EEG Board Exam 2026/2027 – Actual
Exam Questions with Verified Correct
Answers | Fully Updated Study Guide
EEG Instrumentation, Electronics & Safety (Questions 1–13)
Q1: During a routine EEG recording, you notice that the impedance check shows all electrodes reading
between 2–4 kΩ except for F7, which reads 18 kΩ. The technologist has already reapplied the electrode
once. What is the most appropriate next step to achieve acceptable recording quality?
A. Continue the recording since 18 kΩ is within the acceptable range for digital EEG systems.
B. Replace the electrode with a new one and re-check impedance before beginning the recording.
[CORRECT]
C. Increase the high-frequency filter to 100 Hz to compensate for the elevated impedance.
D. Apply additional conductive paste over the existing electrode and proceed with recording.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. ABRET standards and clinical practice require electrode impedances
below 5 kΩ for optimal signal quality, and 18 kΩ is well outside acceptable limits. Remember that in EEG
practice, simply reapplying the same electrode often doesn't resolve the underlying issue—whether it's
dried paste, poor scalp contact, or a faulty electrode itself. Replacing it with a fresh electrode and re-
checking impedance is the standard troubleshooting approach that protects data integrity.
Q2: A patient is being prepared for a routine EEG using the International 10-20 System. The technologist
needs to place the T3 electrode. Which of the following landmarks best describes the correct location
for T3?
A. 10% of the total distance anterior to the inion along the sagittal midline.
B. Midway between F7 and P7, positioned 10% above the preauricular point. [CORRECT]
C. Directly over the mastoid process, 2 cm posterior to the ear.
D. 20% of the distance from nasion to inion, measured laterally from Cz.
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The best answer is B. This choice is correct because T3 sits on the temporal chain midway
between F7 and P7, roughly 10% above the preauricular point. Remember that in EEG practice, the
temporal electrodes follow a straight line from F7 through T3 to P7, and getting this placement right
matters for accurate lateralization of temporal lobe activity.
Q3: During calibration of the EEG machine, the technologist applies a 50 µV square wave signal and
observes that the pen deflection (or digital equivalent) shows a rounded, slurred upstroke rather than a
sharp vertical rise. Which parameter is most likely set incorrectly?
A. The low-frequency filter is set too high, attenuating the slow components of the square wave.
[CORRECT]
B. The high-frequency filter is set too low, causing excessive attenuation of fast frequencies.
C. The sensitivity is set too high, causing the waveform to exceed the display range.
D. The notch filter is engaged, introducing 60 Hz artifact into the calibration signal.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The best answer is A. A slurred or rounded square wave upstroke is the classic sign that your
low-frequency filter (time constant) is set too high—it's filtering out the sharp DC-like transition that
makes a square wave square. Remember that in EEG practice, the low-frequency filter controls how
much slow activity gets through, and when it's cranked up too aggressively, even your calibration square
wave starts looking like a sine wave.
Q4: A technologist is troubleshooting an EEG recording that shows widespread 60 Hz artifact across all
channels. The patient is lying on a standard hospital bed. Which of the following is the most effective
first step in resolving this artifact?
A. Immediately replace all electrodes with new ones, as old electrodes are the most common cause of
60 Hz interference.
B. Check that the patient bed is properly grounded and that the patient is not touching any metal bed
rails. [CORRECT]
C. Increase the high-frequency filter to 70 Hz to filter out the 60 Hz noise.
D. Disconnect the patient from the EEG amplifier and reconnect using a bipolar montage instead of
referential.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Widespread 60 Hz artifact usually means there's a grounding issue
somewhere in the patient's environment, and hospital beds with metal rails are notorious for this.
Remember that in EEG practice, you always check the easy stuff first—bed grounding, patient contact
, with metal, and power source integrity—before you start swapping electrodes or changing filters. The
notch filter can help, but fixing the source is always the right move.
Q5: In a digital EEG system, the technologist sets the sampling rate to 256 Hz. According to the Nyquist
theorem, what is the highest frequency that can be accurately represented without aliasing?
A. 512 Hz
B. 256 Hz
C. 128 Hz [CORRECT]
D. 64 Hz
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. The Nyquist theorem tells us that to accurately capture a signal, you
need to sample at least twice the highest frequency you want to represent—so at 256 Hz sampling, your
maximum accurate frequency is 128 Hz. Remember that in EEG practice, aliasing happens when
frequencies above half your sampling rate get folded back into lower frequencies and look like
something they're not. That's why most labs sample at 256 Hz or higher to safely capture EEG activity up
to about 70–100 Hz.
Q6: A patient undergoing EEG monitoring in the ICU is connected to multiple devices including an IV
pump, a cardiac monitor, and a ventilator. The technologist notices intermittent sharp deflections that
correlate with the patient's pulse. Which of the following best describes this artifact and the most
appropriate intervention?
A. This is EKG artifact; reposition the EKG leads away from the EEG electrodes and ensure proper
grounding. [CORRECT]
B. This is electrode pop artifact; replace the affected electrodes and check impedances.
C. This is muscle artifact from the temporalis muscle; ask the patient to relax their jaw.
D. This is a photic driving response; discontinue photic stimulation immediately.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The best answer is A. Pulse-correlated sharp deflections are classic EKG artifact, and in the
ICU where patients are loaded with monitoring equipment, this is incredibly common. Remember that in
EEG practice, EKG artifact shows up as sharp spikes or slow waves that march along with the heartbeat,
and the fix is usually repositioning the EKG leads, checking grounding, or using a bipolar montage that
cancels out the far-field cardiac signal.
Exam Questions with Verified Correct
Answers | Fully Updated Study Guide
EEG Instrumentation, Electronics & Safety (Questions 1–13)
Q1: During a routine EEG recording, you notice that the impedance check shows all electrodes reading
between 2–4 kΩ except for F7, which reads 18 kΩ. The technologist has already reapplied the electrode
once. What is the most appropriate next step to achieve acceptable recording quality?
A. Continue the recording since 18 kΩ is within the acceptable range for digital EEG systems.
B. Replace the electrode with a new one and re-check impedance before beginning the recording.
[CORRECT]
C. Increase the high-frequency filter to 100 Hz to compensate for the elevated impedance.
D. Apply additional conductive paste over the existing electrode and proceed with recording.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. ABRET standards and clinical practice require electrode impedances
below 5 kΩ for optimal signal quality, and 18 kΩ is well outside acceptable limits. Remember that in EEG
practice, simply reapplying the same electrode often doesn't resolve the underlying issue—whether it's
dried paste, poor scalp contact, or a faulty electrode itself. Replacing it with a fresh electrode and re-
checking impedance is the standard troubleshooting approach that protects data integrity.
Q2: A patient is being prepared for a routine EEG using the International 10-20 System. The technologist
needs to place the T3 electrode. Which of the following landmarks best describes the correct location
for T3?
A. 10% of the total distance anterior to the inion along the sagittal midline.
B. Midway between F7 and P7, positioned 10% above the preauricular point. [CORRECT]
C. Directly over the mastoid process, 2 cm posterior to the ear.
D. 20% of the distance from nasion to inion, measured laterally from Cz.
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The best answer is B. This choice is correct because T3 sits on the temporal chain midway
between F7 and P7, roughly 10% above the preauricular point. Remember that in EEG practice, the
temporal electrodes follow a straight line from F7 through T3 to P7, and getting this placement right
matters for accurate lateralization of temporal lobe activity.
Q3: During calibration of the EEG machine, the technologist applies a 50 µV square wave signal and
observes that the pen deflection (or digital equivalent) shows a rounded, slurred upstroke rather than a
sharp vertical rise. Which parameter is most likely set incorrectly?
A. The low-frequency filter is set too high, attenuating the slow components of the square wave.
[CORRECT]
B. The high-frequency filter is set too low, causing excessive attenuation of fast frequencies.
C. The sensitivity is set too high, causing the waveform to exceed the display range.
D. The notch filter is engaged, introducing 60 Hz artifact into the calibration signal.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The best answer is A. A slurred or rounded square wave upstroke is the classic sign that your
low-frequency filter (time constant) is set too high—it's filtering out the sharp DC-like transition that
makes a square wave square. Remember that in EEG practice, the low-frequency filter controls how
much slow activity gets through, and when it's cranked up too aggressively, even your calibration square
wave starts looking like a sine wave.
Q4: A technologist is troubleshooting an EEG recording that shows widespread 60 Hz artifact across all
channels. The patient is lying on a standard hospital bed. Which of the following is the most effective
first step in resolving this artifact?
A. Immediately replace all electrodes with new ones, as old electrodes are the most common cause of
60 Hz interference.
B. Check that the patient bed is properly grounded and that the patient is not touching any metal bed
rails. [CORRECT]
C. Increase the high-frequency filter to 70 Hz to filter out the 60 Hz noise.
D. Disconnect the patient from the EEG amplifier and reconnect using a bipolar montage instead of
referential.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. Widespread 60 Hz artifact usually means there's a grounding issue
somewhere in the patient's environment, and hospital beds with metal rails are notorious for this.
Remember that in EEG practice, you always check the easy stuff first—bed grounding, patient contact
, with metal, and power source integrity—before you start swapping electrodes or changing filters. The
notch filter can help, but fixing the source is always the right move.
Q5: In a digital EEG system, the technologist sets the sampling rate to 256 Hz. According to the Nyquist
theorem, what is the highest frequency that can be accurately represented without aliasing?
A. 512 Hz
B. 256 Hz
C. 128 Hz [CORRECT]
D. 64 Hz
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. The Nyquist theorem tells us that to accurately capture a signal, you
need to sample at least twice the highest frequency you want to represent—so at 256 Hz sampling, your
maximum accurate frequency is 128 Hz. Remember that in EEG practice, aliasing happens when
frequencies above half your sampling rate get folded back into lower frequencies and look like
something they're not. That's why most labs sample at 256 Hz or higher to safely capture EEG activity up
to about 70–100 Hz.
Q6: A patient undergoing EEG monitoring in the ICU is connected to multiple devices including an IV
pump, a cardiac monitor, and a ventilator. The technologist notices intermittent sharp deflections that
correlate with the patient's pulse. Which of the following best describes this artifact and the most
appropriate intervention?
A. This is EKG artifact; reposition the EKG leads away from the EEG electrodes and ensure proper
grounding. [CORRECT]
B. This is electrode pop artifact; replace the affected electrodes and check impedances.
C. This is muscle artifact from the temporalis muscle; ask the patient to relax their jaw.
D. This is a photic driving response; discontinue photic stimulation immediately.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The best answer is A. Pulse-correlated sharp deflections are classic EKG artifact, and in the
ICU where patients are loaded with monitoring equipment, this is incredibly common. Remember that in
EEG practice, EKG artifact shows up as sharp spikes or slow waves that march along with the heartbeat,
and the fix is usually repositioning the EKG leads, checking grounding, or using a bipolar montage that
cancels out the far-field cardiac signal.
