Educational simulation of the electroencephalogram (EEG)

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Beer, Nicole A.M. de^{a; *} | Meurs, Willem L. van^{a; b; c; 1} | Grit, Marco B.M.^{d; 2} | Good, Michael L.^{a; b; e} | Gravenstein, Dietrich^a

Affiliations: [a] Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA | [b] University of Florida Brain Institute, Gainesville, FL, USA | [c] Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida College of Engineering, Gainesville, FL, USA | [d] Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands | [e] Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Dr Ir Nicole A.M. de Beer, Division of Signal Processing Systems, Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, EH 3.08, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 40 2474794; Fax: +31 40 2466508

Note: [1] W.L. van Meurs is presently with Medical Education Technologies, Inc., Sarasota FL, the Department of Applied Mathematics, College of Science, University of Porto, Portugal, the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (INEB), University of Porto, Portugal and the Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL

Note: [2] M.B.M. Grit is presently with Medical Education Technologies, Inc., Sarasota FL, and the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (INEB), University of Porto, Portugal

Abstract: We describe a model for simulating a spontaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) and for simulating the effects of anesthesia on the EEG, to allow anesthesiologists and EEG technicians to learn and practice intraoperative EEG monitoring. For this purpose, we developed a linear model to manipulate the amplitude of the activity in each of the traditional EEG frequency bands. Burst suppression patterns are simulated by manipulating an overall gain. To demonstrate the model feasibility, model parameters for thiopental and isoflurane were estimated guided by published data on the EEG effects of these anesthetic drugs. Using these estimates, EEG time signals were simulated for isoflurane at various partial pressures, and for bolus intravenous doses of thiopental. Comparison with actual recorded EEG signals showed that the changes produced by isoflurane and thiopental in the simulated signals are very similar to the changes in the actual signals, which was confirmed by two clinicians with experience and routine practice in intraoperative EEG monitoring.

Keywords: electroencephalography, intraoperative monitoring, computer simulation, educational simulation, computer-assisted instruction

DOI: 10.3233/THC-2001-9302

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 237-256, 2001