1 Comment for What are the differences between EEG and ERP?

• 1. GP Librarian  |  February 15th, 2011 at 8:47 am

  An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test to detect problems in the electrical activity of the brain. Brain cells communicate by producing tiny electrical impulses. In an EEG, electrodes are placed on the scalp over multiple areas of the brain to detect and record patterns of electrical activity and check for abnormalities. The test is performed by an EEG technician in a specially designed room that may be in your health care provider’s office or at a hospital. You will be asked to lie on your back on a table or in a reclining chair. The technician will apply between 16 and 25 flat metal discs (electrodes) in different positions on your scalp. The discs are held in place with a sticky paste. The electrodes are connected by wires to an amplifier and a recording machine. The recording machine converts the electrical signals into a series of wavy lines that are drawn onto a moving piece of graph paper. You will need to lie still with your eyes closed because any movement can alter the results. You may be asked to do certain things during the recording, such as breathe deeply and rapidly for several minutes or look at a bright flickering light. EEG is used to help diagnose the presence and type of seizure disorders, to look for causes of confusion, and to evaluate head injuries, tumors, infections, degenerative diseases, and metabolic disturbances that affect the brain. This test causes no discomfort. Although having electrodes pasted onto your skin may feel strange, they only record activity and do not produce any sensation. It is also used to evaluate sleep disorders and to investigate periods of unconsciousness. The EEG may be done to confirm brain death in a comatose patient.

  In ERP, the patient purposely exposes herself to a feared situation, object or thoughts. Then she refrains from per- forming a compulsive ritual in response to the trigger. The rituals are done to alleviate the anxiety that results from the exposure. Along with teaching the patient ERP, a good behavior therapist for someone with OCD will also introduce a patient to the medications that are used to treat OCD and may even suggest the names of some psychiatrists who are experienced with medication for OCD. For most sufferers a combination of CBT and medication is the best treatment
  available at this point.

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