Electroencephalogram

What is the electroencephalogram?

Electroencephalogram is a method of detecting and analyzing electrical activity in the brain. The procedure, which involves placing several small metal sensors called electrodes on the scalp, is known as electroencephalography or EEG.

What is an electroencephalogram?

An EEG involves attaching about 20 electrodes to the scalp. Each electrode sends a signal to a machine called an electroencephalograph, which displays the rhythmic fluctuation of the brain’s electrical activity (brain waves) visually as a wavy line. In this way, it is possible for brain activity to be monitored.

In a normal, healthy adult who is in a calm state, the EEG will show regular, oscillating waves (alpha waves). In sleep, the waves become very slow, whereas, if the individual becomes frightened or excited, they become fast and irregular.

Some conditions are associated with particular patterns. For example, localized areas of brain damage may show slow and irregular delta waves.

Electroencephalogram is a method of detecting and analyzing electrical activity in the brain.

Why is an EEG done?

Electroencephalography can be used to check for brain damage in patients who have suffered severe head injuries and can help in the diagnosis of various conditions such as brain tumors, sleep disorders, epilepsy and various degenerative diseases of the nervous system. It is also useful for assessing whether brain death has occurred or also for the evaluation of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD(H)), as this article from the journal Neurologia.com explains.

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The data obtained by EEGs are limited in that they record small samples of electrical activity from the surface of the brain and cannot analyze deeper activity, such as emotion, making them unsuitable for diagnosing psychiatric illness.

Preparing for an EEG

In preparing for an EEG, the patient should:

  • Avoid caffeine during the day: it may affect the results.
  • Wash the head beforehand and do not use products, such as conditioners, hair gel and hair spray, as they may make it difficult for the electrodes to adhere to the scalp.
  • If indicated by the physician, the patient may need to sleep less or avoid sleeping the night before in order to sleep during the EEG.

What to expect during the test

An EEG is noninvasive and causes no pain or sensation, so the patient should be relatively comfortable during the procedure. However, it may take up to an hour. During that time, the patient may be asked questions or given instructions to see how his or her brain responds in different ways to different stimuli.

You may also be asked to do calculations, read something, open and close your eyes, look at a flashing light or other procedures. In addition, you may be asked to fall asleep during the test to test the brain at rest.