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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

EEG Quiz: Check Your Knowledge of Patterns and Placement

Quick, free EEG practice test with instant results and helpful explanations.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Marko MilosevicUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art illustrating a fun EEG Knowledge Assessment Quiz

This EEG quiz helps you review brainwave patterns, 10-20 electrode placement, and artifact spotting with 15 multiple-choice questions. Get a quick check on interpretation basics with instant scoring and brief explanations. For more practice, try the brain health assessment quiz, the neuropsychology quiz, or a cognitive psychology practice test.

What is the typical frequency range of alpha waves in an adult EEG?
8-13 Hz
4-7 Hz
13-30 Hz
0.5-4 Hz
Alpha waves are defined within the 8 - 13 Hz range and are most prominent over the occipital cortex when eyes are closed. They decrease in amplitude upon eye opening or during mental activity.
Delta waves in the EEG are typically seen at which frequency range?
13-30 Hz
0.5-4 Hz
8-13 Hz
4-7 Hz
Delta waves occur in the 0.5 - 4 Hz frequency band and are most prominent during deep sleep or in certain pathological conditions. They are the slowest EEG rhythms.
Which electrode is located at the vertex in the international 10-20 system?
Fp1
C3
P4
Cz
Cz is placed at the vertex, defined by the intersection of the mid-sagittal and coronal measurement lines in the 10 - 20 system. It serves as a central reference point for other electrodes.
Which EEG rhythm is most prominent when an adult is awake and relaxed with eyes closed?
Delta
Alpha
Theta
Beta
Alpha rhythm appears prominently in relaxed wakefulness with eyes closed, especially in the occipital regions. It attenuates when the eyes open or during mental effort.
Eye blink artifacts in an EEG recording are most prominently seen in which electrode region?
Temporal
Frontal
Central
Occipital
Blink artifacts generate large slow-wave deflections primarily in the frontal electrodes (e.g., Fp1, Fp2). They are best recognized by their stereotyped shape and timing with eyelid movement.
Theta activity is defined in which frequency band?
4-7 Hz
13-30 Hz
0.5-4 Hz
8-13 Hz
Theta waves occupy the 4 - 7 Hz band and are commonly seen in drowsiness or early stages of sleep. They may also appear in some pathological states.
Which frequency band corresponds to beta activity in EEG?
13-30 Hz
4-7 Hz
8-13 Hz
0.5-4 Hz
Beta rhythm is defined as activity in the 13 - 30 Hz range and is associated with alert mental activity and motor behavior. It often appears over frontal and central regions.
A generalized 3 Hz spike-and-wave pattern on EEG is most characteristic of which condition?
Absence seizure
Tonic-clonic seizure
Normal sleep
Focal seizure
Typical absence seizures present with a 3 Hz generalized spike-and-wave discharge on EEG. This pattern correlates with brief episodes of impaired consciousness.
Which type of filter is used to remove 60 Hz power line interference from an EEG signal?
Notch filter
High-pass filter
Low-pass filter
Band-pass filter
A notch filter (or band-stop filter) is designed to attenuate a narrow frequency band, typically 50 or 60 Hz, which corresponds to power line noise. It preserves surrounding EEG frequencies.
In EEG montages, which montage displays voltage differences between adjacent electrode pairs?
Laplacian
Referential
Bipolar
Common average
A bipolar montage records the difference in voltage between neighboring electrode pairs. It is useful for localizing focal activity by comparing adjacent sites directly.
What is the primary purpose of the ground electrode in EEG recording?
To reduce electromagnetic noise
To provide a common reference for all channels
To measure muscle artifacts
To amplify brain signals
The ground electrode helps minimize common-mode noise by providing a stable reference to which other electrodes are compared. It enhances the signal-to-noise ratio of recorded EEG.
Focal slowing in a patient's EEG, manifested by localized theta or delta waves, most likely indicates:
A normal variant
An underlying structural lesion
Artifact from movement
Generalized epilepsy
Focal slowing suggests a localized disturbance, often due to a structural lesion such as a tumor or infarct. It contrasts with generalized slowing, which points to diffuse dysfunction.
The F7 electrode in the 10-20 system is positioned over which brain region?
Right frontal
Left frontotemporal
Left occipital
Right temporal
F7 lies on the left frontotemporal region, anterior to the temporal lobe and near the frontal pole. It helps capture activity from the inferior frontal cortex.
Which EEG frequency band is most susceptible to contamination from muscle (EMG) artifact?
Gamma
Delta
Theta
Alpha
EMG artifacts generate high-frequency noise typically in the gamma range (30 - 100 Hz). They can mask genuine cerebral gamma activity if not properly filtered.
During mental arithmetic tasks, which EEG rhythm typically increases in power?
Delta
Beta
Theta
Alpha
Beta activity (13 - 30 Hz) is associated with active concentration and mental effort. It often increases in frontal and central regions during tasks requiring focus.
Sleep spindles observed in stage 2 non-REM sleep have a frequency of:
12-14 Hz
8-13 Hz
4-7 Hz
16-20 Hz
Sleep spindles are brief bursts of 12 - 14 Hz activity characteristic of stage 2 sleep. They reflect thalamocortical interactions important for sleep stability.
Independent component analysis (ICA) applied to EEG data is primarily used to:
Perform notch filtering
Separate mixed sources for artifact removal
Remove DC drift from recordings
Enhance alpha band activity
ICA decomposes EEG into statistically independent components, enabling the isolation and removal of artifacts (e.g., eye blinks, ECG). This preserves neural signals while cleaning noise.
Periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) on EEG are most commonly associated with:
Metabolic encephalopathy
Normal aging
Acute focal brain injury
Absence epilepsy
PLEDs are sharp, repetitive discharges seen in acute focal lesions such as stroke or encephalitis. They indicate severe localized cortical dysfunction.
Cross-frequency coupling analysis in EEG is used to evaluate the relationship between:
Phase of one band and amplitude of another
Different electrode montages
Electrode impedance values
Filter response curves
Cross-frequency coupling measures how the phase of a low-frequency rhythm modulates the amplitude of a higher-frequency band. It reveals hierarchical interactions in neural networks.
The current source density (CSD) transform improves EEG spatial resolution by computing the:
Temporal frequency content
Amplitude spectrum
Second spatial derivative of potentials
Time-domain average
The CSD transform calculates the second spatial derivative of scalp potentials, enhancing the localization of underlying sources. It attenuates broad fields and emphasizes local activity.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify common EEG waveforms and rhythms
  2. Analyze brainwave frequency bands accurately
  3. Interpret EEG readings for clinical insights
  4. Apply standard electrode placement guidelines
  5. Evaluate artifacts and noise in EEG recordings
  6. Demonstrate understanding of EEG clinical applications

Cheat Sheet

  1. Dive into the four primary EEG frequency bands - Think of delta, theta, alpha, and beta as your brain's playlist, each track playing at different speeds to match your mental mood. Delta waves lull you into deep sleep, while alpha waves keep you chill and awake. Mastering these bands is your first step toward reading the brain's rhythm like a pro.
  2. Conquer the International 10 - 20 electrode placement system - This method splits your scalp into neat percentages so electrodes land in the same spots every time, giving you reliable EEG recordings. Picture a map of your head where every landmark is perfectly labeled! Precision here means cleaner signals and fewer surprises in your data.
  3. Spot common EEG waveforms and decode their meaning - From FIRDA hinting at encephalopathy to TIRDA ringing alarm bells for temporal lobe epilepsy, each waveform tells a story. You'll learn to read these signals like secret brain messages. A solid grasp here helps you link patterns to clinical clues fast.
  4. Master electrode nomenclature in the 10 - 20 system - Labels like Fp1, C3, and O2 aren't just letters and numbers; they pinpoint regions of the brain with pinpoint accuracy. Knowing this code lets you localize brain activity down to each cortical corner. It's like GPS for your EEG cap!
  5. Identify and tame common EEG artifacts - Muscle twitches, eyelid blinks, and electrical hums can crash your EEG party if you're not careful. Learn to spot these gatecrashers so they don't fool you into false readings. With the right techniques, your EEG data stays clean and credible.
  6. Explore EEG's clinical superpowers - From diagnosing epilepsy and sleep disorders to monitoring anesthesia and detecting brain death, EEG is your diagnostic Swiss Army knife. You'll see how each waveform provides vital clues about brain health. It's not just reading lines - it's saving lives!
  7. Understand the art of EEG montages - Bipolar and referential montages offer different "camera angles" on brain activity. Choosing the right montage is like picking the best lens to spotlight abnormalities. This skill helps you zoom in on trouble spots.
  8. Recognize the posterior dominant rhythm (PDR) - That soothing alpha rhythm in the back of your head tells you when someone is awake and relaxed. Spotting the PDR is a quick check on neurological status - no need for fancy tests! It's one of EEG's easiest yet most powerful markers.
  9. Differentiate normal versus abnormal EEG patterns - Slow waves in an awake adult? That's a red flag for encephalopathy, while focal slow waves point to local dysfunction. Being fluent in "normal" helps you spot the "weird" faster. Your diagnostic radar will thank you.
  10. Stay ahead with next-gen EEG technology - High-density EEG systems are like upgrading from a flip-phone to a smartphone - suddenly you see details you never knew existed! These cutting-edge setups boost spatial resolution and detect subtle brain whispers. Embrace the future of brain mapping!
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