Electroencephalograph

Electroencephalograph (pronunciation: /ɪˌlɛktrəʊɪˈnˈsiːfələˌɡrɑːf/) is a medical device used to record the electrical activity of the brain. The term is derived from the Greek words elektron (meaning amber, from which the word electricity is derived), enkephalos (brain), and graphein (to write).

History

The first human electroencephalography was recorded in 1924 by Hans Berger, a German psychiatrist. He named the device "Electroencephalograph".

Function

An Electroencephalograph records the electrical activity of the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp. The recorded data is called an Electroencephalogram (EEG). This data can be used to diagnose and monitor various neurological disorders such as epilepsy, sleep disorders, encephalopathies, and brain death.

Procedure

During an EEG, electrodes are attached to the patient's scalp with a special adhesive. The electrodes are connected to the Electroencephalograph, which records the brain's electrical activity. The procedure is non-invasive and painless.

Related Terms

Electroencephalogram (EEG): The record of the brain's electrical activity produced by an Electroencephalograph.
Electrode: A conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an object, substance, or region.
Neurology: The branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the nervous system.
Epilepsy: A neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Encephalopathy: A disease in which the functioning of the brain is affected by some agent or condition such as viral infection or toxins in the blood.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Electroencephalograph
Wikipedia's article - Electroencephalograph

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Electroencephalograph