Tests/Exams

An introduction to some of the tests and procedures neurologists use to diagnosis neurological conditions.

Radiology

From x-rays to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), there are several ways to take pictures of what's happening beneath the skull. Radiology has provided powerful new ways to contribute to the diagnosis of neurological disease. Here you can learn more about these high-tech imaging methods.

Understanding MRI Results

• What is a CAT scan?
• Radiographic Imaging Used by Neurologists
• Functional MRI
• Ultrasound in Neurology
• What Are These Spots On My MRI?

Electrical Tests

Nerves communicate with one another by changing electrical signals between them. Neurologists have tools that allow these signals to be measured in the brain and in the body. These techniques are known as electrodiagnostic testing, and include electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP). Learn more here!

• What Happens During an EEG?
• What is an EMG?
• Electrodiagnostic Testing
• Confirmatory Tests for Brain Death

Laboratory Tests

Sometimes neurologists need to perform laboratory tests on samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid to help them make a diagnosis. Learn more about these kind of tests here.

• Lumbar Puncture: Common Questions Answered
• What is a Lumbar Puncture?
• Taking a Spinal Tap
• Hyponatremia in Neurology
• Laboratory Tests in Neurology