Unlocking insights: brain and nervous system imaging
Neurodiagnostic tests play a crucial role in diagnosing neurological disorders, monitoring disease progression, and guiding treatment decisions. Penn Medicine providers put careful thought into recommending neurodiagnostic tests, so you can receive the answers you need.
Neurovascular testing evaluates blood flow in the vessels that supply the brain. It helps identify narrowing, blockages, or other circulation issues that may increase stroke risk or contribute to neurological symptoms. This testing may include:
- Carotid ultrasound: Uses high-frequency sound waves to check blood flow through the carotid arteries in the neck.
- Transcranial doppler studies: Measures blood flow through the brain’s major arteries to detect spasms or blockages.
- Emboli detection: Identifies small particles traveling in the bloodstream that could lead to a stroke.
Testing for seizure disorders or epilepsy focuses on recording brain activity over time. These tests help diagnose epilepsy, classify seizure types, and guide treatment planning. This testing may include:
- Electroencephalogram (EEG): Records electrical activity in the brain to track and record abnormal brain wave patterns.
- Ambulatory EEG: A type of electroencephalogram that records brain activity continuously over 24–72 hours while you go about normal daily activities, helping capture intermittent or infrequent neurological events.
- Epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU): Provides continuous EEG and video recording, closely observed by specially trained staff to accurately identify and evaluate seizures in a controlled hospital setting.
Evoked potential (EP) testing measures how quickly nerves respond to visual, auditory, or sensory signals. These tests help identify nervous system lesions or damage. This testing may include:
- Visual evoked potentials (VEP): Measures how quickly visual signals travel from the eyes to the brain
- Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP/BAER): Evaluates the hearing pathways from the ear through the brainstem
- Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP): Assesses sensory pathways from the arms or legs to the brain
Neuro-ophthalmology testing examines how the eyes and brain work together to help diagnose vision problems caused by neurological conditions. This testing may include:
- Visual field testing: Measures the full scope of a person’s peripheral and central vision to detect vision loss caused by eye, optic nerve, or brain disorders.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT): Uses light waves to create detailed images of the retina and optic nerve.
- Fundus photography: Captures images of the back of the eye to document structural changes over time.
Neuromuscular testing evaluates how well electrical signals travel through peripheral nerves and muscles. These tests help diagnose nerve damage, muscle disorders, and conditions affecting the neuromuscular system. These studies may include:
- Nerve conduction studies (NCS): Measure how fast and how strong electrical signals travel through peripheral nerves.
- Electromyography (EMG): A diagnostic test that measures the electrical activity of muscles at rest and during movement.
- Single fiber EMG: Examines communication between individual nerves and muscle fibers to detect subtle abnormalities.
- Autonomic function testing: Evaluates how the autonomic nervous system controls vital functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and sweating.
- Muscle biopsy: Involves removing a small sample of muscle tissue for lab analysis to help diagnose disease or injury.
- Neuromuscular ultrasound: A painless imaging technique that uses sound waves to visualize nerves, muscles, and surrounding tissues.