BRPT Scoring Artifacts and Troubleshooting

Question 1

A 60 Hz artifact appearing simultaneously on ALL EEG channels most likely indicates a problem with which electrode?

Accepted Answer

The ground or reference electrode

Answer

When 60 Hz artifact appears on every channel at once, the common element — the ground or reference electrode — is the most likely source rather than individual recording electrodes.

Question 2

ECG (cardiogenic) artifact in EEG channels is identified by:

Accepted Answer

Regular sharp deflections that align with QRS complexes on the ECG channel

Answer

ECG artifact appears as regular spikes in EEG that align precisely with QRS complexes, caused by cardiac electrical activity spreading to scalp electrodes.

Question 3

Sweat artifact in a PSG EEG recording is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Very slow, large-amplitude undulating baseline shifts below 0.5 Hz

Answer

Sweat artifact produces very slow, large-amplitude baseline undulations below 0.5 Hz as ionic changes in perspiration alter electrode potential.

Question 4

An electrode pop artifact is best identified by:

Accepted Answer

A sudden sharp deflection or step change isolated to a single channel

Answer

An electrode pop is caused by a momentary change in electrode impedance, producing a sudden sharp deflection or offset in only the affected single channel.

Question 5

Muscle (EMG) artifact in EEG channels is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

High-frequency irregular activity typically above 100 Hz that obscures the EEG signal

Answer

Muscle artifact appears as fast, irregular, high-frequency activity (often >100 Hz) that rides on the EEG, making underlying brain activity difficult to score.

BRPT - Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists Practice Test

BRPT - Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists Practice Test

BRPT Scoring Artifacts and Troubleshooting