Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Definition

An EEG is a test that detects electrical activity in your brain using small, metal discs (electrodes) attached to your scalp.

Analogy

Think about a concert soundboard with all its different dials and sliders for each instrument. The EEG is like this soundboard, but instead of music, it's reading and recording the electrical signals from various parts of your brain.

Related terms

Brainwaves: These are patterns of neuron electrical activity within the brain, which EEGs measure. They're like different musical notes produced by our concert instruments.

Electrode: This is a conductor through which electricity enters or leaves an object, substance, or region. In our analogy, they're similar to microphones picking up each instrument’s sound at a concert.

Neurofeedback: This is a type of biofeedback that uses real-time displays of brain activity—most commonly EEG—to teach self-regulation of brain function. It's like adjusting those dials on our concert soundboard to achieve perfect harmony.