Clinical Applications
Many electrophysiological assessment and techniques of clinical neurophysiology can be used in the assessment of patients with suspected disease of the central nervous system. Each of the techniques is applied either to assist clinicians in assessing disease of the central nervous system or, less commonly, to monitor changes in neural function. These techniques can be used to monitor neural function in observing progression of disease, such as the frequency of seizures, or improvement in a patient’s condition with specific treatment. They are also used in the intensive care unit and operating room to identify progressive neural damage. The clinical neurophysiological testing technique that is most appropriate for a patient depends on the clinical problem, and, often, some combination of techniques best provides the necessary data. This chapter focuses on the application of clinical neurophysiological techniques in assessing patients with suspected central nervous system disorders.