The Benefits and Advantages of Digital EEG

The EEG or electroencephalogram has long been used to diagnose and monitor medical conditions that affect the brain. It is used extensively for research in the field of psychology, neuroscience, neurolinguistics, cognitive science, and cognitive psychology.

Analog electroencephalography has been employed since the 1900s, but as technology evolved over the last 20 years, digital encephalography (DEEG) has been favored over analog EEG. This is attributed to DEEG’s apparent benefits and advantages, such as:

Increased Efficiency

Digital EEG uses computer-based display. This allows a quick yet detailed view of data.

Recording and Archiving

The patient’s study can be easily stored in a hard drive, flash drive, or in optical media such as CDs or DVDs. This is more convenient than keeping printouts of the tracings.

Ease of Transmission

As DEEG systems can have networking capabilities, data can be sent to other parties within minutes, if not seconds. This makes getting a second opinion or peer review faster.

Digital Signal Processing

Advanced data processing permits the automatic detection of events such as spikes and seizures. Extensive analysis can also be done via topographic maps and graphical displays. Recording parameters such as horizontal and vertical display scales, filters, and montage, can also be adjusted even during a review.

Reliability

Analog EEG requires manual calibration for each channel. On the other hand, DEEG equipment are controlled by advanced microprocessors — reducing estimation uncertainty.

Wider Frequency Range

Most analog EEG systems employ anywhere from 8 to 25 channels, while DEEG systems can have 32 to 128 channels. 32 is considered the research standard.

The advantage of having more channels is that it helps avoid the loss of crucial data. It also allows adequate spatial sampling as well as the detection of clinical signals.

Portability

Mobile EEG devices and applications have gained popularity recently. Such systems provide an inexpensive, non-invasive, and portable way to study brain activity. A mobile EEG usually consists only of a specialized headband, with a smartphone serving as the interface and display unit.

If you are interested in the latest in electroencephalogram technology, contact BMSEED in Mesa, AZ. We are currently developing a microelectrode array for electrocorticography for research and clinical applications.