EEG Interpretation Course

Lesson 1 • EEG Recording Parameters and Standards

Defines sensitivity, time base, and filter settings used in routine clinical recordings. Standardized parameters ensure comparability across studies and laboratories.

Lesson 2 • Neurophysiology of Brain Electrical Activity

Covers ionic mechanisms of postsynaptic potentials and cortical dipoles as EEG signal sources. Establishes the biological basis needed for all subsequent waveform analysis.

Lesson 3 • Montage Design and Reference Strategies

Distinguishes bipolar, referential, and average-reference montages and their clinical trade-offs. Montage selection directly affects waveform morphology and localization accuracy.

Lesson 4 • The International 10-20 Electrode System

Teaches standardized electrode placement using anatomical landmarks and naming conventions. Accurate placement underpins reliable spatial localization throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Activation Procedures and Normal Responses

Covers hyperventilation, photic stimulation, and sleep deprivation effects on normal EEG. Baseline activation responses must be known before interpreting abnormal activation findings.

Lesson 2 • Normal EEG Variants of No Pathological Significance

Identifies benign variants such as SREDA, wicket spikes, and 14-and-6 Hz positive bursts. Recognizing these prevents unnecessary clinical intervention.

Lesson 3 • Adult Waking EEG Rhythms

Describes alpha, beta, theta, and delta frequency bands and their normal topographic distributions. Provides the baseline reference for recognizing abnormality in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • Pediatric EEG Development

Traces EEG maturation from premature neonates through adolescence, highlighting age-specific normal patterns. Age-matched norms prevent misclassification of developmental patterns as pathology.

Lesson 1 • Artifact Reduction Techniques

Presents electrode preparation, patient positioning, and digital filtering strategies to minimize artifacts. Proactive reduction improves interpretable signal yield.

Lesson 2 • Technical and Environmental Artifacts

Covers electrode pop, 60 Hz interference, lead movement, and equipment malfunction signatures. Technical artifacts are correctable at the source when identified promptly.

Lesson 3 • Artifact Differentiation from Pathological Patterns

Applies systematic criteria to separate artifacts from epileptiform discharges and encephalopathic patterns. This skill directly reduces false-positive epilepsy diagnoses.

Lesson 1 • Activation-Provoked Epileptiform Activity

Examines how hyperventilation, photic stimulation, and sleep activate epileptiform discharges. Activation findings increase diagnostic yield and refine syndrome classification.

Lesson 2 • Focal Epileptiform Patterns

Covers temporal, frontal, occipital, and parietal interictal discharges with their clinical correlates. Focal localization informs surgical candidacy evaluation and syndrome classification.

Lesson 3 • Morphology of Interictal Epileptiform Discharges

Defines spike, sharp wave, and spike-and-wave complex by duration, amplitude, and field. Precise morphological criteria form the foundation of epileptiform discharge identification.

Lesson 4 • Generalized Epileptiform Patterns

Identifies 3 Hz spike-and-wave, polyspike-wave, and generalized paroxysmal fast activity. Generalized patterns link to specific epilepsy syndromes requiring distinct treatment approaches.

Lesson 1 • Childhood Epilepsy Syndromes

Covers EEG signatures of infantile spasms, childhood absence, and self-limited focal epilepsies. Syndrome recognition in children prevents misdiagnosis and guides age-appropriate therapy.

Lesson 2 • Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies

Covers EEG in Lennox-Gastaut, CSWS, and ESES syndromes with their prognostic implications. These severe syndromes require recognition of specific EEG criteria for diagnosis and monitoring.

Lesson 3 • Focal Epilepsy Syndromes in Adults

Examines temporal lobe, frontal lobe, and posterior cortex epilepsy EEG signatures. Focal syndrome identification supports presurgical evaluation and localization hypotheses.

Lesson 4 • Adolescent and Adult Generalized Epilepsies

Identifies EEG features of juvenile absence, juvenile myoclonic, and generalized tonic-clonic epilepsies. Accurate classification prevents inappropriate antiseizure medication selection.

Lesson 1 • Background Abnormalities and Slowing

Grades diffuse slowing, background disorganization, and amplitude reduction as markers of encephalopathy severity. Background assessment is the first step in any encephalopathy EEG report.

Lesson 2 • Periodic Patterns and the ACNS Terminology

Applies standardized critical care EEG terminology to classify periodic and rhythmic patterns. Uniform terminology enables consistent communication and research across institutions.

Lesson 3 • EEG in Specific Encephalopathic Conditions

Covers EEG findings in hypoxic-ischemic injury, autoimmune encephalitis, and prion disease. Condition-specific patterns guide urgent diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.

Lesson 4 • Triphasic Waves and Metabolic Encephalopathy

Identifies triphasic wave morphology and its association with hepatic, renal, and other metabolic disorders. Distinguishing triphasic waves from ictal patterns prevents unnecessary treatment.

Lesson 1 • Nonconvulsive Seizures and NCSE Detection

Applies diagnostic criteria for nonconvulsive seizures and nonconvulsive status epilepticus. NCSE is a medical emergency detectable only by EEG in many patients.

Lesson 2 • Workflow and Communication in Continuous EEG

Establishes review schedules, alert systems, and reporting workflows for continuous EEG programs. Efficient workflow ensures timely clinical response to critical EEG findings.

Lesson 3 • Quantitative EEG Trend Analysis

Introduces compressed spectral arrays, amplitude trends, and seizure probability displays for rapid review. Quantitative tools allow efficient surveillance of hours of continuous data.

Lesson 4 • Indications and Setup for Continuous EEG

Defines patient populations requiring continuous monitoring and outlines setup protocols. Appropriate patient selection maximizes diagnostic yield and resource utilization.

Lesson 1 • Correlating EEG with Clinical and Imaging Data

Integrates EEG findings with neuroimaging, clinical history, and laboratory results for diagnosis. EEG interpretation without clinical context risks both over- and under-diagnosis.

Lesson 2 • EEG in Medicolegal and Ethical Contexts

Addresses documentation standards, informed consent for EEG, and reporting obligations. Accurate and complete documentation protects patients and clinicians in legal proceedings.

Lesson 3 • Structured EEG Report Writing

Defines required report components including clinical indication, findings, and clinical correlation. Well-structured reports reduce ambiguity and support downstream clinical decision-making.

Lesson 4 • Common Interpretive Errors and Quality Assurance

Analyzes frequent misinterpretations including artifact overcalling and missed subtle seizures. Quality assurance processes reduce error rates and improve diagnostic consistency.