EEG: Current relevance and promising quantitative analyses

Abstract

Electroencephalography (EEG) remains an essential tool, characterized by an excellent temporal resolution and offering a real window on cerebral functions. Surface EEG signals are mainly generated by the postsynaptic activities of synchronously activated neural assemblies. EEG is also a low-cost tool, easy to use at bed-side, allowing to record brain electrical activities with a low number or up to 256 surface electrodes. For clinical purpose, EEG remains a critical investigation for epilepsies, sleep disorders, disorders of consciousness. Its temporal resolution and practicability also make EEG a necessary tool for cognitive neurosciences and brain-computer interfaces. EEG visual analysis is essential in clinical practice and the subject of recent progresses. Several EEG-based quantitative analyses may complete the visual analysis, such as event-related potentials, source localizations, brain connectivity and microstates analyses. Some developments in surface EEG electrodes appear also, potentially promising for long term continuous EEGs. We overview in this article some recent progresses in visual EEG analysis and promising quantitative analyses.

Keywords: Connectivity; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy; Evoked potentials; Microstates; Phase lag index.