Electroencephalography, electrocorticography, and cortical stimulation techniques

Electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocorticography (ECoG) are two important neurophysiologic techniques used in the operating room for monitoring and mapping electrical brain activity. In this chapter, we detail their principle, recording methodology, and address specifics of their interpretation in the intraoperative setting (e.g., effect of anesthetics), as well as their clinical applications in epilepsy and non-epilepsy surgeries. In addition, we address differences between scalp, surface, and deep cortical recordings that will help towards a more reliable interpretation of the significance of electrophysiologic parameters such as amplitude and morphology as well as in differentiation between abnormal and normal patterns of electrical brain activity. Electrical stimulation is used for intraoperative mapping of different cortical functions such as language, parietal, and motor. Stimulation paradigms used in clinical practice vary with regard to stimulation frequencies and probes being used. Parameters, such as the number of phases per pulse, pulse/phase duration, pulse frequency, organization, and polarity, define their characteristics, including their safety, propensity to trigger seizures, efficiency and reliability of stimulation, and the mapping thresholds. Specifically, in this chapter, we will address differences between monopolar and bipolar stimulation; anodal and cathodal polarity; monophasic and biphasic pulses; constant voltage, and constant current paradigms.