An electroencephalogram is a test that detects electrical activity in your brain using small, flat metal discs (electrodes) attached to your scalp. Your brain cells communicate via electrical impulses and are active all the time, even when you’re asleep. This activity shows up as wavy lines on an EEG recording.

Preparation: Plan on this test taking 1 hour.  Please arrive to the testing site with clean, dry hair.  Take medication as usual, unless instructed otherwise by your physician.  The technician will be using white sticky gel to attach electrodes to your scalp.  This will remain in your hair after the procedure is over and you may want to plan on taking a shower afterwards to remove the excess gel.  The gel is water soluble and comes out easily with hot water.

Sometimes your doctor will request this test be done after not sleeping or sleeping very little in a 24 hour time period.

A Visual Evoked Potential is a test to measure the lapse time it takes for the optic nerve to send a response to the brain.

Preparation:  Plan on this test taking 20-25 minutes to complete.  Three electrodes will be attached to your scalp with sticky gel. You will be asked to watch a red dot in the center of a checkerboard screen while the screen changes. Each time the pattern is changed, a waveform is triggered on the screen according to how long it took for the optic nerve to send the signal. Each eye is tested separately.

Optical Coherence Tomography is a non-invasive imaging test that uses light waves to take cross-section pictures of your retina, a light sensitive tissue lining the back of your eye.  By distinguishing the retinal layers, OCT is helpful in determining changes to the fibers of the optic nerve.

Preparation:  Plan on this test taking between 20-30 minutes to complete.  You will be asked to rest your head on a support to keep your eyes in a fixed position.  The technician will scan each eye without touching it.

Nerve Conduction Velocity test is an electrical test used to detect signs of nerve dysfunction.  Symptoms such as numbness, tingling and/or burning may prompt this test.  Electrodes are taped onto the skin of an arm or leg.  An electrical impulse is then applied on the nerve to trigger a reaction.  The reaction is measured for amplitude, latency and speed.

Electromyography is often done at the same time as a nerve conduction velocity test in order to gain a better understanding of how the nerves and muscles are communicating with each other.  The physician will choose the muscles necessary for evaluation and insert a small needle electrode into the muscle.  Then you may be asked to activate that muscle so the neurologist can listen to the muscle while contracting and assess the health of the nerve activating that muscle.

Preparation: Plan on 1-2 hours to complete this test depending on the number of nerves being examined and if an electromyography (EMG) is necessary.  Do not apply any lotions or creams to your skin prior to the exam.  You may feel some intermittent discomfort during both procedures.  You should feel no pain after the test is finished.

Micro Cognitive Function test is a computer administered assessment to detect early signs of cognitive impairment.

Preparation: Plan on this test taking 60-90 minutes to complete.  Please arrive well rested and bring with you any reading glasses or hearing devices you may require.  A technician will instruct you on how to use the simplified computer device.  You will be asked to complete several different tasks on the computer looking at reaction speed, accuracy, memory, processing, and attention.