Normal EEG in childhood: from neonates to adolescents

Neurophysiol Clin. 2013 Jan;43(1):35-65. doi: 10.1016/j.neucli.2012.09.091. Epub 2012 Oct 30.

Abstract

The important EEG changes that occur throughout childhood are a major challenge for the neurophysiologist. These reflect brain maturation, which is especially fast during the first year of life. This article describes normal EEG features and variants, characteristic patterns of development, as well as some patterns that are unusual for age, from the neonatal period to adolescence. We also describe how to adapt techniques and prepare patients in order to get interpretable records of appropriate duration, in neonates, infants, and young children.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent / physiology*
  • Brain / growth & development
  • Brain Waves / physiology*
  • Child
  • Child Development / physiology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Electroencephalography* / instrumentation
  • Electroencephalography* / methods
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn / physiology*
  • Infant, Premature / physiology
  • Reference Values
  • Sleep Stages / physiology
  • Wakefulness / physiology