Eye blink artefact on EEG

Ocular artefact · Artefacts

Symmetric downward deflection in Fp1-F3 and Fp2-F4, nothing behind the frontal electrodes. Simulated trace, longitudinal bipolar channels. Open in the interactive viewer

What it looks like

The cornea is positive relative to the retina. With a blink the globe rolls up (Bell's phenomenon), bringing that positivity to Fp1 and Fp2: a large, symmetric, frontopolar deflection that falls off steeply behind the forehead. 11

What it means at the bedside

In a comatose patient, rhythmic "blinks" can be nystagmus or eyelid myoclonia during a seizure. Look at the eyes and the video.

ArtefactFrontopolar

Sources

  1. Britton JW, et al. Electroencephalography (EEG): An Introductory Text and Atlas of Normal and Abnormal Findings in Adults, Children, and Infants. American Epilepsy Society, 2016 (free, NCBI Bookshelf). www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK390354/

Related patterns