ABSTRACT.The history of paroxysmal EEG patterns that are not closely associated with frank seizures has at times included a series of studies showing significant electro-clinical correlations to be followed by one single study with negative conclusions (2–7,10,11,14,16,19,21). ince there is a tendency for some in the medical community to equate extreme caution, even to the point of iconoclasm, with high Standards, many in EEG have then embraced that single negative study to join the ranks of the skeptics or the extremely cautious. This is the safe position which may be popular since itseemsto be the one which associates itself with high Standards. Also, in any controversy we find it far easier to be against something than to be for it, not wanting to risk our professional reputations by appearing as nondiscriminating. The“other”side may then be viewed as naive with low Standards. The major problem with this dichotomous development of affairs is that it tends to inhibit any further research into these interesting phenomena. If these studies with negative conclusions are to be completely accepted, the field of EEG is then left with the position that there isabsolutely nothingto small sharp spikes (SSS), wicket temporal spikes, positive spikes, 6/sec spike and waves, and rhythmic mid-temporal discharges, all of which are then considered as normal as alpha in wake and spindles in sleep. But what if there really is“something”to these latter patterns and they are not perfectly normal waveforms?The effect of the one negative study in inhibiting further research cannot be the fault of those publising that study, but the responsibility of the rest of the community who may easily adopt the extreme position that the case for that given pattern is closed forever. As another way to state the problem, the position that a phenomenon is either definitely abnormal or perfectly normal may be popular and appealing, partly because of its simplicity. However, the real world has taught us that the difference between normal and abnormal is usually not a matter of all or none, but how much. Thus, the normal findings of 1–2 white blood cells in a lumbar puncture, a few sporadic sharp waves in the premature, an occasional déjàvu or a rare paranoid feeling in any of us or an infrequent PVC on an EKG remind us that normality is not simply the presence or absence of a given phenomenon and abnormality is nearly always a matter of how much. It is within this context that the story of the SSS may be reopened.