AASM MANUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the recommended derivations? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅There are 3; (a)F4-M1; (b)C4-M1;
(c)O2-M1
Where should backup electrodes be placed? Why? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅They should be placed at F3,
C3, and M2 to allow the display of F3-M2, C3-M2, and O1-M2 if the electrodes malfunction during the
study.
What are alternative and acceptable derivations? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅There are 3; (a)F2-C2, (b)C2-
O2, (c)C4-M1
Where should alternative backup electrodes be placed? Why? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅They should be
placed at Fpz, C3, O1, and M2 to allow substitution of Fz, C3 for Cz or C4, O1 for O2 and M2 for M1 if
electrodes malfunction during study.
What system is used for electrode positioning? Why? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅10-20 system; there is a
minimum of 3 EEG derivations required in order to sample activity from the frontal, central, and
occipital regions.
What does "EOG" stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Electro-Oculogram
What does M1 and M2 refer to? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅They refer to the left/right mastoid processes.
What is the recommended EOG derivations? Where are they placed? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The
recommended derivations are E1-M2 and E2-M1. E1-M2 is placed 1cm below the left-outer corner of
the eye and E2-M1 is placed 1cm above the right-outer corner of the eye.
What are the alternative and acceptable derivations for EOGs and where should they be placed? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅E1-Fpz and E2-Fpz; E1-Fpz is placed 1cm lateral to the corner of the left eye and
E2-Fpz is placed 1cm lateral to the corner of the right eye.
, Describe how using the alternative placement for EOGs (lateral of the left/right corner of the eye) works
- CORRECT ANSWER✅✅This alternative records the direction of the eye movement. Vertical
movements will show in phase directions and horizontal movement will show out-of-phase deflections.
What does "EMG" stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Electromyogram
How many electrodes should be placed to record chin EMG? Where should they be placed? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅-3 electrodes
-one in the midline 1cm above the inferior edge of the mandible, one 2cm right of the midline, and one
2cm below the inferior edge of the mandible
Why do we use these standard placements for chin EMGs? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The standard chin
EMG derivation consists of an electrode below the mandible that is referenced to the electrode above
the mandible. The other inferior electrode is backup to allow continued display of EMG activity if one of
the primary electrodes malfunctions.
What is the recommended terminology for stages of sleep? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅There are 5 stages:
W (wakefulness), N1, N2, N3 and R (REM)
What does N3 represent? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Slow wave sleep
How long is an epoch? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅30 seconds
If 2 or more stages coexist during a single epoch what should you do? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Assign
the stage compromising the greatest portion of that epoch
What is alpha rhythm? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Trains of sinusoidal 8-13Hz activity recorded over
occipital region with eye closure, attenuating with eye opening
What is eye blinks? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Conjugate vertical eye movements at a frequency present
in wakefulness with the eyes opened or closed
What are the recommended derivations? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅There are 3; (a)F4-M1; (b)C4-M1;
(c)O2-M1
Where should backup electrodes be placed? Why? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅They should be placed at F3,
C3, and M2 to allow the display of F3-M2, C3-M2, and O1-M2 if the electrodes malfunction during the
study.
What are alternative and acceptable derivations? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅There are 3; (a)F2-C2, (b)C2-
O2, (c)C4-M1
Where should alternative backup electrodes be placed? Why? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅They should be
placed at Fpz, C3, O1, and M2 to allow substitution of Fz, C3 for Cz or C4, O1 for O2 and M2 for M1 if
electrodes malfunction during study.
What system is used for electrode positioning? Why? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅10-20 system; there is a
minimum of 3 EEG derivations required in order to sample activity from the frontal, central, and
occipital regions.
What does "EOG" stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Electro-Oculogram
What does M1 and M2 refer to? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅They refer to the left/right mastoid processes.
What is the recommended EOG derivations? Where are they placed? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The
recommended derivations are E1-M2 and E2-M1. E1-M2 is placed 1cm below the left-outer corner of
the eye and E2-M1 is placed 1cm above the right-outer corner of the eye.
What are the alternative and acceptable derivations for EOGs and where should they be placed? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅E1-Fpz and E2-Fpz; E1-Fpz is placed 1cm lateral to the corner of the left eye and
E2-Fpz is placed 1cm lateral to the corner of the right eye.
, Describe how using the alternative placement for EOGs (lateral of the left/right corner of the eye) works
- CORRECT ANSWER✅✅This alternative records the direction of the eye movement. Vertical
movements will show in phase directions and horizontal movement will show out-of-phase deflections.
What does "EMG" stand for? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Electromyogram
How many electrodes should be placed to record chin EMG? Where should they be placed? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅-3 electrodes
-one in the midline 1cm above the inferior edge of the mandible, one 2cm right of the midline, and one
2cm below the inferior edge of the mandible
Why do we use these standard placements for chin EMGs? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅The standard chin
EMG derivation consists of an electrode below the mandible that is referenced to the electrode above
the mandible. The other inferior electrode is backup to allow continued display of EMG activity if one of
the primary electrodes malfunctions.
What is the recommended terminology for stages of sleep? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅There are 5 stages:
W (wakefulness), N1, N2, N3 and R (REM)
What does N3 represent? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Slow wave sleep
How long is an epoch? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅30 seconds
If 2 or more stages coexist during a single epoch what should you do? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Assign
the stage compromising the greatest portion of that epoch
What is alpha rhythm? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Trains of sinusoidal 8-13Hz activity recorded over
occipital region with eye closure, attenuating with eye opening
What is eye blinks? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Conjugate vertical eye movements at a frequency present
in wakefulness with the eyes opened or closed
