Electroencephalogram (EEG)/Electromyography (EMG)

Electroencephalogram (EEG) & Electromyography (EMG)

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a technique used to track the electrical activity of the brain through the placement of electrodes on the scalp. Clinically, EEG are often used to identify seizures, but this same technology can also be used by researchers to reveal a various brain functions and how those functions relate to human cognition and behavior. Unlike the tES techniques described above, the scalp electrodes employed during EEG are only used to record the brain’s natural electrical activity; they do not deliver electrical energy to the brain. Consequently, there are no major risks associated with this entirely noninvasive brain monitoring technique.

Electromyography (EMG) is a technique that allows for the recording of the electrical impulses that are generated by muscle activity. In neuromodulation research, EMG is often used to measure various effects of stimulating over the motor regions of the brain. In clinical settings, EMG is often used to diagnose nerve and muscle disorders. In the clinic, EMG may involve the insertion of a small needle into muscles in order to record electrical activity. However, brainSTIM Center investigators only employ surface electrodes that are placed on the skin to record the electrical activity generated by muscles of interest. Thus, the EMG employed by our researchers is entirely noninvasive and is not associated with health risks.