I was first introduced to the ways the brain can be studied about 6 months ago when my boyfriend, Anthony, had to get a 48-hour electroencephalogram (EEG).  The reason for getting an EEG: he’s been diagnosed with post concussion syndrome.  It sure has not been an easy ride for him.   It’s been over a year that he has been experiencing the symptoms of post concussion syndrome such as fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, and occasionally blacking out.  It definitely has not been easy for me either.  I know all I can do is be here for him.  He says I make him feel better, but I always wish I could do more.

This past summer, his doctors decided that an EEG would help give them a better understanding of the damage that was done to his brain from the initial concussion, which happened in July of 2012.

The EEG was to look at his brain waves.  An EEG records the electrical activity of the cortex just below the skull using a device called an electroencephalograph.  When getting an EEG, you have sponge-like electrodes placed directly on the scalp, and a special solution to help conduct the electrical signals from the cortex just below.  These electrodes are connected to an amplifier and then to a computer to view the information.  The results form waves that indicate many things. (Ciccarelli 67)  Unfortunately, the doctors reported that Anthony’s results had some “weird” brain waves.

So I got to experience what an EEG test looks like first hand.  Since his test was 48 hours, he was given the option to have the majority of the test done at home.  The doctors used a jelly like substance to stick the electrodes to his scalp, and then wrapped up his entire head, not including his face, in some kind of medical bandage, just to keep the electrodes from sliding out of place.  They gave him the amplifier, which was connected to the electrodes in a little pouch with a strap that he had to wear around like a satchel.  When I first went to see him once he got back from the doctors, it was certainly weird to see him all wrapped up with wires coming out of his head.

Since then, he still goes back to the doctors occasionally, but he hasn’t had any major tests done like the EEG.  Before he got the EEG, I had never heard of the test.  I had no prior knowledge of ways that we can examine the brain.  Learning about all the different ways that the brain can be studied has been especially interesting to me, because of what Anthony has gone through with his concussion and post concussion syndrome.

Reference:

Ciccarelli, Saundra K., and J. Noland White. Psychology. 3rd. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc., 2012. 78-79. Print.