PDF – EEG Practice Questions And Answers

EEG, meaning - Electroencephalography. Literally, electro-encephalo-graphy means writing of the electric activity of the brain. Why writing? Similar to a seismometer, EEG recordings were initially done on paper. EEG - - Records electrical activity and brain waves using electrodes placed on the scalp. - Measuring electrical activity from the brain is useful because it reflects how the many different neurons in the brain network communicate with each other via electrical impulses. Benefits of EEG - - EEG has very high time resolution and captures cognitive processes in the time frame in which cognition occurs. - EEG directly measures neural activity - EEG is inexpensive, lightweight, and portable. - EEG monitors cognitive-affective processing in absence of behavioral responses. Brainstem - The lower and oldest part of the brain, comprising the midbrain, pons and medulla. Often called the reptilian brain, it controls autonomic body processes such as heartbeat, breathing, bladder function and sense of equilibrium. The limbic system - Often referred to as the emotional brain. It is buried deep within the brain and constitutes an evolutionarily very old structure. - Includes the thalamus, hypothalamus and amygdala. - Plays a central role in arousing fight-or-flight situations. The Cerebellum - - Or "little brain" has two hemispheres which have highly folded surfaces. - Responsible for regulation and control of fine movements, posture and balance. - It receives input from sensory systems of the spinal cord and from other brain areas and integrates these inputs to fine-tune motor activity.