Practice Test GeeksBRPT - Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists Practice Test
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Scoring Artifacts and Troubleshooting Flashcards

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

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  1. Which artifact in EEG channels is identified by comparing it with the respiratory channels and finding that the EEG waveform cycles at exactly the breathing rate?

    Answer: Respiratory artifact

    Respiratory artifact causes slow rhythmic EEG waveforms that match the breathing frequency seen in respiratory effort or airflow channels.

  2. A completely flat (isoelectric) signal in a single EEG channel while all other channels show normal activity most likely indicates:

    Answer: A disconnected lead, broken wire, or complete loss of electrode contact

    An isoelectric single channel with normal surrounding channels almost always represents a hardware fault — disconnected wire, broken lead, or electrode that has completely lost contact.

  3. The AASM recommended maximum electrode impedance for PSG recordings is:

    Answer: Less than 5 kΩ

    AASM guidelines specify that electrode impedances should be below 5 kΩ to minimize signal distortion and artifact in PSG recordings.

  4. Eye movement artifacts can contaminate frontal EEG channels (F3, F4) because:

    Answer: The corneoretinal potential of the eye acts as a voltage dipole whose field spreads to nearby electrodes

    The eye's corneoretinal potential (cornea positive, retina negative) creates a dipole; eye rotation changes the orientation of this dipole and induces voltage changes in nearby frontal EEG electrodes.

  5. Respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) belt artifact is most commonly caused by:

    Answer: Belt displacement or changed belt tension from patient repositioning

    RIP belts measure changes in cross-sectional area; repositioning shifts the belt or alters its tension, creating artifact that can mimic changes in respiratory effort.

  6. A pulse oximetry sensor showing poor signal quality with low-amplitude, irregular waveform is best corrected by:

    Answer: Repositioning the sensor or applying it to an alternate, better-perfused site

    Poor perfusion, nail polish, motion, or cold extremities reduce pulse oximetry signal quality; repositioning the probe or using an alternate site (earlobe, forehead) is the primary corrective action.