Practical Approach to Electroencephalography

The Electroencephalogram of the Newborn

Newborn EEG interpretation is considered a particularly challenging area. An understanding of the appearance of the normal newborn EEG was achieved considerably later than for EEGs of childhood and adulthood. In fact, before the 1960s, it was not generally accepted…

EEG Patterns in Stupor and Coma

The term coma refers to a state in which a person is unaware of self and surroundings, even if stimulated from the outside. Between consciousness and deep coma, there is a continuum of possible levels of responsiveness and awareness. Encephalopathy…

The EEG in Epilepsy

There are many indications for EEG testing, but the most common reason that an EEG is obtained is to assist in the diagnosis of seizures and epilepsy. Although the history is still the cornerstone of the diagnostic process, in some…

The Abnormal EEG

An EEG is considered abnormal if it has findings known to be associated with a pathologic or disease state. As discussed in Chapter 8 , “The Structure and Philosophy of the EEG Report,” this distinction is designed to prevent the…

Filters in the Electroencephalogram

The use of filters in recording and displaying EEG data is an indispensable tool in producing interpretable EEG tracings. Without filters, many segments of EEG would be essentially unreadable. As we shall see in this chapter, the use of filters…