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EEG

Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that measures and records the electrical activity of your brain. Special sensors (electrodes) are attached to your head and hooked by wires to a computer. The computer records your brain’s electrical activity on the screen or paper as wavy lines. Certain conditions, such as seizures, can be seen by the changes in the normal pattern of the brain’s electrical activity.

An Electroencephalogram (EEG) may be done to:

  • Diagnose epilepsy and see what type of seizures is occurring.
  • EEG is the most useful and important test in confirming a diagnosis of epilepsy.
  • Check for problems with loss of consciousness or dementia.
  • Help find out a person’s chance of recovery after a change in consciousness.
  • Find out if a person who is in a coma is brain-dead.
  • Study sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy.
  • Watch brain activity while a person is receiving general anesthesia during brain surgery.
  • Help find out if a person has a physical problem (problems in the brain, spinal cord, or nervous system) or a mental health problem.
  • An electroencephalogram (EEG) is done in by an EEG technologist. The EEG record is read by a doctor who is specially trained to diagnose and treat disorders affecting the nervous system (neurologist).