Epileptiform activity is most commonly characterized by?

Epileptiform activity is most commonly characterized by sharp waves or spikes, which are key features observed in EEG recordings of patients with epilepsy. These sharp waves or spikes are defined as transients that can occur either as isolated phenomena or in bursts, and they have a distinctive morphology that differs from normal brain activity.

Sharp waves typically have an amplitude that is larger than the surrounding background activity and can indicate a pathological process. When spikes appear, they often signal that there is an abnormal neuronal discharge occurring in the brain, commonly associated with epileptic seizures. Recognizing these patterns is crucial for diagnosing epilepsy and understanding the type of seizure activity affecting the patient.

While other waveforms, such as slow rhythmical waveforms, continuous delta activity, or generalized alpha waves, may also appear on an EEG, they are not characteristic of epileptiform activity. Slow rhythmical waveforms often indicate different types of brain states such as sleep or sedation, and continuous delta activity can signify a diffuse impairment of consciousness. Generalized alpha waves are typically associated with normal, awake brain activity in a relaxed state and are not related to epileptiform activity. Thus, sharp waves and spikes stand out as the primary signs of epilepsy in EEG interpretation.