Neurodiagnostics

The brain is the body's "superhighway," with electronic impulses and other vital messages traveling through a maze of nerve pathways, allowing us to do something as simple as blink an eye, or as complicated as quantum physics.

Mapping these pathways is both complicated and difficult, but essential to the success of any surgical or medical treatment for brain disorders.

Southcoast has added very sophisticated technology over the past year to create a neurodiagnostics lab that rivals the services offered in large teaching hospitals. Also, neurotechnicians in the lab have undergone extensive training in these new technologies, with several technicians earning national certification in the field.

Evoked Potential Montoring

Just like each individual's personality and abilities are unique, so are the nerve pathways in their brain.

Evoked potential monitoring is a recording of the electrical activity from the brain, spinal nerve or sensory receptors in response to specific external stimulation.

Each type of evoked potential looks at different neurological pathways. The most common types are auditory, visual and sensory.

Evoked potential monitoring is also done during actual brain and spine surgery, allowing surgeons to assess exactly how the surgery is affecting various nerve functions.

Surgical monitoring can be performed while the patient is under anesthesia and is interpreted by both a neurodiagnostic technician and a trained neurologist who is available the entire time the surgery is in progress.