diagnose eeg

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Elec­troen­ce­pha­logra­phy (EEG) can be used to mea­su­re and gra­phi­cal­ly dis­play the elec­tri­cal acti­vi­ty of the brain.

What is elec­troen­ce­pha­logra­phy (EEG)

The term EEG stands for elec­troen­ce­pha­logra­phy and refers to an exami­na­ti­on tech­ni­que in which the elec­tri­cal acti­vi­ty of the cere­bral cor­tex is mea­su­red. To do this, the neu­ro­lo­gist sticks elec­tro­des to the pati­en­t’s scalp accor­ding to a fixed pat­tern and con­nects them tog­e­ther. The mea­su­red elec­tri­cal acti­vi­ty is gene­ra­ted by the dischar­ge of ner­ve cell clus­ters.

Elec­troen­ce­pha­logra­phy (EEG) — pro­ce­du­re

The pati­ent is exami­ned and infor­med by a neu­ro­lo­gist. Up to 21 elec­tro­des are requi­red for a rou­ti­ne EEG, which are usual­ly incor­po­ra­ted into a type of cap. This faci­li­ta­tes pla­ce­ment and adhe­si­on to the pati­en­t’s head. The elec­tro­des are coa­ted with a cont­act gel, atta­ched to the pati­en­t’s scalp accor­ding to a stan­dar­di­zed sche­me and con­nec­ted via cables.

During the actu­al mea­su­re­ment, which can­not be felt, the pati­ent should be as rela­xed and calm as pos­si­ble and keep their eyes clo­sed. The atten­ding phy­si­ci­an gives brief ins­truc­tions from time to time, for exam­p­le to open the eyes or sol­ve a simp­le math pro­blem. This leads to a chan­ge in brain acti­vi­ty and is recor­ded in the EEG. The enti­re mea­su­re­ment usual­ly takes no lon­ger than 20 to 30 minu­tes. The elec­tro­de cap is then remo­ved.