EEG Pediatric and Neonatal EEG 2

Question 1

At what age does the posterior dominant rhythm typically reach the adult alpha frequency range of 8 Hz?

Accepted Answer

3 years

Answer

The posterior dominant rhythm gradually increases from approximately 3-4 Hz in infancy to 8 Hz by around age 3 years, continuing to increase to the full adult range of 8-13 Hz by approximately age 8-10 years.

Question 2

Tracé alternant is a normal EEG pattern seen in which population?

Accepted Answer

Healthy term neonates during quiet sleep

Answer

Tracé alternant is a normal discontinuous pattern in healthy full-term neonates during quiet (non-REM) sleep, consisting of alternating bursts of high-amplitude mixed activity and lower-amplitude periods.

Question 3

What is the most important factor in interpreting a neonatal EEG?

Accepted Answer

The conceptional age (gestational age plus postnatal age) of the infant

Answer

Conceptional age is the single most important factor in neonatal EEG interpretation because normal EEG patterns change dramatically with brain maturation, and age-inappropriate patterns indicate abnormality.

Question 4

Which neonatal EEG pattern is considered highly abnormal and suggests severe encephalopathy?

Accepted Answer

Burst-suppression with interburst intervals showing isoelectric or near-isoelectric activity

Answer

Burst-suppression is a severely abnormal neonatal EEG pattern with bursts of high-voltage mixed activity separated by nearly isoelectric periods, indicating severe diffuse cerebral dysfunction from hypoxic-ischemic injury, metabolic disorders, or other causes.

Question 5

Anterior dysrhythmia (frontal sharp transients) in a premature neonate at 34 weeks conceptional age is considered:

Accepted Answer

A normal developmental feature (encoches frontales) expected at this age

Answer

Anterior dysrhythmia (encoches frontales or frontal sharp transients) is a normal developmental pattern in premature neonates from approximately 34-36 weeks conceptional age, appearing as bilateral frontal sharp waves during quiet sleep.

EEG - Electroencephalography Practice Test

EEG - Electroencephalography Practice Test

EEG Pediatric and Neonatal EEG 2