Clinical Neurophysiology

The Department of Clinical Neurophysiology provides investigations of the nervous system including nerve conduction studies (NCS), electromyography (EMG) and electroencephalography (EEG) and evoked potentials (EPs).

The tests are requested by doctors and are performed by either clinical physiologists or a clinician in the department. All studies are interpreted and reported by the consultant in clinical neurophysiology.

NCS and EMG studies are carried out to evaluate the peripheral neuro-muscular system.  They involve stimulation of nerves using small electrical pulses and often also include recording from some muscles with a small needle.  The tests usually last less than 30 minutes.  Occasionally the ability to perceive changes in temperature in the limbs is also measured.

EEG records electrical activity in the brain using small metal discs placed on the scalp with simultaneous video recording.  The test usually lasts approximately one hour.  Occasionally more prolonged recordings are carried out.

EPs record certain specific pathways in the body that can include the visual system, auditory pathways, sensory nerves from the limbs to the brain and motor pathways from the brain to muscles in the limbs.

Services                     

The range of available tests includes:

• Nerve conduction studies (NCS)
• Needle electromyography (EMG)
• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT)
• Sleep-deprived EEG
• Visual evoked responses (VERs)
• Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs)
• Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs)
• Central motor conduction
• Quantitative sensory testing (QST)

Consultants

• Dr. Seán Connolly

Referral information

We accept consultant and GP referrals by post (preferably) and also by fax.