ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM

There are diagnostic tests for a good number of medical conditions out there, but one that I have a close personal relationship with is the electroencephalogram (EEG).

- Jose Alvarez

I was diagnosed with epilepsy at 12 years old and underwent multiple EEGs to find out the cause of my seizures. It is a method to record voltage fluctuations resulting from the ionic current within the neurons of the brain, placing electrodes on one’s scalp using special gel to measure brain activity. But how did such a complex procedure become such a staple of neurology?

Before we talk about the history of the EEG, an EEG usually lasts between 20 to 30 minutes plus preparation time. It detects electrical activity in the brain and determines changes in brain activity that can help diagnose brain disorders such as epilepsy or other seizure disorders. It can also be useful in detecting brain tumors, brain damage from head injuries, inflammation, stroke, or sleep disorders.