What does electroencephalogram mean?

Answer 1

Electroencephalography (EEG) is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp produced by the firing of neurons within the brain. In clinical contexts, EEG refers to the recording of the brain's spontaneous electrical activity over a short period of time, usually 20–40 minutes, as recorded from multiple electrodes placed on the scalp. In neurology, the main diagnostic application of EEG is in the case of epilepsy, as epileptic activity can create clear abnormalities on a standard EEG study. A secondary clinical use of EEG is in the diagnosis of coma and encephalopathies. EEG used to be a first-line method for the diagnosis of tumors, stroke and other focal brain disorders, but this use has decreased with the advent of anatomical imaging techniques such as MRI and CT. Woo

Answer 2

An electroencephalogram is grenerally refered to as an EEG by the Doctor. It is a test where they place electrodes on specific spots of the head to 'read' brain wave activity. It can be used to diagnos 'brain-dead' or lack of brain activity.

Answer 3

The electroencephalograph (EEG) is an apparatus which is capable of 'capturing' the brain's electrical activity and displaying an electrographic representation of this electrical activity, in the form of 'brain waves'--which appear as lines running horizontally on a computer screen (formerly, a needle/stylus bouncing up and down on a very long scroll of perforated paper; like a seismometer!).

The 'lines' are actually rising and falling waves ranging from small sawtooth waves (alpha waves); to Beta waves, which are just slightly longer in wavelength than alpha waves; plus Delta waves--which are much slower waves, with long wavelengths...(there are many more wave forms than alpha, beta & delta).

The EEG is able to capture the brain's electrical activity via small cups which are placed on the skull in a number of places, each with a wire that connects to the machine. The 'cups' are usually glued to the scalp with some kind of conductive jelly! I don't recall how many cups they use (4 or 6??), but each corresponds to a different brain region which then forms a line graph on the display--one for every cup glued to the scalp.

In other words, something like this:

A

B vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

D V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V

Although there is a common belief amongst physicians that the EEG is used to diagnose epilepsy or seizure syndromes, such a belief is mistaken. Epileptologists are aware that simply performing an EEG on a patient does not determine whether or not a person may be experiencing seizures. It is a snapshot in time that can only register seizure like brain activity if the patient happens to have a seizure during the 30 or so minutes that the EEG is recording.

In fact, Oxford's A. Hopkins states that the rate of 'false negative' seizure activity is 50%--i.e., 50% of persons having an evident 'tonic-clonic' convulsion show no signs of epileptic activity on the EEG. Likewise, some 25% of persons who are definitely NOT having a seizure, generate brain waves which look just like seizure activity--but they are NOT having a seizure.

In other words, the EEG has no validity as a test for epileptic brain activity. It can, however, tell an experienced interpreter, something about the KIND of seizure that a patient might be having--if it isn't a false positive result.

That is an overly simplified description, but it points in the right direction (I hope!)

Answer 4

Encephalography is a medical test that records brain waves.

Answer 5

Uses neutrons to map out the function of a brain and detects any irregularities or damage to the brain.

Answer 6

A graphic record of the electrical activity of the brain .