst patterns (discontinuous EEG in quiet sleep) are characterised by a quadratic phase coupling (bispectral analysis). A so-called 'initial wave' (narrow band rhythm within a frequency range of 3-12 Hz) can be demonstrated within the first part of the burst pattern. The detection of this signal component and of the phase coupling is more successful in the frontal region. By means of amplitude demodulation of the 'initial wave' and a subsequent coherence analysis the phase coupling can be attributed to an amplitude modulation, i.e. the envelope curve of the 'initial wave' shows for a distinct period of time the same qualitative course as the signal trace of a 'lower' frequency component (0.75-3 Hz). The results were derived from six neonates (20 burst patterns for each neonate; 8 channel recordings).