What type of brain activity does electroencephalography (EEG) measure?

What type of brain activity does electroencephalography (EEG) measure?

• A. Blood flow and glucose metabolism
• B. Electric activity of neurons
• C. Structural integrity of brain regions
• D. Magnetic fields produced by neuronal activity

Answer: (B)

Electroencephalography (EEG) measures the electric activity of neurons in the brain. This technique involves placing electrodes on the scalp to detect and record the electrical impulses generated by neuronal activity. Neurons communicate through electrical signals, and by capturing these signals, EEG provides insights into the brain's functioning in real-time, allowing researchers and clinicians to observe activities such as sleep patterns, seizures, and cognitive processes.

Other methods listed, such as measuring blood flow and glucose metabolism, focus on different aspects of brain activity, primarily assessing metabolic processes rather than direct electrical activity. Structural imaging techniques evaluate the anatomical features of the brain, not its functional electrical activity. Additionally, while magnetic fields produced by neuronal activity are detected by techniques like magnetoencephalography (MEG), EEG specifically measures the electric potentials and is not concerned with magnetic fields. Therefore, the correct answer accurately reflects the primary function of EEG in studying brain activity.