What is the purpose of the ground electrode in an EEG setup?

The ground electrode in an EEG setup plays a crucial role in minimizing electrical noise, which is essential for accurately capturing brain wave signals. The ground electrode helps create a reference point against which the potentials from the recording electrodes are measured. This is vital in reducing interference from external electrical sources, such as power lines or electronic devices, which can introduce noise into the recordings.

By providing a stable reference, the ground electrode ensures that the brain wave signals can be amplified and recorded without the contamination of this extraneous noise. This leads to clearer and more precise readings of the electrical activity in the brain, which is the primary aim of EEG monitoring.

While amplifying brain wave signals is an important aspect of the overall EEG system, it is the grounding that fundamentally allows for these signals to be collected in a manner that minimizes distortion. The other options, like measuring blood flow or monitoring heart activity, are unrelated to the function of the ground electrode in an EEG setup.