9781422280386

Migraines and Seizures

Brain Scans and Imaging

How can doctors see what’s going on inside your head? There are a few different methods available: • Electroencephalogram (EEG). This painless test monitors electrical activity in your brain using small metal disks pasted to your scalp. These electrodes record the electrical pulses taking place in your brain. They send those records via wires to a computer, which plots your brain waves as a graph. Your doctor is specially trained to analyze that graph in order to spot abnormal electrical surges that might indicate epileptic seizures. EEGs are often combined with video monitoring, so your doctor can match movements you make to the brain waves that caused them. You can have an EEGwhen you’re asleep or awake. • Magnetic resonance imagery (MRI). For an MRI, you lie down in an enclosed tube, where strong magnetic fields and radio waves are used to make computerized images of your brain and your blood vessels. The images reveal areas where tissue is injured or abnormal. During an MRI, you may be asked to lie completely still. Or a doctor may ask you to perform certain tasks in order to see how a certain region of your brain is working. • Computed tomography scan (CT scan). This test combines X-rays with computer imaging to look at horizontal slices of the brain in tremendous detail. Both CT scans (sometimes called CAT scans) and MRIs may require the use of contrast dye. This is usually injected into the patient before the test in order to make images more clear.

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