EEG Electroencephalogram

Strengths: EEG is now digitised. Modern advances in EEG have included what is referred to as digital EEG. It is a non-invasive technique. The cost is lower than PET and fMRI scans. EEG sensory can be deployed into a wider variety of environments, unlike a bulky PET or fMRI scanner. EEG is relatively tolerant of participant movement vs an fMRI where participants must remain completely still. EEG has survived the advent of all the modern neuroimaging techniques including PET and fMRI. It is very useful to diagnose disorders such as epilepsy, and find out about behavior such as sleep. EEG can combine with other brain imaging techniques to gain a more holistic view of behavior. EEG is silent, which allows for better study of the responses to auditory stimuli. EEG does not aggravate claustrophobia.

Limitations: Hard to figure out where in the brain the electrical activity is coming from. Does not show a clear connection between specific structures and functions. Electrical activity on the outer part of the brain is measured. It does not tell us anything about the inner brain region. It is difficult to interpret the results - you have to be well trained and very skilled to do this.

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