Sleep electroencephalogram

The sleep electroencephalogram is a neurophysiological examination that records the brain's electrical activity during the different phases of sleep. Many epileptic abnormalities appear only during sleep, making this examination essential in certain clinical situations. Sleep is a powerful activator of interictal epileptic abnormalities. The transitions between wakefulness and sleep, as well as the slow-wave sleep stages, are particularly conducive to the appearance of epileptic discharges. The sleep EEG can therefore reveal abnormalities that escape the standard waking EEG. This examination is particularly indicated in children with benign focal epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, in idiopathic generalised epilepsies, or when the waking EEG is normal despite a strong clinical suspicion of epilepsy. It is also useful in the exploration of sleep disorders of neurological origin. The Clinique Pasteur in Tunis has an environment specially arranged to encourage the patient's natural onset of sleep, with quiet, dark and air-conditioned rooms. Partial sleep deprivation the night before is generally recommended to facilitate falling asleep during the examination.