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Activation Procedures Flashcards

7 cards from real EEG practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Activation Procedures flashcards as text

  1. Which patient condition is an absolute contraindication to photic stimulation during EEG?

    Answer: History of photosensitive epilepsy with prior status epilepticus

    History of photosensitive epilepsy with prior status epilepticus is an absolute contraindication because photic stimulation could trigger a prolonged seizure.

  2. What EEG response is termed 'photoparoxysmal' during intermittent photic stimulation?

    Answer: Generalized spike-and-wave or polyspike-and-wave discharges time-locked to flashes

    A photoparoxysmal response consists of generalized epileptiform discharges (spike-wave or polyspike-wave) that are provoked by and time-locked to photic stimulation.

  3. During hyperventilation, if the patient has an underlying brain tumor, you would most likely expect to see:

    Answer: Focal or lateralized slow-wave abnormality that increases in prominence

    Focal structural lesions such as tumors typically produce focal or lateralized slow-wave abnormalities that are accentuated by hyperventilation-induced hypocapnia.

  4. The standard recommended duration of the hyperventilation activation procedure in adults is:

    Answer: 3 minutes

    ACNS guidelines recommend 3 minutes of hyperventilation followed by at least 1 minute of post-HV recording to capture delayed responses.

  5. A technologist notices the patient begins breathing very slowly and shallowly during hyperventilation. The best action is to:

    Answer: Verbally coach the patient to breathe more deeply and consistently

    Verbal coaching helps the patient maintain adequate depth and rate of breathing to achieve the desired hypocapnic effect.

  6. Which of the following flash frequencies used in intermittent photic stimulation (IPS) is most likely to elicit a photoparoxysmal response in photosensitive individuals?

    Answer: 15–20 Hz

    Frequencies between approximately 15–20 Hz are the most common range for provoking photoparoxysmal responses in photosensitive patients.

  7. What is the physiological mechanism by which hyperventilation activates epileptiform activity?

    Answer: Hypocapnia causes cerebral vasoconstriction, reducing cerebral blood flow and causing neuronal hyperexcitability

    Hyperventilation lowers CO2 (hypocapnia), causing cerebral vasoconstriction, reduced perfusion, and subsequent neuronal hyperexcitability that can provoke epileptiform discharges.