Activation Procedures

EEG test is normal in 50% of patients who have definitive diagnosis of seizure disorder or epilepsy. Activation procedures or techniques are recommended for standard EEG recordings to increase the diagnostic yield of the test by 90%.

These procedures provoke the brain, altering its physiological state (electrical and chemical activity) to bring out the abnormalities in EEG, especially epileptiform activity not typically seen in routine EEG.

The most commonly used are hyperventilation, photic stimulation and sleep deprivation. There are some activation procedures like music, hot water bath, reading, performing cognitive tasks which are performed in special situations in patients with rare epilepsies, and if patients report having seizures due to specific triggers.

In this webinar we will discuss various activation procedures, physiological and EEG changes, techniques and significance of various activation procedures.