Electroencephalography (EEG)

• Electroencephalography (EEG) is a medical test which measures brain electrical activity generated by neurons.
• It is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that provides valuable insights into neural function and dysfunction.
• It is simple, affordable, portable, and safe compared to other methods like MRI.
• EEG excels at capturing rapid changes in brain activity, making it an invaluable tool for epilepsy diagnosis and monitoring.
• However, its limitations to mainly detects surface brain signals and has difficulty pinpointing activity origins.
• This versatile technique has far-reaching applications in diagnosing neurological disorders, monitoring anesthesia effects, studying sleep patterns, and confirming brain death.

Background

• Richard Caton first noticed electrical signals in animal brains in 1875.
• Adolf Beck and Vladimir Pravdich-Neminsky expanded on Caton’s work, with Pravdich-Neminsky recording the first EEG of a dog.
• Hans Berger recorded the first human EEG in 1924.

How does it work?

• It tracks neurons’ movement of charged particles, helping doctors diagnose epilepsy, monitor anesthesia, study sleep patterns, and confirm brain death.
• Neurons’ interactions create waves of electrical activity detected by scalp electrodes.
• Setting up an EEG involves applying gel and placing electrodes accurately, which can be affected by thick hair.

Latest News

• 17 July 2024:
  • This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first human electroencephalography (EEG) by German physiologist Hans Berger.