See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients. Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. The Mayo Clinic experience and patient stories Are there factors that might have affected the results of this test in some way?Д®xplore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.Based on the results, what are my next steps?.Write down questions to ask your doctor, such as: If possible, bring along a family member or friend to the appointment to help you remember the information you're given. Your doctor might schedule an office appointment to discuss the results of the test.

ResultsДoctors trained to analyze EEGs interpret the recording and send the results to the doctor who ordered the EEG. Once home, rest and don't drive for the rest of the day. If you used a sedative, it will take time for the medication to begin to wear off. If you had no sedative, you should feel no side effects after the procedure, and you can return to your normal routine. The technician removes the electrodes or cap. However, compared to inpatient video- EEG monitoring, an ambulatory EEG is not as good at determining the difference between epileptic seizures and nonepileptic seizures. This test can record brain activity over several days, which increases the chances of catching seizure activity. This combined recording can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition.ДЄmbulatory EEGs (aEEGs), which allow for longer monitoring outside an office or hospital setting, are in limited use. Your body motions are captured by a video camera while the EEG records your brain waves.

Video is routinely recorded during the EEG.

At various times, the technician might ask you to open and close your eyes, perform a few simple calculations, read a paragraph, look at a picture, breathe deeply for a few minutes, or look at a flashing light.

You relax in a comfortable position with your eyes closed during the test.

Testing for certain conditions require you to sleep during the test. Once the electrodes are in place, an EEG typically takes up to 60 minutes. The electrodes are connected with wires to an instrument that amplifies the brain waves and records them on computer equipment. Sometimes, an elastic cap fitted with electrodes is used instead. Those spots on your scalp might be scrubbed with a gritty cream to improve the quality of the recording.ДЄ technician attaches discs (electrodes) to your scalp using a special adhesive.

A technician measures your head and marks your scalp with a special pencil to indicate where to attach the electrodes.

Here are some things you can expect to happen during an EEG: Combining mathematical algorithms with anatomical imaging allows non-invasive measurement of activity in the deepest part of the brain. The electrodes don't transmit any sensations. EEG records the electrical activity of the brain using 256 electrodes placed on the scalp. You'll feel little or no discomfort during an EEG. Some people wear an elastic cap fitted with electrodes, instead of having the adhesive applied to their scalps. The electrodes are connected to the EEG machine with wires.

In a high-density EEG, shown here, the electrodes are closely spaced together.

Or, your doctor may ask you to stay overnight in a special EEG monitoring unit where your brain activity will be monitored continuously.During an EEG, flat metal discs (electrodes) are attached to your scalp. You will be able to go about your normal routine as the EEG is being recorded. In addition to the electrodes, you will wear or carry a special recorder for up to 3 days. If your doctor needs to monitor your brain activity for a longer period, an ambulatory EEG will be ordered.

You may be asked to sleep during the test.

You may be asked to do certain things during the test, such as breathe fast and deeply for several minutes or look at a bright flashing light. This is because movement can change the results.

You need to lie still during the test with your eyes closed.

The machine changes the electrical signals into patterns that can be seen on a monitor or drawn on paper. The electrodes are connected by wires to a recording machine. The disks are held in place with a sticky paste.

Flat metal disks called electrodes are placed all over your scalp.

You lie on your back on a bed or in a reclining chair.

The test is done by an electroencephalogram technologist in your doctor's office or at a hospital or laboratory.

Eeg brain