How is and what the encephalogram of the brain shows

1 How the encephalogram

is performed The brain encephalogram is performed by attaching special electrodes to the head that are capable of capturing the slightest changes in the electrical potential during the transmission of impulses to and from the brain. It's no secret that all signals in the human body are short impulse discharges of electric current, which are generated by neurons( nerve cells).Nerve fibers are used as conductors. However, they, like any biological material, can be destroyed or exposed to other body systems. In this case, the signal transmission is disrupted, and in case of paralysis, for example, the impulses do not reach the destination at all. The result - the brain can not normally monitor a person's condition.

EEG of the brain is a method of diagnosis, which allows you to detect those very precipices. This study will help to detect and areas of the brain that generate abnormal impulses. In such situations it turns out that the nervous system seems to be working normally, but a person can not control himself because of the very signals that the brain should not generate.

The quality and reliability of the information received after the EEG of the brain is directly dependent on the computer equipment used to analyze the signals received. It is this component that costs the most. A modern encephalograph costs an average of 100 thousand dollars. Obsolete models - from 10 thousand dollars. Unfortunately, neither those nor the others are in most Russian clinics, with the exception of the capital's.

By the way, the encephalogram is conducted in a room with absolutely neutral sound and light conditions. This is a very important point for the body to be in a stable state of calm. It is believed that only in this case it can be argued that the data obtained are valid and on their basis it is possible to diagnose and identify other pathologies of the central nervous system. Also, the head encephalogram can be performed already during the treatment to establish the stage of the disease, search for complications, etc.

2 Principle of obtaining information

Encephalogram of the head allows you to plot the change in the signal transmission potential during the period of brain activity. All this information is removed with the help of electrodes connected to the frontal, temporal, scalp. The received information in its original form is transmitted to the analyzer, which is a powerful electronic computer that analyzes the signals received by a given algorithm. On the basis of this data, a graph is drawn up and recorded in a special file, which you can later learn again.

The electrodes themselves, by means of which an encephalogram of the brain is performed, simply removes the parameters of the change in the electric and magnetic potential. It is about changing the thousandth voltages. That is, the data is so miserable that it is simply not possible to notice any change in the potential of simple measuring devices.

The electroencephalogram records information at a certain frequency. On average, there are 5-10 signals per second. On the basis of these data, the structure of the graph also takes place. The more modern equipment, the more signals are recorded and the more accurate the information is transmitted to the computer. The examination itself lasts for a relatively short time and takes up to 45 minutes.

3 When an

is prescribed, the Encephalogram is administered primarily if there is a suspicion of a central nervous system disorder or when diseases that are directly related to the brain are detected. And by the way, the encephalogram of the brain, as a rule, is carried out after the MRI, with the help of which it is possible to detect damage to the blood vessels and inflammation.

The decoding of the results can take from a few days to a week, depending on the parameters that are being studied. It should be taken into account that the EEG of the brain not only gives information about the potential, the rate of momentum transfer, but also provides a range of other indicators. It takes time to structure all this. There are computers that transform information automatically, but such ones appeared relatively recently and cost a lot of money. Some of them are capable of simultaneously diagnosing cerebral vessels and detecting so-called hot spots of oxygen starvation.

Diagnosis is prescribed and if there is a so-called convulsive syndrome, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, etc.

The full range of diseases that allows you to establish the EEG of the brain is huge. Among them, there are even such rare deviations as the damage to the cortex due to the effects of the Zick virus, which recently began to spread with new force around the world.

The EEG can be advised by a neuropathologist and in case of abnormal migraine attacks. Unfortunately, this is a disease that has not been fully explored to this day. Yes, it is associated with a headache, but the mechanism of its occurrence is practically not established, despite the fact that doctors use this term very often. The electroencephalogram will allow not only to establish the affected area, but also to compile an algorithm of the treatment process.

EEG is often prescribed after severe head injuries. Diagnosis allows you to quickly and accurately determine whether there is damage to the cortex or its areas. For example, professional boxers encephalogram pass almost after each grueling battle. Such diagnostics provide much more information than MRI, but there are not so many experts who can decrypt the received data.

4 Is the procedure painful?

Encephalogram of the head is an absolutely painless procedure, however it is associated with discomfort. First, the patient will have to not move for almost an hour( if possible, of course).Secondly, before the encephalogram, you can not drink coffee, take medication or smoke. All this can have an impact on the results of the study and thereby make it impossible to diagnose.

The electroencephalogram is absolutely safe. It must be understood that no signals are fed through the electrodes. On the contrary, the indicators are taken through them. Directly on the wiring is given only the noise voltage, measured in thousandths of a volt. Such a signal will be safe even for newborns, not to mention adults or adolescents.

As mentioned above, the examination takes up to 1 hour, but in rare cases at the discretion of the doctor can be prolonged or shortened. Assignment and re-diagnosis are allowed, if necessary. The break is not standardized, that is, the head encephalogram can be performed the day after the first diagnosis.

5 Preparation for

study The electroencephalogram does not require any preliminary preparation. The only requirement of doctors is not to drink coffee, do not consume medicines and, if possible, give up smoking temporarily. Before the procedure should be easy to eat, so that there is no feeling of hunger and accompanying discomfort.

You should also wash your hair thoroughly. But do not do your hair. Electrodes, if necessary, will be placed not on the suckers, but on a special helmet, which is put on the head and then the pressure of all the sensors is leveled.

Moral preparation for the encephalogram is equally important. Recommended:

• to refrain from panic;
• have nothing to fear( the procedure is harmless, painless);
• should not be distracted by emotional pathogens( if this happens, be sure to notify the doctor);
• try to relax.

The most difficult thing for an EEG is for young children who can not yet understand how important this procedure is. Allowed the use of toys in the diagnostic process, and parents themselves can be present side by side. By the way, in America diagnostics at home has been used for a long time already, for this purpose there was created a visiting laboratory. Thus, the researcher is not exposed to emotional influence, and the information received will be as relevant as possible.

Some devices can immediately demonstrate what the encephalogram shows. In this case, the doctor can ask leading questions, monitoring the reaction of the brain. Thus, mental abnormalities are revealed( they are also diagnosed by an encephalograph).

6 Where to conduct EEG

The residents of the capital do not have a problem where to make an encephalogram of the brain. Apparatus required for this is in many clinics. But what about the inhabitants of remote villages? They conduct diagnostics appoint a doctor-neurologist, if traditional methods of diagnosis determine the cause of the disease is not possible. Already with the direction of the patient goes to any public or private clinic. Unfortunately, the survey is not free, however, and use it in extreme cases.

Private clinics are equipped much better than public ones, but the cost of the encephalogram is much higher in them and not everyone can afford it. As assured by the government, this situation is temporary, and huge funds have already been allocated for the purchase of mobile encephalographs. Although they give less information about the work of the brain, they are very much needed by many clinics.

It is allowed to conduct EEG at the request of young parents for the baby. Diagnosis can be performed to determine deviations in development, assess the mental abilities of the machine and early detection of brain and CNS pathologies. By what the equipment shows, you can judge whether the child will keep up with the development of peers and what problems should be paid special attention.

So, EEG is a diagnostic procedure aimed at studying the potential of the brain at the time of tranquility and low activity. It is absolutely safe and painless. It can be held as many times as you want, regardless of the patient's age or pathology, which is planned to be searched / studied. It does not require any preliminary preparation and takes about 20 minutes to an hour. The data obtained during the diagnostic process are used to plot the work schedule of the central nervous system and the brain.