Intro to EEG Nicholas J. Beimer, MD
Lead placement system
Common montages longitudinal bipolar transverse
Normal 20 year old
Frequency ranges of EEG HzDelta 4-8 HzTheta 8-12 HzAlpha >13 HzBeta * Difference between alpha frequency and alpha rhythm
Normal 20 year old 10 Hz PDR (posterior dominant rhythm)
Normal PDR by age 3-4 Hz3-4 months 5-6 Hz1 year 7 Hz2 years 8 Hz3 years 8.5 Hz8-10 years
Normal
Eye closure
Normal
Alpha squeak: transient increase in alpha rhythm after eye blink
Normal
Lambda waves: sharply contoured, occipital, occur with visual scanning
Normal
POSTS: positive occipital sharp transients of sleep
Normal
Sleep spindles: about 13 Hz, 0.5 sec burst, characteristic of stage II sleep
Normal
K complex: Negative sharp wave, then slower positive component, associated with spindles
Normal
Vertex waves
Normal
Posterior slow waves of youth (prominent in ages 3-10)
If this is normal, how old is the patient?
Normal 75 year old Age >65: Focal temporal delta slowing once every several minutes Increase in frontal beta PDR still 8.5 hz or greater
Normal
Hypnagogic hypersynchrony: 4-5 Hz rhythmic bursts in young children, a marker of drowsiness and transitional sleep
Normal Rapid lateral eye movements
Normal Sawtooth waves: theta frequency, sawtooth shape
REM
Provocative measures
Photic driving
Provocative measures Photic driving
Provocative measures Slowing with hyperventilation
Benign variants
Mu: frontocentral alpha rhythm that disappears when pt. opens and closes contralateral hand
Benign variants
RMTTD: rhythmic temporal theta of drowsiness
Benign variants
BETS: benign epileptiform transients of sleep
Benign variants
Wicket spikes
Benign variants 14 and 6 positive bursts 14 and/or 6 Hz 6 Hz more common in early childhood 14 Hz more common in late childhood/adolescence
Benign variants 14 and 6 positive bursts 14 and/or 6 Hz 6 Hz more common in early childhood 14 Hz more common in late childhood/adolescence