In EEG monitoring, what is the consequence of using improper electrode placement?

Using improper electrode placement in EEG monitoring can lead to inconsistent results. This occurs because the location of the electrodes directly affects the ability to accurately capture the electrical activity of the brain. Each electrode is designed to pick up signals from specific areas, and if they're mispositioned, the signals recorded may not represent the brain's activity in those regions accurately. Additionally, this misplacement can introduce noise or artifacts, leading to misleading data that could confuse the interpretation of the brain's patterns.

Inconsistent results make it challenging to diagnose conditions or assess brain functions accurately, as the data may not correlate with the patient's actual neural activity. Therefore, proper electrode placement is crucial to ensure reliable and reproducible EEG readings.