Electrocorticography

Electrocorticography (pronounced as e-lek-tro-kor-ti-KOG-rah-fee), often abbreviated as ECoG, is a type of electrophysiological monitoring that uses electrodes placed directly on the exposed surface of the brain to record electrical activity from the cerebral cortex. The term is derived from the Greek words elektron meaning amber (from which electricity was first produced), kortex meaning bark, and graphein meaning to write.

History

The technique was first used in humans by Wilder Penfield in 1950 to localize seizure foci in patients with epilepsy.

Procedure

During ECoG, electrodes are placed on the brain surface, and electrical activity is recorded. This is typically done during surgery for epilepsy or brain tumors. The ECoG signal is then analyzed to determine brain function and to identify any abnormal electrical activity.

Uses

ECoG is primarily used in the field of neurosurgery for things such as brain mapping and for determining the epileptogenic zone in epilepsy surgery. It is also used in neuroscience research and has potential applications in brain-computer interfaces.

Advantages and Disadvantages

ECoG has several advantages over other brain monitoring techniques such as EEG and fMRI. It provides a much higher spatial resolution and signal quality, and it can record both local field potentials and multi-unit activity. However, it is an invasive procedure and carries risks such as infection and bleeding.