Electroencephalogram: what is the EEG for?
The electroencephalogram (EEG) is an instrumental test that allows the electrical activity of the brain to be recorded and monitored
Brain activity gives rise to electrical waves. Under normal conditions, brain waves in a resting adult have a frequency of 8-13 cycles per second (alpha rhythm).
In the case of brain diseases, this rhythm is altered and the EEG results allow a preliminary diagnosis to be made, which can then be further investigated through other tests.
What the EEG is used for
The EEG is used to diagnose diseases of the nervous system such as brain infections, epilepsy, cerebrovascular disorders, sleep and memory disorders.
It is often used following head injuries, while it is of little use in cases of headaches.
Electroencephalogram: how it is performed
The patient lies in a supine position, with eyes closed and in a resting position.
Small metal electrodes (similar to those used in electrocardiograms) are attached to the scalp at different areas of the cerebral cortex.
The electrodes, which are connected to an amplifier, collect electrical impulses from the brain and send them to a recorder and to equipment capable of translating them into a graph.
The ‘waking’ test takes about half an hour, while the ‘sleeping’ test varies from two hours for daytime recordings to an entire night for night-time ones.
EEG with the Holter method involves continuous recording over the course of 24 hours.
EEG results are available approximately two days after the test.
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