What does an increase in EEG amplitude usually indicate?

An increase in EEG amplitude typically signifies an increase in neural activity. This phenomenon occurs because higher amplitude waves reflect a greater number of neurons firing synchronously. This synchronous firing often indicates that there is more intense brain activity occurring in that particular region of the brain.

For example, during states such as active thinking or stimulus processing, areas of the brain become activated, leading to an enhancement in the amplitude of the recorded EEG waves. This is important in clinical settings, as significant increases in amplitude can be associated with various psychological states or conditions, such as seizure activity or heightened alertness.

While decreased neural activity might correlate with lower amplitude readings, stable brain function does not specifically denote an increase in amplitude but rather a consistent level of activity. An unconscious state could lead to disorganized or very low amplitude waveforms rather than a simple increase. Understanding these patterns and their implications is crucial in the interpretation of EEG data for clinical assessment and diagnosis.