The electrodes send information about the signals to an EEG machine. Electrodes are small metal disks that a technician secures to your scalp with removable glue.Įlectrodes attach to wires that sense nerve signals, which are electrical impulses. You might have a sleep study to test for sleep disorders with a sleep disorders center.Įlectrodes on your scalp measure electrical signals (impulses) as they travel between brain cells. Healthcare providers may order sleep EEGs if a routine EEG doesn’t offer enough information. Sleep EEG: A technician performs an EEG test while you sleep.Your provider may also call this test EEG monitoring, EEG telemetry or video EEG monitoring. Video recording helps your healthcare provider see and hear what you’re doing when you have a seizure or other brain event. Video EEG: The technician makes a video recording of you during your EEG.You or family member can press a button if you have a seizure or event that your healthcare provider is trying to capture. You can do most of your daily activities while the machine tracks your brain activity. During an ambulatory EEG, electrodes connect to a small EEG recorder. Ambulatory EEGs take place at home or at an EEG monitoring unit. Ambulatory EEG: Ambulatory EEGs last one to three days.Your provider may use a prolonged EEG test to diagnose or manage seizures disorders. A prolonged EEG gives your healthcare provider more information than a routine EEG. Prolonged EEG: A prolonged EEG test usually takes one hour and 15 minutes, but some types can last several days.Your EEG technologist may ask you to breathe differently or look at flashing lights during the procedure. Routine EEG: Routine EEG scans take 23 minutes.What are the different types of EEG tests? Some EEG tests record your brain’s activity while you go about your usual activities with an ambulatory device. You may have an EEG in an outpatient laboratory or inpatient per your healthcare provider’s order. Healthcare providers may use an EEG during brain surgery or to test the brain activity of someone in a coma.ĮEGs can also check the status of brain-related conditions such as:ĮEGs help diagnose the causes of symptoms such as:Ī specially trained EEG technician performs the procedure. EEGs can also help monitor health conditions or find out what’s causing certain symptoms. Most commonly, healthcare providers use an EEG to check for seizure activity related to epilepsy. Brain activity can help your provider diagnose and monitor conditions that affect your brain. The electrodes attach to a machine that gives your healthcare provider information about your brain’s activity. During an EEG, a technician places small metal disks (electrodes) on your scalp. An EEG (electroencephalogram) measures and records your brain’s electrical signals.

Normal eeg vs seizure eeg