The peer reviewed strategy is in the Supplemental Appendix. All citations were screened by trained literature reviewers supported by machine learning (Fig 1). Two independent reviewers assessed full text studies for eligibility. Publications reporting on the same participants were consolidated into 1 record.
An EEG test is a type of diagnostic test that is used to measure electrical activity in the brain. This test is often utilized by medical professionals to help diagnose a variety of conditions that affect the brain and nervous system.
Diagnostic performance neuropsychological tests, CPTs, activity monitors, biospecimen, EEG. The data abstraction form included extensive guidance to aid reproducibility and standardization in recording study details, results, risk of bias, and applicability. One reviewer abstracted data and a methodologist checked accuracy and completeness. Data are publicly available in the Systematic Review Data Repository. Correct diagnosis is essential for the appropriate clinical management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Considering local oscillations as fundamental building blocks, we showed that the EEG over the entire brain could be built up from such elementary blocks.
More interestingly, the differing frequencies could be made to coalesce, or synchronize, into a common rhythm. We recognized that synchronization of this type underlies some seizurelike patterns observed in patients. In turn, the EEG arises from the excitable nature of nerve cells, or neurons. When neurons fire, action potentials – brief, high-voltage spikes traveling outward from their cell bodies – set up local electrical activity in other neurons, causing current to flow within and outside them.
One of the main uses of an EEG test is to diagnose epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. By measuring the electrical signals produced by the brain during a seizure, doctors can determine the type of epilepsy a patient has and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a recording of brain activity. Endocrine conditions typically cause high or low levels of certain hormones resulting in the body not responding correctly. This can sometimes affect the brain’s tissue and cause brain tumors. Brain tumors may also form in other parts of the CNS, such as the spine. A brain tumor can be harmful (malignant) or unharmful (benign).
An EEG may involve deep breathing or flashing lights, both of which can bring on epileptiform activity. The electrodes attach to a portable EEG monitor that you clip to your clothes. The machine records your brain wave patterns while you do your normal activities. The EEG is used to evaluate several types of brain disorders. When epilepsy is present, seizure activity will appear as rapid spiking waves on the EEG. If your results are normal, it means you did not have abnormal brain wave patterns or seizures during the test.
In addition to epilepsy, an EEG test can also be used to diagnose other brain disorders such as encephalopathy, which is a condition characterized by changes in brain function. By analyzing the patterns of electrical activity in the brain, doctors can identify abnormalities that may indicate the presence of encephalopathy.
Unless your provider tells you otherwise, you can go home and go about your day. Your hair and skin may feel sticky from the glue or paste that kept the electrodes in place during your EEG, so you may want to wash your hair when you get home. Remember, the EEG is monitoring your brain activity in real time. If you don’t have unusual brain activity while wearing the EEG, then the test might not be helpful. That’s why healthcare providers may recommend longer EEGs. EEG is the name commonly used for electroencephalography (e-LEK-tro-en-SEF-uh-LOG-rah-fee).
Furthermore, an EEG test can be helpful in diagnosing sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy. By monitoring brain activity during sleep, doctors can identify disruptions in normal sleep patterns that may be contributing to a patient’s symptoms.
The computer also records the electrical activity so that a physician can review in real time or later on. It’s similar to an electrocardiogram (EKG), except that an EKG measures the electrical activity of your heart instead of your brain. Both tests use similar setups that include electrodes, wires, and a monitor. A routine EEG procedure usually lasts 1 hour, including preparation before the test and 20–40 minutes of recording a person’s brain activity.
Overall, an EEG test is a valuable diagnostic tool that can provide crucial information about the functioning of the brain and help doctors make accurate diagnoses of various medical conditions. Whether it is epilepsy, encephalopathy, or a sleep disorder, an EEG test can play a key role in guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes.
