Still nowadays the clinical utility of QEEG techniques remains a controversial matter so that it could be considered as a useful tool, but also as a dangerous toy.ĮEG is traditionally analysed in terms of temporal waveforms at different channels, looking at power of rhythms in terms of frequency, latency of peaks or presence of particular grapho-elements. The cerebral maps include topographic displays of voltage, frequencies, power and statistical analysis with comparison with a normal reference population. These maps display many features that can be instantaneous of an averaged period of time. The use of EEG brain mapping is based on visualisation of coloured brain maps generated by digital analysis of cerebral electrical activity. Introduction of digital EEG techniques not only displays the EEG tracing but can provide additional measurement with quantitative EEG (QEEG), also called “EEG brain mapping”. However, it is important to insist that EEG can give relevant information about topography of cerebral activity, even if it is difficult to have topographic information with a conventional EEG recording.ĮEG recording is based on two-dimensional representation of potential differences between two electrodes in function of time and topographic information is based on integration of information across different channels. On the other hand, brain function studies and neuroimaging methods have been deeply improved, severely discrediting EEG use. In spite of recent advances, the analytic potential of EEG has not been fully employed. In this chapter author describes principles of EEG brain mapping and its potential applications in particular in the epileptic field.ĮEG was first described as a promise to provide a “window into the brain” in 1929 by Hans Berger. In the field of epilepsy EEG brain mapping could help clinics to detect spikes, locate an epileptic focus and suggest the type of epilepsy. QEEG techniques are also potentially useful in identifying anomalies in patients with cerebral trauma or in children with cognitive disorders.
QEEG topographic analysis could be useful in many neurological diseases: in cerebrovascular disease EEG analysis is useful since EEG parameters are highly correlates with regional blood and metabolism in degenerative disease (as dementia or encephalopathies) quantitative EEG frequency analysis could suggest an organic base of the disorder even if it is not able to distinguish between the types of dementia. QEEG assessment still remains controversy about its clinical role. This technique, generally consisting in quantitative analysis of EEG (QEEG), includes topographic displays of frequency or voltage, statistical comparison to normal values and discriminant analysis. EEG brain mapping is a neurophysiological technique based on computer-assisted analysis of conventional EEG.
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