Environmental artifacts in EEG recordings can arise from various devices and sources in the patient's surroundings.
1. Description:
oSources: Environmental
artifacts can result from the presence of numerous types of devices in the
patient's environment during EEG recording.
oCauses: These artifacts
may be due to electrical fields surrounding devices or the mechanical effects
of devices on the patient or the patient's bed.
oCommon Source: The most common
environmental artifact is often attributed to the alternating current (AC)
present in the electrical power supply.
2. Characteristics:
oFrequency: Environmental
artifacts from electrical power supply noise typically exhibit a monomorphic
frequency corresponding to the AC frequency (e.g., 60 Hz in North America).
oAmplitude: These artifacts
are usually medium to low amplitude and may be present across all EEG channels
or in isolated channels with poorly matched impedances.
3. Differentiation:
oWaveform Analysis: Comparing the
waveform characteristics, frequency, and distribution of environmental
artifacts can help differentiate them from other types of artifacts, such as
physiological artifacts or epileptiform discharges.
oTiming and
Repetition:
Environmental artifacts often have fixed durations, regular repetitions, and
highly preserved waveforms, distinguishing them from seizure activity or other
pathological patterns.
Understanding the
nature and characteristics of environmental artifacts is crucial for
identifying and mitigating their impact on EEG recordings. Proper recognition
and differentiation of environmental artifacts contribute to the accurate
interpretation of EEG data and help ensure the quality and reliability of EEG
analysis in clinical and research settings.
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