EEG
What is an EEG?
EEG (electroencephalogram) is a non-invasive measurement method. That means it doesn't hurt, it's safe and harmless. The EEG measures the activity of cells in the brain. These communicate via very small electrical signals. The voltage that we use for our electrical devices is 500,000 times that of the cells. The voltage is large enough for us to measure it only when many cells are active at the same time. The more voltage we measure, the more active the brain is.
What happens during the testing?
Small electrodes are placed on a hood on the head and covered with some gel to connect to the scalp. The electrodes must have good contact with the scalp in order to be able to measure the voltage. For this purpose, the net is immersed in a liquid before our appointment. This has been clinically tested and can be easily washed off after the experiment. The liquid is a good conductor of electrical signals and this allows the electrodes to receive the signal from the scalp. If the connection is still not good enough, it may be necessary to clean the areas where an electrode is attached using a special paste and alcohol.
What is measured?
The EEG measurement helps us understand the functions of the different brain regions. The image of the brain activity is transmitted to the computer in the form of curves.
Important information
It is important that your child remains still during testing as movement can distort and blur the image.
Plan about an hour for this measurement. Please wash your child's hair before coming to the lab. This helps to get a better picture.
What are the risks?
The application of the EEG does not involve any risks. It is a method that is also often used in medicine. In rare cases, skin irritations may occur. Pressure marks may remain for a while at the locations where the electrodes or the electrode cap were attached. In very rare cases, the areas where the electrodes were located are still visible for a few days (e.g. reddening). Please let us know if your child suffers from specific skin allergies or skin hypersensitivity.
You can find more informtion on the topic in the following article (in English): https://pressrelease.brainproducts.com/rnet-infants-walkthrough/