How Does Electroencephalography (EEG) Work?
Our understanding of how the brain functions have grown because of advances in medical research and technologies. Electroencephalography, a method, and instrument for recording and analyzing electrical activity in the brain was one such development.
While the first EEG was done in 1924, technology has continued to advance, and current portable EEG gadgets are revolutionizing how we see the brain today.
You’ll learn what is an EEG and its process, and the many tools used
What is an electroencephalogram (EEG)?
An EEG is a test using an EEG system that looks for anomalies in your brain’s electrical activity or brain waves. Electrodes, which are little metal discs with thin wires, are deposited onto your scalp during the operation. The electrodes detect minuscule electrical charges produced by your brain cells’ activity. The charges are magnified and shown on a computer screen as a graph or as a recording that can be printed out. The reading is then interpreted by your healthcare provider.
Our EEG technology and the way we interpret brain signals are improving as we get a deeper understanding of the brain. As a result, new EEG techniques, such as portable EEG machines, have emerged, allowing us to understand more about the brain’s mysteries.
EEG Working Principles:
Our brain is made up of billions of linked neurons. These neurons function by sending electrical potentials across the brain in the form of neuronal impulses. EEG works by monitoring the electrical potentials/voltages that are created within the brain. The difference in voltage between various places is recorded by an EEG machine utilizing a pair of electrodes, and the collected data is transferred to an amplifier. The amplified data is finally digitized and shown on the monitor as a series of fluctuating voltage readings. The EEG waveforms that arise are analyzed to look for indicators of abnormalities inside the brain.
What is the procedure for EEG?
An EEG test can be done either as an inpatient study or as part of your hospital stay. Depending on your health situation, you can use a variety of procedures while doing EEG. In general, an EEG process is carried out as follows:
- The patient is urged to lie down or sit in a chair to rest.
- Various electrodes (between 16, 20, or more) are applied to the scalp with a particular electrolyte paste, or the patient is equipped with a cap that contains the electrodes.
- The patient is then instructed to close his or her eyes and remain completely motionless.
- This treatment is usually performed by an EEG technician and can take anything from 20 minutes to 2 hours, not counting the electrode preparation.
In recent years, modern technology has made this process easier, and portable EEG machines now provide maximum convenience without sacrificing excellent findings. This reduces EEG operator prep time (it’s simple to put on and adjust, and there’s no messy glue or wires to clean up), and it provides optimum comfort for the patient (the soft support pads are gentle on the skin).
