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6 - The normal EEG and aEEG

from Section II - Normal appearances

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2009

By
Geraldine B. Boylan ,
Deirdre M. Murray  and
Janet M. Rennie
Edited by
Janet M. Rennie ,
Cornelia F. Hagmann  and
Nicola J. Robertson
Geraldine B. Boylan
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer in Medical Education and Paediatrics, School of Medicine University College, Cork, Ireland
Deirdre M. Murray
Affiliation:
Research Fellow, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health University College, Cork, Ireland
Janet M. Rennie
Affiliation:
Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Neonatal Medicine, UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
Janet M. Rennie
Affiliation:
University College London
Cornelia F. Hagmann
Affiliation:
University College London
Nicola J. Robertson
Affiliation:
University College London
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Summary

Neonatal EEG: general features

The EEG of the newborn baby is unique. Patterns of electrical activity are seen that mirror the rapid maturational changes taking place in the brain. Waveforms appear that are not present at any other time of life. Sleep states are varied, change rapidly, and are very different from those seen in older children and adults.

The EEG of the neonate is best described in terms of the background activity or pattern. This is the baseline activity of the brain at rest, during wakefulness or sleep.

The EEG patterns of the full-term and of the preterm neonate are very different and it is best to consider them separately. However, the features used to describe the background activity are similar. The background activity of the neonatal EEG is generally described in terms of the following features: continuity, amplitude, frequency, synchrony and symmetry, maturational characteristics, state differentiation, and reactivity.

Continuity

The EEG of the normal full-term newborn shows continuous activity. This simply means that there is activity with a measurable voltage or amplitude present at all times (Fig. 6.1a). In contrast, preterm newborns exhibit a discontinuous EEG pattern (tracé discontinu) which is characterized by periods of continuous activity alternating with periods of little or no measurable voltage quiescence (Fig. 6.1b). In extremely preterm babies the EEG is very discontinuous and periods of quiescence can last up to 60 seconds. The EEG becomes progressively more continuous with increasing gestational age.

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Information
Neonatal Cerebral Investigation , pp. 83 - 91
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

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References

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  • The normal EEG and aEEG
    • By Geraldine B. Boylan, Senior Lecturer in Medical Education and Paediatrics, School of Medicine University College, Cork, Ireland, Deirdre M. Murray, Research Fellow, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health University College, Cork, Ireland, Janet M. Rennie, Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Neonatal Medicine, UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
  • Edited by Janet M. Rennie, University College London, Cornelia F. Hagmann, University College London, Nicola J. Robertson, University College London
  • Book: Neonatal Cerebral Investigation
  • Online publication: 07 December 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511544750.008
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  • The normal EEG and aEEG
    • By Geraldine B. Boylan, Senior Lecturer in Medical Education and Paediatrics, School of Medicine University College, Cork, Ireland, Deirdre M. Murray, Research Fellow, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health University College, Cork, Ireland, Janet M. Rennie, Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Neonatal Medicine, UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
  • Edited by Janet M. Rennie, University College London, Cornelia F. Hagmann, University College London, Nicola J. Robertson, University College London
  • Book: Neonatal Cerebral Investigation
  • Online publication: 07 December 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511544750.008
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • The normal EEG and aEEG
    • By Geraldine B. Boylan, Senior Lecturer in Medical Education and Paediatrics, School of Medicine University College, Cork, Ireland, Deirdre M. Murray, Research Fellow, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health University College, Cork, Ireland, Janet M. Rennie, Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Neonatal Medicine, UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
  • Edited by Janet M. Rennie, University College London, Cornelia F. Hagmann, University College London, Nicola J. Robertson, University College London
  • Book: Neonatal Cerebral Investigation
  • Online publication: 07 December 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511544750.008
Available formats
×