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= Electro-Encephalography (EEG) =

How An Electro-Encephalography Works
According to Mayoclinic.org, an electroencephalogram is a test that detects electrical activity in your brain using small, metal discs (electrodes) attached to your scalp. The electrical impulses in which your brain uses for communication is what shows up as wavy lines on an EEG recording. It is typically a noninvasive test.

What Sort of Information it Delivers
EEG results show changes in brain activity and can be useful in diagnosing brain conditions/disorders. It does so due to small metal discs with thin wires placed on a person's scalp. These metal discs are electrodes that detect tiny electrical charges that result from brain activity. These results are then amplified onto a computer screen graph or can be printed out on paper to be interpreted. An EEG can also be used to determine the overall electrical activity of the brain. Sometimes, an EEG may be used to monitor blood flow in the brain during surgical procedures.

Its Strengths And Limitations For The Study of Cognition
Strengths → The EEG is an efficient and relatively inexpensive method for the study of developmental changes in brain-behavior relations. The use of an EEG allows examination of developmental changes without dramatic interference with normal ongoing behaviors. An EEG also provides the ability to see brain activity in real time, at the level of milliseconds. The EEG has excellent temporal resolution as well. Weaknesses → One of the bigger disadvantages of EEG is that it's hard to figure out where in the brain the electrical activity is coming from. This is harder to pinpoint the abnormalities that arise on the graph. The EEG has poor spatial resolution. Using a minimum of 64 electrodes can alleviate the problem further but cost is associated with the amount of electrodes which can lead to an underlying weakness. The EEG can be seen as overwhelming even for an experienced EEG researcher because the amount of power and coherence data generated is huge.

Examples of Studies Using EEG

 * B Garrreau, The ontogeny of the EEG during infancy and childhood: Implications for cognitive development. Google Scholar
 * K Cuevas, Developmental progression of looking and reaching performance on the A-not-B task. Developmental Psychology Google Scholar
 * JT Cacioppo, Human electroencephalography Google Scholar
 * RT Pivik, Guidelines for the recording and quantitative analysis of electroencephalographic activity in research contexts Google Scholar

Common Misconceptions About EEG

 * 1) EEG lets you control a game with your mind. You don't have total mind control but you can influence movement of the frequencies voluntarily
 * 2) EEG sends signals to my brain. EEG sensors on the scalp measure brain activity without interfering with it
 * 3) EEG helps overcome any brain disorder. EEG can monitor and help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, ADHD, and PTSD, however it can't help with any brain disorder.