Question 1

how reliable is an eeg?

Accepted Answer

VAGUELY ACCURATE: An EEG is a recording of brain electrical activity taken over the scalp, over about 45 minutes.  This brief period may completely miss many paroxysmal events and provide a false negative/normal result.  Work with direct electrodes implanted into brain have convincingly demonstrated far more pathology than external recordings.  So, basically "hit or miss" issues, and better to clinically assess.

Question 2

what is an electroencephalogram (eeg)?

Accepted Answer

EEG: An EEG is a test that records the various brain waves emitted from the brain.  The test is done by placing tiny electrodes all around the head and scalp, and recording the electrical activity emitted by the brain and recorded by tracing the waves onto recording paper.

Question 3

can an eeg detect tumors?

Accepted Answer

No: Eeg is mainly used to detect seizure. Other diseases including tumor can give abnormal eeg, but these abnormalities are nonspecific as to cause.

Question 4

does an eeg use any radiation?

Accepted Answer

No: Eeg uses an array of scalp electrodes to measure electrical activity generated by neurons in the brain, and does not require any radiation, dye, or strong magnetic fields.  It is an extremely safe test.

Question 5

what does an infant eeg entail?

Accepted Answer

EEG: Eeg electroencephalogram records the electrical waves of the brain. Usually the technician puts electrodes in the scalp that are attached to a macnine that records the brain waves. It is not painful, does not require anesthesia, no blood is necessary. Sometimes stimulation with lights or other is necessary. It's done for any age but obviously if the child pulls the wires test isn't helpful.

Question 6

what could cause an abnormal eeg?

Accepted Answer

Too many causes: The eeg is a measure of the electrical activity of the brain.  The brain activity may run rough due to lack of sleep, medications, illness, drugs, brain damage, tumors, malformations, etc.  Many findings on eeg are without explanation.  Specific patterns may indicate a specific disease condition or be associated with a specific genetic disorder.  Children can have strange but benign abnormalities.

Question 7

what can cause false positive eeg?

Accepted Answer

EEG: Interictal epileptiform discharges happen in people withdrawing from benzos, have uremia, very low calcium, high levels of lithium, bupropion, and tricyclic antidepressants - even in the absence of seizures.  Blind people may have firing in the occipital region, and spikes can fire in neonates during nonrem sleep.  Hope this helps.

Question 8

do you not want to seize during eeg?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily: Seizures do not usually occur during an eeg which can show abnormal brain activity (epileptiform findings) in about 50% of people with epilepsy during a routine recording. Seizures do not usually occur during a routine recording but may occur in those with frequent seizures during 24 to 72 hour ambulatory or video monitoring.

Question 9

does wilsons disease show on an eeg?

Accepted Answer

Wilsons disease: can cause hepatic encephalopathy which in turn can produce slow anterior triphasic waves on an EEG in the absence of liver failure it would not likely produce changes on an EEG. There are labs tests and eye findings that may be helpful in arriving at a diagnosis.

Question 10

are you born with sharp waves on eeg?

Accepted Answer

NOT LIKELY, UNLESS: Some infants are born with epilepsy, and their eeg's might be abnormal, but the usual healthy baby should have a normal age-related tracing.

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Eeg computer interface

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How reliable is an eeg?

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What is an electroencephalogram (eeg)?

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Can an eeg detect tumors?

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Does an eeg use any radiation?

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What does an infant eeg entail?

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What could cause an abnormal eeg?

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What can cause false positive eeg?

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Do you not want to seize during eeg?

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Does wilsons disease show on an eeg?

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Are you born with sharp waves on eeg?

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