Which artifact is commonly caused by electrical interference from nearby devices during an EEG?

The presence of 60 Hz noise is commonly associated with electrical interference in EEG recordings due to the electrical power supply frequency in North America. This type of artifact originates from the alternating current (AC) power lines that run throughout the environment, producing a signal that can appear as a consistent oscillation in the EEG traces.

When the EEG equipment is set up near sources of electrical interference, such as fluorescent lights or other electronic devices, this noise can become prominent on the output recordings, making it difficult to interpret the underlying brain activity accurately. The standard frequency for AC power in the United States is 60 Hz, which directly correlates with the name of this artifact.

In other regions, such as Europe and many parts of the world, the frequency of electrical power supply can be 50 Hz, but in the context of this question based on typical environments, it is the 60 Hz noise that is most relevant in North American EEG setups. Therefore, 60 Hz noise is the artifact that is most likely to be documented as a result of electrical interference in EEG studies.