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Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Last updated: March 29, 2020

What Does Electroencephalogram (EEG) Mean?

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a neurological diagnostics test that measures the electrical activity in a person's brain. EEGs are performed by attaching a set of electrodes to the scalp of the test subject. These electrodes detect electrical charges related to the test subject's brain activity. This information is transferred to a computer which represents this brain activity in graph form. An EEG technician or other health professional can then review the graph to analyze the individual's brainwave activity.

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WorkplaceTesting Explains Electroencephalogram (EEG)

The device used to generate an electroencephalogram (EEG) is called an electroencephalograph. It measures brainwaves by detecting the electrical impulses that the brain's neurons use to transfer information from one to the other. Because the level of activity between the brain's neurons varies in response to stimuli or during different stages of sleep, EEGs may be used to diagnose sleep disorders. An EEG may also be used to diagnose epilepsy and other seizure disorders, brain tumors, or strokes. Brain damage caused by a head trauma, encephalopathy, or brain inflammations may also be detected using an EEG.

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