The full form of the EEG is the Electroencephalogram. It is a procedure that is performed to evaluate the electrical behavior of the brain. Brain cells, known as neurons, interact with each other through electrical impulses. EEG includes metrics of brain waves, which is how the brain works over time. It detects the brain wave patterns of the brain's electrical impulses and records them.
- Tiny metal discs with a fine wire, labeled as electrodes, come with the system that users perform the test on.
- Electrodes are mounted on the scalp, from where it transmits signals to a computer to monitor the result.
- It creates a standard or identifiable pattern for known brain activity, but the pattern may be altered or unrecognizable for abnormal brain activity.
Principle of EEG operation
The EEG procedure is safe and painless.
Electrodes mounted on the scalp collect electrical activity in your brain from brain cells known as neurons and transmit it to a system where it is seen as a series of lines registered or displayed on a computer monitor (running paper).
The technician would remove the electrodes after getting the results.
Your brain wave sequence recordings can be studied by a doctor who specializes in the brain, such as a neurologist.
Why does a doctor recommend that an individual undergo an EEG test?
An EEG is performed to treat specific medical conditions or in the following cases:
- Diagnose and monitor seizure disorders
- To detect sleep disorders and epilepsy
- To determine the source of several other problems, such as sleep disturbances and problems with behavioral changes.
- After a major head injury or before a liver or heart transplant to determine brain activity.
When is an EEG Performed?
This test can also analyze and record the electrical waves of our brain, which is very essential to keep our brain's work. Thus, if there is any kind of problem like a brain disorder or something, it also helps to identify the problem. Here are the conditions in which EEG should be performed…
- Head injury
- Seizure disorder
- Memory problems
- Dementia
- Sleep disorder
- Brain tumor
- To evaluate brain activity before a heart or liver transplant
- Inflammation of the brain
- Stroke
- Monitoring activity during brain surgery
If a person is in a coma, with the help of an EEG, doctors can easily determine the level of brain activity.