Electroencephalography (EEG) is the most commonly used functional investigative method in epilepsy. The goal of this educational review paper is to summarize the most important aspects related to the biophysical phenomena of EEG signal generation and the technical features that a clinician needs to understand in order to read and interpret EEGs. We explain the EEG electrodes and recording arrays, amplifiers, filters, analogue-to-digital conversion and signal display. We describe the advantages and disadvantages of the different montages and the indications for the various types of EEG recordings and provocative maneuvers. We explain how to use topographic maps to estimate the source of the cortical generator.
Müller-Putz, G. R. (2020). Chapter 18—Electroencephalography. In N. F. Ramsey & J. del R. Millán (Eds.), Handbook of Clinical Neurology (Vol. 168, pp. 249–262). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-63934-9.00018-4
The electroencephalogram (EEG) was invented almost 100 years ago and is still a method of choice for many research questions, even applications—from functional brain imaging in neuroscientific investigations during movement to real-time applications like brain-computer interfacing. This chapter gives some background information on the establishment and properties of the EEG. This chapter starts with a closer look at the sources of EEG at a micro or neuronal level, followed by recording techniques, types of electrodes, and common EEG artifacts. Then an overview on EEG phenomena, namely, spontaneous EEG and event-related potentials build the middle part of this chapter. The last part discusses brain signals, which are used in current BCI research, including short descriptions and examples of applications.