EEG Methods Flashcards
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
A method that records electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
A technique that measures magnetic fields generated by brain activity offering better spatial resolution than EEG.
Generalized Seizure
A type of seizure that affects both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously often leading to loss of consciousness.
Partial Seizure
A seizure that originates in a specific part of the brain sometimes spreading but not always leading to loss of consciousness.
Epilepsy
A neurological disorder characterized by recurring seizures due to abnormal brain activity.
Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REM Sleep)
A sleep stage where dreaming occurs characterized by rapid eye movements
Non-REM Sleep
A deep sleep stage with slower brain activity essential for physical restoration and memory consolidation.
Atonia
A state of muscle paralysis that occurs during REM sleep to prevent movement while dreaming.
Ultradian Rhythm
A biological cycle shorter than 24 hours such as the sleep cycle
Circadian Rhythm
The body’s natural 24-hour cycle regulating sleep wakefulness
Zeitgeber
An external cue like sunlight
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)
A part of the brain’s hypothalamus that serves as the master clock controlling circadian rhythms.
Clock Gene
A gene involved in maintaining and regulating the body’s internal biological clock.
ERP (Event-Related Potential)
A spike in the EEG signal in response to an event or stimulus.
Oddball Paradigm
An experimental design where infrequent stimuli (e.g. 20% Os) appear among frequent ones
EEG Processing
The amplification, digitization, and averaging of EEG signals to extract ERPs.
ERP Components
Key peaks (P1, N1, P2, N2, P3) in an ERP waveform that reflect sensory and cognitive processes.
Grand Average ERP Waveforms
Averaged waveforms across subjects to reduce noise and highlight common patterns.
N2pc Component
An ERP component indicating focused visual attention, measured when detecting targets based on color, orientation, or motion.
Axon Potentials
Discrete voltage spikes traveling along the axon, responsible for neurotransmitter release.
Postsynaptic Potentials (PSPs)
Graded voltage changes caused by neurotransmitter binding; summed PSPs generate local field potentials and ERPs.
Mismatch Negativity (MMN)
An ERP response to unexpected sounds in a repetitive sequence, occurring automatically without active attention.
N400
An ERP component linked to processing meaning; larger for unexpected words.
P600
An ERP component associated with detecting grammatical errors or sentence structure violations.
Readiness Potential (RP/Bereitschaftspotential, BP)
A slow negative shift in brain activity before voluntary movement.
