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.

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.

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