Which of the following time constants would best display delta activity?

Delta activity is characterized by slow waveforms typically ranging from 0.5 to 4 Hz and is most prominent during deep sleep. To accurately display this low-frequency activity on an EEG, a longer time constant is necessary. A time constant of 1.0 seconds allows the equipment to integrate signals over a longer duration, thus smoothing out rapid fluctuations and highlighting the slower waveforms associated with delta activity.

By using a longer time constant, the EEG system can better capture the low-frequency oscillations of delta waves without distortion, resulting in a clearer representation of this brain activity. This is crucial for clinicians and technologists as delta waves are significant indicators of sleep states and certain neurological conditions. In contrast, a shorter time constant would not adequately represent the slow waveforms of delta activity, leading to an incomplete or inaccurate depiction of the brain's electrical patterns during the corresponding states.