about learning eeg

The Author

Learning EEG
David Valentine, MD
Neurology & Clinical Neurophysiology

Across my undergraduate training at Allegheny College, medical school at University of Rochester, and internship, residency and fellowship at NYU School of Medicine, teaching has always been a real joy. Throughout my early years of training, though, EEG seemed almost impossibly daunting; this site is an attempt to make EEG more accessible and understandable across a range of interests for hobbyists, researchers, technicians, medical students, residents, fellows, practicing physicians, and more. Happy reading!

How to Use This Site

Learning EEG is organized into 12 chapters that progress from foundational concepts to advanced pattern recognition, with each chapter designed to guide learning through conceptualization, application, and reinforcement.

Learn

Read through the core material for each topic with annotated EEG examples, explanations, and inline "test yourself" questions to check your understanding as you go.

Practice

Test your knowledge with multiple choice questions based on EEG tracings and associated clinical concepts, with immediate feedback and annotated answers.

Atlas

Browse an image atlas of EEG patterns discussed across the site with annotations and descriptions. Live filtering by keyword, chapter or category makes any pattern a click away.

References

The terminology and diagnostic criteria used on this site are based on current guidelines from the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS), the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), and the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (IFCN).

  1. Hirsch LJ, Fong MWK, Leitinger M, et al. American Clinical Neurophysiology Society's Standardized Critical Care EEG Terminology: 2021 version. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2021;38(1):1-29.
  2. Kane N, Acharya J, Beniczky S, et al. A revised glossary of terms most commonly used by clinical electroencephalographers and updated proposal for the report format of the EEG findings. Revision 2017. Clin Neurophysiol Pract. 2017;2:170-185.
  3. Kural MA, Duez L, Sejer Hansen V, et al. Criteria for defining interictal epileptiform discharges in EEG: a clinical validation study. Neurology. 2020;94(20):e2139-e2147.
  4. Fisher RS, Cross JH, French JA, et al. Operational classification of seizure types by the International League Against Epilepsy: position paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology. Epilepsia. 2017;58(4):522-530.
  5. Scheffer IE, Berkovic S, Capovilla G, et al. ILAE classification of the epilepsies: position paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology. Epilepsia. 2017;58(4):512-521.
  6. Trinka E, Cock H, Hesdorffer D, et al. A definition and classification of status epilepticus—report of the ILAE Task Force on Classification of Status Epilepticus. Epilepsia. 2015;56(10):1515-1523.
  7. Tsuchida TN, Wusthoff CJ, Shellhaas RA, et al. American Clinical Neurophysiology Society standardized EEG terminology and categorization for the description of continuous EEG monitoring in neonates: report of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society Critical Care Monitoring Committee. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2013;30(2):161-173.