Symptoms of dysfunction of the midline structures of the brain. What is brain dysfunction Signs of dysfunction of nonspecific mid-stem structures

These syndromes occur when nonspecific structures of different levels are affected, ranging from the lower parts of the brain stem to the mediobasal parts of the cortex of the frontal and temporal lobes. Damage to these structures causes disruption modal-nonspecific factors. It can be assumed that the nature of these factors at different levels of the nonspecific system is different, since neuropsychological syndromes of damage to different levels of the nonspecific system, along with common features, also have certain differences. In nonspecific “deep” syndromes, three main groups of symptoms can be distinguished:

A) first group - neurodynamic disorders(or disturbances of the dynamic aspect) of all higher mental functions in the form of a decrease in their speed, productivity, uneven efficiency in completing tasks, etc. Adjacent to this group of dynamic disorders are modal-nonspecific disturbances of attention in the form of general absent-mindedness, difficulty concentrating, easy distractibility and etc. The dynamic group of symptoms also includes changes in the general functional state of the brain, its fluctuations, exhaustion, asthenia, etc.;

b) second group of symptoms more difficult. It includes more selective disorders - memory and emotional processes. At the same time, patients do not have obvious defects in other cognitive processes (except for dynamic ones): visual, auditory, tactile gnosis, speech or motor defects. Memory impairments are modally nonspecific, that is, they do not depend on the modality of the material being remembered. Short-term memory is predominantly affected, while long-term (for example, professional) memory is relatively preserved. Emotional disturbances can manifest themselves in the form of emotional excitability, increased reactivity or affective paroxysms, outbursts of negativism, and anger. The general structure of the emotional-personal sphere is disrupted in different ways. In some cases it is relatively preserved; patients

They are emotionally adequate, there are no obvious signs of euphoria or emotional indifference, stupidity. Both professional interests, attachment to loved ones, and the patient’s personality as a whole are preserved - he adequately evaluates himself and those around him. In other cases, emotional-personal relationships reach the stage of a gross defect; V) third group of symptoms- changes in state of consciousness, which manifest themselves in the acute stages of the disease in the form of loss of consciousness, which is especially typical for traumatic lesions, when the midline stem structures of the brain are primarily affected. A more complex phenomenology of disturbances of consciousness is also possible.

Syndromes of damage to nonspecific brain formations are specific depending on the level of damage.

Level of the lower parts of the brain stem. This level is affected relatively often by tumors in the posterior cranial fossa (for example, neuromas of the VIII pair of cranial nerves), as well as by closed brain injuries that cause compression of the brainstem and hemorrhages in this area. Damage to this level of the nonspecific system in the acute stage of the disease (for example, during trauma) is accompanied by loss of consciousness (its duration depends on the severity of the disease) followed by amnesia for the events preceding the injury. In the future, patients usually experience:

♦ disturbances in the sleep-wake cycle in the form of insomnia (less often drowsiness), inadequate sleep; decreased level of wakefulness;

♦ exhaustibility; sudden fatigue from the slightest exertion, intolerance of patients;

♦ fairly clear orientation in the environment (place, time);

♦ preservation of personal reactions in general. Patients are adequate in their complaints and critical of their condition.

Chomskaya E. D. X = Neuropsychology: 4th edition. - St. Petersburg: Peter, 2005. - 496 p.: ill. 199

Against this background, the central symptoms are:

♦ modal-nonspecific mnestic disorders with primary short-term memory disorders;

♦ reduction in the volume of memorization (down to three or four words after the first presentation of a series of ten words);

♦ increased inhibition of traces by extraneous stimuli.

At the same time, strengthening motivation (for example, introducing the motive of examination) or semantic organization of the material gives a clear compensatory effect, which indicates the preservation of the general structure of mental functions in these patients (see Chapter 14).

This category of patients is also characterized by attention disorders of a modally nonspecific type. Patients are distracted, exhausted, and cannot concentrate on any task for a long time. When performing serial intellectual operations (for example, serial counting), mistakes are often made, but when an error is pointed out, they try to correct it.

Strengthening motivation or reinforcing instructions and gradual approval (verbal reinforcement) give a good compensating effect, which indicates the preservation of the mechanisms of voluntary regulation of mental activity. This is also evidenced by the effectiveness of one of the methods of compensating for voluntary motor reactions, which consists of accompanying movements with speech orders (such as “yes”, “no”, etc.). A characteristic feature of this type of syndrome is also the fluctuation of symptoms and the different severity of mental dysfunction on different experimental days. Level of diencephalic parts of the brain. This level is affected in many brain diseases (tumors, inflammatory processes, etc.), which has given reason to classify the neurological symptoms observed when it is affected into a special diencephalic (or hypothalamic-diencephalic) syndrome, which includes autonomic disorders, pathological visual symptoms, hormonal , metabolic disorders, etc. The diencephalic syndrome is very clearly observed when the pituitary gland is damaged. In some cases, it is complicated by “neighboring” (for example, basal) symptoms. A study of patients with pituitary tumors and diencephalic neurological syndrome showed that the neuropsychological picture of their disease consists of symptoms similar to those observed with damage to the lower parts of the trunk. These patients also have disturbances in the sleep-wake cycle (in the form of insomnia or increased sleepiness), and a decrease in general functional state. They also have disturbances in the emotional and personal sphere in the following form:

♦ increased emotional reactivity;

♦ instability of emotional reactions;

♦ changes in emotional states (depression or mild euphoria).

Mild personal changes are possible in the form of some uncriticality, inadequacy, which are more

distinct in massive lesions.

The difference between these patients and those described above is that more severe memory impairment(by modal-

nonspecific type), which are associated primarily with increased inhibition of traces (according to

mechanisms of retroactive and proactive inhibition), arising in conditions of heterogeneous and

especially homogeneous interference. However, even in this category of patients it is possible to achieve a certain

compensating effect when semantically organizing material or increasing motivation

mnestic activity (see Chapter 14).

Quite distinct in patients with damage to the diencephalic parts of the brain and general modal

nonspecific attention disorders, manifested in different types of mental activity, which

are also, to a certain extent, susceptible to compensatory influence (see Chapter 15).

With massive lesions of these areas of the brain, complicated by hypertensive phenomena,

severe mental changes similar to frontal syndrome, including severe emotional disorders

states and personal reactions. These changes are observed primarily in cases where

the pathological focus extends to the basal parts of the frontal lobes of the brain.

Limbic system level. The central formation of this level is the cingulate gyrus (gyrus

cinguli), which has rich anatomical connections both with the higher-lying sections of the cortex of the large

hemispheres, and with underlying formations (diencephalic region, etc.) (see Chapter 3).

The defeat of this level of nonspecific structures is characterized by a whole complex of mental

disorders that are quite well described in the neurological and psychiatric literature, but few

studied in neuropsychology, especially from the standpoint of syndromic analysis. From mental disorders

functions associated with damage to limbic structures are best known gross violations

short term memory to current events (of a modally nonspecific type) that sometimes occur

(especially with bilateral

damage to hippocampal structures) in the form Korsakov's syndrome. Damage to this level of the nonspecific system is also associated with disturbances of consciousness(sometimes in the form of confusion, confabulations) and changes in the emotional sphere, the qualitative features of which have not yet been sufficiently studied.

Chomskaya E. D. X = Neuropsychology: 4th edition. - St. Petersburg: Peter, 2005. - 496 p.: ill. 200

Individual structures within the limbic system have been studied to varying degrees. It is known that lesions of the hippocampus - especially bilateral - lead to severe memory impairment (of a modality-nonspecific type). Neuropsychological syndromes of damage to the cingulate gyrus consist of the following:

♦ modal-nonspecific memory impairments, which may be similar to mnestic defects in “frontal” patients;

♦ violations of trace selectivity;

♦ attention disorders;

♦ violations of the emotional and personal sphere (in the form of uncriticality towards one’s defects, inadequacy of emotional reactions, etc.);

♦ contamination;

♦ in severe cases - persistent disturbances of consciousness.

The primary symptoms are memory impairment and emotional-personal disorders; To

depending on the location of the pathological focus, symptoms may be associated with it

lesions of the mediobasal parts of the frontal, temporal or parietal parts of the brain (S. B. Buklina, 1997a,

1998; "Anthology of Neuropsychology", 1999, etc.).

Neuropsychological syndromes of damage to other formations of the limbic system have been less studied.

The level of the mediobasal cortex of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Mediobasal frontal and

the temporal regions of the cortex are closely connected with nonspecific formations of the brainstem and limbic

structures and can be considered as cortical sections of the nonspecific system.

Damage to these structures leads to the appearance of a number of similar neuropsychological symptoms,

related to the following phenomena:

♦ to a state of consciousness (some confusion, confabulation, disorientation in place, more often in time);

♦ to mnestic processes (modal-nonspecific memory impairments, mostly short-term);

♦ to attention processes (modality-nonspecific disorders);

♦ to the emotional sphere (efficiency, temper, etc.).

The nature of the symptoms indicates the presence of a common basis in these syndromes ( factors of modal-nonspecific type).

There are, however, differences: patients with lesions of the mediobasal sections frontal lobes brain to a much greater extent are inherent personality disorders(uncriticality, loss of professional interests, attachment to loved ones, etc.) than in patients with temporal mediobasal localization of the lesion; state of consciousness often more confused in “frontal” than in “temporal” patients, in whom disturbances of consciousness are usually associated with epileptic seizures.

There is also a difference in mnestic disorders: when the mediobasal parts of the frontal lobes of the brain are damaged, these disorders are combined with defects in selectivity, selectivity of semantic connections, which leads to disorders "semantic memory"; In “temporal” patients, semantic mnestic connections remain intact and disturbances such as trace inhibition and strengthening of the mechanisms of their retro- and proactive inhibition are more pronounced.

The difference in attention disorders is manifested in the fact that “frontal” patients suffer more mechanisms of voluntary attention and turning to an arbitrary level of regulation of functions does not provide a compensating effect.

Certain differences have also been established in emotional disorders: patients with lesions of the mediobasal parts of the temporal cortex are more characterized by affective paroxysms in the form of attacks of melancholy, fear, horror, accompanied by violent vegetative reactions, which usually precede general convulsive epileptic seizures; the patients themselves treat them critically as a manifestation of the disease; “frontal” mediobasal and especially basal patients are more characterized by hot temper, incontinence and, at the same time, emotional impoverishment, poverty of emotions; These features of the emotional sphere are not realized by patients; they are uncritical of them. In addition, “frontal” patients are characterized by general impairments in the selectivity of semantic connections, manifested in intellectual and other types of cognitive activity, which are absent in “temporal” patients (see the description of syndromes of damage to the mediobasal cortex of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain in Chapter 21).

Thus, there are differences between syndromes due to the level of damage to nonspecific structures.

The greatest differences are observed between syndromes associated with damage to the level of the mediobasal cortex of the frontal and temporal lobes and subcortical levels. They are as follows:

♦ when the cortical level of the nonspecific system is affected, the symptoms of impaired consciousness are qualitatively different than when the trunk is damaged, when “blackouts” of consciousness are characteristic during the acute stage of the disease. In “cortical” patients (especially in patients with damage to the medial cortex of the frontal lobes of the brain)

Chomskaya E. D. X = Neuropsychology: 4th edition. - St. Petersburg: Peter, 2005. - 496 p.: ill. 201

disturbances of consciousness appear to be relatively permanent and manifest themselves in difficulties in orientation in the environment (in place and especially in time and in oneself), in confabulations (see Chapter 17);

♦ with damage to the “cortical” level of the nonspecific system, disturbances in the emotional-personal sphere are significantly more pronounced and have a qualitatively different character (see Chapter 18);

♦ with “cortical” lesions (primarily in patients with damage to the mediobasal parts of the cortex of the frontal lobes of the brain), modality-nonspecific memory defects extend to semantic categories, acquiring the nature of contamination. In addition, in “frontal” patients, the very structure of mnestic activity disintegrates, the mechanisms of voluntary imprinting and voluntary reproduction of material are disrupted (see Chapter 14);

♦ with damage to the “cortical” level of the nonspecific system (especially the mediobasal prefrontal cortex), voluntary attention is predominantly impaired; this is one of the manifestations of a more general violation of the mechanisms of voluntary regulation of mental functions. In “subcortical” patients, voluntary regulatory influences are potentially preserved, although weakened, and appeal to voluntary regulatory mechanisms (using instructions, introducing step-by-step verbal “reinforcement” of results by the experimenter, etc.) gives a clear compensatory effect (see Chapter 15 ).

In general, symptoms of disorders of higher mental functions are part of one type of syndromes - these are syndromes of damage to nonspecific brain structures. Further study of the syndromes of this

type will be associated with the improvement of psychological and psychophysiological methods for studying memory, emotions, consciousness, attention and other mental phenomena, which will make it possible to clarify qualitative differences in their disorders when different levels of the nonspecific system are affected and thereby clarify the differences in the factors that determine them.

In nonspecific “deep” syndromes, three main groups of symptoms can be distinguished:

Neurodynamic disorders (or disorders of the dynamic aspect) of all higher mental functions in the form of a decrease in their speed, productivity, uneven efficiency in completing tasks, etc. Adjacent to this group of dynamic disorders are modally nonspecific attention disorders in the form of general absent-mindedness, difficulty concentrating, mild distractibility, etc. The dynamic group of symptoms also includes changes in the general functional state of the brain, its fluctuations, exhaustion, asthenia, etc.;

More selective disorders - memory and emotional processes. At the same time, patients do not have obvious defects in other cognitive processes (except for dynamic ones): visual, auditory, tactile gnosis, speech or motor defects. Memory impairments are modally nonspecific, that is, they do not depend on the modality of the material being remembered. Short-term memory is predominantly affected, while long-term (for example, professional) memory is relatively preserved. Emotion disturbances can manifest themselves in the form of emotional excitability, increased reactivity or affective paroxysms, outbursts of negativism, and anger. The general structure of the emotional-personal sphere is disrupted in different ways. In some cases, it is relatively preserved, patients remain emotionally adequate, there are no obvious signs of euphoria or emotional indifference or dullness. Both professional interests, attachment to loved ones, and the patient’s personality as a whole are preserved - he adequately evaluates himself and those around him. In others, emotional-personal relationships reach a gross defect;

Changes in the state of consciousness, which manifest themselves in the acute stages of the disease in the form of blackout, which is typical for traumatic lesions, when the midline stem structures of the brain are mainly affected. A more complex phenomenology of disturbances of consciousness is also possible.

Syndromes of damage to nonspecific brain formations are specific depending on the level of damage.

Level of the lower parts of the brain stem.

♦ disturbances in the sleep-wake cycle in the form of insomnia (less often drowsiness), inadequate sleep; decreased level of wakefulness;

♦ exhaustibility; sudden fatigue from the slightest exertion, intolerance of patients;

♦ fairly clear orientation in the environment (place, time);

♦ preservation of personal reactions in general. Patients are adequate in their complaints and critical of their condition.

Against this background, the central symptoms are:

♦ modal-nonspecific mnestic disorders with primary short-term memory disorders;

♦ reduction in the volume of memorization (down to three or four words after the first presentation of a series of ten words);

♦ increased inhibition of traces by extraneous stimuli.

Level of diencephalic parts of the brain.

level is affected in many brain diseases (tumors, inflammatory processes, etc.), which gave reason to distinguish the symptoms observed when it is affected into a special diencephalic (or hypothalamo-diencephalic) syndrome, which includes autonomic disorders, pathological visual symptoms, hormonal, metabolic disorders, etc. The diencephalic syndrome is very clearly observed when the pituitary gland is damaged. These patients also have disturbances in the sleep-wake cycle (in the form of insomnia or increased sleepiness), and a decrease in general functional state. They also have disturbances in the emotional and personal sphere in the following form:

♦ increased emotional reactivity;

♦ instability of emotional reactions;

♦ changes in emotional states (depression or mild euphoria).

Mild personal changes are possible in the form of some uncriticality, inadequacy, which are more

distinct in massive lesions.

The difference between these patients and those described above is that they have more severe memory impairments (modally

nonspecific type), which are associated primarily with increased inhibition of traces (according to

mechanisms of retroactive and proactive inhibition), arising in conditions of heterogeneous and

especially homogeneous interference. However, even in this category of patients it is possible to achieve a certain

compensating effect when semantically organizing material or increasing motivation

mnestic activity + Attention disorders.

Limbic system level.

The central formation of this level is the cingulate gyrus (gyrus cinguli).

Severe impairments of short-term memory for current events (of a modality-nonspecific type), sometimes occurring (especially with bilateral damage to the hippocampal structures) in the form of Korsakoff syndrome. Damage to this level of the nonspecific system is also associated with disturbances of consciousness (sometimes in the form of confusion, confabulations) and changes in the emotional sphere, the qualitative features of which have not yet been sufficiently studied.

The level of the mediobasal cortex of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.

Everything is the same, just in rougher forms.

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physiotherapy, massage, physical therapy, acupuncture.

antidepressants, tranquilizers, antipsychotics.

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There is a need for a more thorough, detailed and complete examination, not only from a neurologist, but also from an epileptologist.

Electroencephalography (EEG): the essence of the examination, what it reveals, its conduct, results

For convenience, both doctors and patients replace the long word “electroencephalography” with an abbreviation and simply call this diagnostic method EEG. It should be noted here that some (probably to enhance the significance of the study) talk about EEG of the brain, but this is not entirely correct, since the Latinized version of the ancient Greek word “encephalon” is translated into Russian as “brain” and in itself is already part of the medical term is encephalography.

Electroencephalography or EEG is a method of studying the brain (BM) in order to identify foci of increased convulsive readiness of its cortex, which is typical for epilepsy (the main task), tumors, conditions after a stroke, structural and metabolic encephalopathies, sleep disorders and other diseases. Encephalography is based on recording the electrical activity of the brain (frequency, amplitude), and this is done using electrodes attached in different places on the surface of the head.

What kind of research is an EEG?

Periodically occurring convulsive seizures, occurring in most cases with complete loss of consciousness, are popularly called falling disease, which official medicine calls epilepsy.

The very first and main method for diagnosing this disease, which has served humanity for many decades (the first EEG recorded dates back to 1928), is encephalography (electroencephalography). Of course, the research apparatus (encephalograph) has now significantly changed and improved, its capabilities with the use of computer technology have expanded significantly. However, the essence of the diagnostic method remains the same.

Electrodes (sensors) are connected to the electroencephalograph, which are placed in the form of a cap on the surface of the subject’s head. These sensors are designed to capture the slightest electromagnetic bursts and transmit information about them to the main equipment (device, computer) for automatic processing and analysis. The encephalograph processes the received impulses, amplifies them and records them on paper in the form of a broken line, very reminiscent of an ECG.

Bioelectric activity of the brain is created mainly in the cortex with the participation of:

The thalamus, which oversees and redistributes information;
The ARS (activating reticular system), the nuclei of which, located in various parts of the brain (medulla oblongata and midbrain, pons, diencephalic system), receive signals from many pathways and transmit them to all parts of the cortex.

The electrodes read these signals and deliver them to the device, where recording occurs (graphic image - encephalogram). Processing and analyzing information are the tasks of computer software, which “knows” the norms of biological activity of the brain and the formation of biorhythms depending on age and a specific situation.

For example, routine EEG detects the formation of pathological rhythms during an attack or in the period between attacks; sleep EEG or nighttime EEG monitoring shows how the biopotentials of the brain change while immersed in the world of dreams.

Thus, electroencephalography shows the bioelectrical activity of the brain and the consistency of the activity of brain structures during wakefulness or sleep and answers the questions:

Are there any foci of increased convulsive readiness of the brain, and if they are, in what area are they located?
What stage is the disease at, how far has it gone or, conversely, has it begun to regress;
What effect does the chosen medicine have and is its dose calculated correctly;

Of course, even the most “smart” machine will not replace a specialist (usually a neurologist or neurophysiologist), who receives the right to decipher an encephalogram after undergoing special training.

Features of EEG in children

What can we say about kids, if some adults, having received a referral for an EEG, begin to ask what and how, because they doubt the safety of this procedure. Meanwhile, it actually cannot cause any harm to the child, but it can be really difficult to perform an EEG on a small patient. For babies under one year old, the bioelectrical activity of the brain is measured during sleep, before this they wash their hair, feed the baby and, without deviating from the usual schedule (sleep/wake), adjust the procedure to the child’s sleep.

But if for children under one year old it is enough to wait until they fall asleep, then a child from one to three years old (and some even older) still needs to be persuaded, therefore, up to 3 years of age, the study is carried out in a state of wakefulness only for calm and sociable children, giving preference in other cases to EEG sleep.

Preparations for visiting the appropriate office should begin several days in advance, turning the future trip into a game. You can try to interest the baby in a pleasant trip, where he can go with his mother and his favorite toy, come up with some other options (usually parents are more aware of how to convince the child to sit quietly, not move, cry or talk). Unfortunately, such restrictions are very difficult for young children to withstand, because they still cannot understand the seriousness of such an event. Well, in such cases the doctor is looking for an alternative...

Indications for performing daytime encephalography in a child in a state of sleep or nighttime EEG are:

Identification of paroxysmal conditions of various origins - epileptic seizures, convulsive syndrome due to high body temperature (febrile convulsions), epileptiform seizures not associated with true epilepsy and differentiated from it;
Monitoring the effectiveness of antiepileptic therapy with an established diagnosis of epilepsy;
Diagnosis of hypoxic and ischemic lesions of the central nervous system (presence and severity);
Determination of the severity of brain lesions for prognostic purposes;
Study of the bioelectrical activity of the brain in young patients to study the stages of its maturation and the functional state of the central nervous system.

In addition, it is often suggested to do an EEG for vegetative-vascular dystonia with frequent fainting attacks and dizziness, with delayed acquisition of speech skills and stuttering. This method should not be neglected in other cases that require studying the reserves of the functional capabilities of the brain, because the procedure is both harmless and painless, but can provide maximum information for diagnosing a certain pathology. Electroencephalography is very useful if episodes of disturbances of consciousness occur, but their cause is not clear.

Different recording methods

Registration of bioelectric potentials of the brain is carried out in different ways, for example:

At the beginning of a diagnostic search that identifies the causes of paroxysmal conditions, a short-term (≈ 15 min) routine method of recording an encephalogram is used, which, to identify hidden disorders, involves the use of provocative tests - the patient is asked to breathe deeply (hyperventilation), open and close his eyes, or give light stimulation (photostimulation);
If a routine EEG does not provide the necessary information, then the doctor prescribes encephalography with deprivation (deprivation of sleep at night, completely or partially). To conduct such a study and obtain reliable results, a person is either not allowed to sleep at all, or is woken up 2-3 hours before the subject’s “biological alarm clock” rings;
Long-term recording of an EEG with registration of the bioelectrical activity of the brain cortex during “quiet hours” (sleep EEG) takes place if the doctor suspects that changes in the brain occur precisely while in “sleep mode”;
Experts consider nighttime EEG, which is recorded in a hospital setting, to be the most informative. The study begins while you are awake (before going to bed), continues when you fall asleep, covers the entire period of night sleep and ends after natural awakening. If necessary, registration of bioelectrical activity of the brain is supplemented by the application of supernumerary electrodes and the use of video recording equipment.

Long-term recording of electrical activity over several hours during sleep and recording of nighttime EEG is called EEG monitoring. Naturally, such methods require the use of additional equipment and material resources, as well as the patient’s stay in a hospital setting.

Time and equipment make up the price

In other cases, there is a need to measure the biopotentials of the brain at the time of an attack. Pursuing similar goals, the patient, as for conducting an overnight EEG, is sent to a hospital for hospitalization, where 24-hour EEG monitoring is carried out using audio and video equipment. Continuous EEG monitoring with video recording throughout the day makes it possible to verify the epileptic origin of paroxysmal memory disorders, isolated auras, as well as episodic psychomotor phenomena.

Electroencephalography is one of the most accessible methods for studying the brain. And for the price too. In Moscow, you can find this study for 1,500 rubles, 8,000 rubles (EEG sleep monitoring for 6 hours), and rubles (night EEG).

In other cities of Russia you can get by with a smaller amount, for example, in Bryansk the price starts from 1200 rubles, in Krasnoyarsk - from 1100 rubles, and in Astrakhan it starts from 800 rubles.

Of course, it is better to do an EEG in a specialized neurological clinic, where in doubtful cases there is the possibility of a collegial diagnosis (in such institutions, many specialists can encrypt the EEG), and also to consult a doctor immediately after the test or quickly resolve the issue regarding other methods of studying the brain.

About the main rhythms of electrical activity of the brain

When interpreting the results of the study, various factors are taken into account: the age of the subject, his general condition (the presence of tremor, weakness in the limbs, visual impairment, etc.), anticonvulsant therapy at the time of recording the bioelectric activity of the brain, the approximate time (date) of the last seizure and etc.

The electroencephalogram consists of various complex biorhythms emanating from the electrical activity of the brain at different periods of time, depending on specific situations.

When decoding the EEG, first of all, pay attention to the main rhythms and their characteristics:

Alpha rhythm (frequency ranges from 9 to 13 Hz, oscillation amplitude ranges from 5 to 100 μV), which is present in almost all individuals who have no complaints about their health during the period of inactive wakefulness (relaxation during rest, relaxation, shallow meditation). As soon as a person opens his eyes and tries to visually imagine any picture, α-waves decrease and may disappear altogether if the functional activity of the brain continues to increase. When deciphering the EEG, the following parameters of the α-rhythm are important: amplitude (μV) over the left and right hemispheres, dominant frequency (Hz), dominance of certain leads (frontal, parietal, occipital, etc.), interhemispheric asymmetry (%). Depression of the α-rhythm is caused by anxiety, fear, and activation of autonomic nervous activity;
The beta rhythm (frequency ranges from 13 to 39 Hz, the amplitude of oscillations is up to 20 μV) is not only our wakefulness mode, the beta rhythm is characteristic of active mental work. In a normal state, the expression of β-waves is very weak, their excess indicates an immediate reaction of the brain to stress;
Theta rhythm (frequency - from 4 to 8 Hz, amplitude is within microvolts). These waves do not reflect a pathological change in consciousness, for example, a person is dozing, half asleep, in the stage of superficial sleep, he is already seeing some dreams, and then θ rhythms are detected. In a healthy person, falling into sleep is accompanied by the appearance of a significant number of θ rhythms. An increase in the theta rhythm is observed during prolonged psycho-emotional stress, mental disorders, twilight states characteristic of some neurological diseases, asthenic syndrome, and concussion;
The delta rhythm (frequency ranges from 0.3 to 4 Hz, amplitude from 20 to 200 μV) is characteristic of deep sleep (natural falling asleep and artificially created sleep - anesthesia). With various neurological pathologies, an increase in the δ wave is observed;

In addition, other electrical oscillations occur in the cerebral cortex: gamma rhythms reaching high frequencies (up to 100 Hz), kappa rhythms formed in the temporal leads during active mental activity, mu rhythms associated with mental stress. These waves are not particularly interesting from a diagnostic point of view, since they arise under significant mental stress and intense “work of thought”, requiring high concentration of attention. An electroencephalogram, as is known, is recorded, although during wakefulness, but in a calm state, and in some cases, overnight EEG or sleep EEG monitoring is even prescribed.

Video: alpha and beta rhythms on EEG

EEG interpretation

main EEG leads and their designations

A bad or good EEG can only be judged after the final interpretation of the study results. Thus, we will talk about a good EEG if, during the waking period, the following were recorded on the encephalogram tape:

In the occipital-parietal leads - sinusoidal α-waves with an oscillation frequency ranging from 8 to 12 Hz and an amplitude of 50 μV;
In the frontal areas - β-rhythms with an oscillation frequency greater than 12 Hz and an amplitude not exceeding 20 μV. In some cases, β-waves alternate with θ-rhythms with a frequency of 4 to 7 Hz and this is also considered normal.

It should be noted that individual waves are not specific to any particular pathology. An example is epileptiform sharp waves, which under some circumstances can appear in healthy people who do not suffer from epilepsy. Conversely, peak-wave complexes (frequency 3 Hz) clearly indicate epilepsy with petit mal seizures, and sharp waves (frequency 1 Hz) indicate a progressive degenerative disease of the brain - Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, therefore these waves are decoding is considered an important diagnostic feature.

In the period between attacks, epilepsy may not be noticed, since the peaks and sharp waves characteristic of this disease are not observed in all patients who show all the clinical symptoms of the pathology at the time of a convulsive seizure. Moreover, paroxysmal manifestations in other cases can be recorded in absolutely healthy people who do not have any signs or prerequisites for the development of a convulsive syndrome.

In connection with the above, having conducted a single study and not finding epileptic activity on the background EEG (“good EEG”), it is impossible to completely exclude epilepsy based on the results of one test if clinical signs of the disease occur. It is necessary to further examine the patient for this unpleasant disease using other methods.

Recording an EEG during a seizure in a patient with epilepsy may provide the following options:

Frequent electrical discharges of high amplitude, which indicate that the peak of the attack has occurred, slowing down of activity - the attack has entered the attenuation phase;
Focal epiactivity (it indicates the location of the focus of convulsive readiness and the presence of partial seizures - we will have to look for the cause of the focal lesion of the brain);
Manifestations of diffuse changes (registration of paroxysmal discharges and peak-wave) - such indicators indicate that the attack is generalized.

If the origin of the brain lesion is established, and diffuse changes are recorded on the EEG, then the diagnostic value of this study, although not so significant, still makes it possible to find a particular disease that is far from epilepsy:

Meningitis, encephalitis (especially caused by herpetic infection) - on the EEG: periodic formation of epileptiform discharges;
Metabolic encephalopathy - on the encephalogram: the presence of “triphasic” waves or diffuse slowdowns in rhythm and bursts of symmetrical slow activity in the frontal areas.

Diffuse changes in the encephalogram can be recorded in patients who have suffered a brain injury or concussion, which is understandable - with severe head injuries, the entire brain suffers. However, there is another option: diffuse changes are found in people who do not have any complaints and consider themselves absolutely healthy. This also happens, and if there are no clinical manifestations of pathology, then there is no cause for concern either. Perhaps, at the next examination, the EEG recording will reflect complete normality.

In what cases does EEG help make a diagnosis?

Electroencephalography, revealing the functionality and reserves of the central nervous system, has become the standard for brain research; doctors consider its implementation advisable in many cases and for various conditions:

To assess the degree of functional immaturity of the brain in young patients (in a child under one year old, the study is always carried out during sleep, in older children - depending on the situation);
For various sleep disorders (insomnia, drowsiness, frequent awakenings at night, etc.);
In the presence of convulsions and epileptic attacks;
To confirm or exclude complications of inflammatory processes caused by neuroinfection;
For vascular lesions of the brain;
After a TBI (brain contusion, concussion) - the EEG shows the depth of the GM’s suffering;
To assess the severity of the effects of exposure to neurotoxic poisons;
In case of development of an oncological process affecting the central nervous system;
For mental disorders of various kinds;
EEG monitoring is carried out when assessing the effectiveness of anticonvulsant therapy and selecting optimal dosages of medications;
The reason for doing an EEG may be signs of dysfunction of brain structures in children and suspicion of degenerative changes in the nervous tissue of the brain in older people (dementia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease);
Patients in a coma need to have their brain assessed;
In some cases, the study requires surgical operations (determining the depth of anesthesia);
Encephalography will help to recognize how far neuropsychic disorders have gone in hepatic cellular failure (hepatic encephalopathy), as well as in other forms of metabolic encephalopathies (renal, hypoxic);
All drivers (future and current), when undergoing a medical examination to obtain/replace a license, are asked to undergo an EEG for a certificate provided by the traffic police. The examination is easy to use and easily identifies those who are completely unfit to drive vehicles, which is why it was adopted;
Electroencephalography is prescribed to conscripts who have a history of convulsive syndrome (based on medical card data) or in case of complaints of attacks with loss of consciousness accompanied by convulsions;
In some cases, a study such as EEG is used to ascertain the death of a significant part of the nerve cells, that is, brain death (we are talking about situations when they say that “a person has most likely turned into a plant”).

Video: EEG and detection of epilepsy

The study does not require special preparation

An EEG does not require any special preparation, but some patients are openly afraid of the upcoming procedure. It’s no joke - sensors with wires are placed on the head, which read “everything that is happening inside the skull” and transmit the full amount of information to the “smart” device (in fact, the electrodes record changes in the potential difference between two sensors in different leads). Adults are provided with symmetrical attachment to the surface of the head of 20 sensors + 1 unpaired one, which is superimposed on the parietal region; for a small child, 12 is enough.

Meanwhile, I would like to reassure particularly suspicious patients: the study is absolutely harmless, has no restrictions on frequency and age (at least several times a day and at any age - from the first days of life to old age, if circumstances so require).

The main preparation is to ensure the cleanliness of the hair, for which the day before the patient washes his hair with shampoo, rinses and dries well, but does not use any chemical hair styling products (gel, foam, varnish). Metal objects used for decoration (clips, earrings, hairpins, piercings) are also removed before an EEG is performed. Besides:

For 2 days, they give up alcohol (strong and weak), do not drink drinks that stimulate the nervous system, and do not indulge in chocolate;
Before the study, obtain medical advice regarding medications taken (sleeping pills, tranquilizers, anticonvulsants, etc.). It is possible that certain medications will have to be discontinued in consultation with the treating doctor, and if this cannot be done, then you should inform the doctor who will be involved in deciphering the encephalogram (a note on the referral form) so that he keeps these circumstances in mind and takes them into account when drawing up the conclusion.
2 hours before the examination, patients should not allow themselves a heavy meal and relaxation with a cigarette (such activities can distort the results);
It is not recommended to do an EEG in the midst of an acute respiratory illness, as well as during coughing and nasal congestion, even if these signs do not relate to the acute process.

When all the rules of the preparatory stage are followed, certain points are taken into account, the patient is seated in a comfortable chair, the places where the surface of the head comes into contact with the electrodes are lubricated with gel, sensors are attached, a cap is put on or dispensed with, the device is turned on - the recording begins... Provocative tests are used as needed during time of registration of bioelectrical activity of the brain. As a rule, this need arises when routine methods do not provide adequate information, that is, when epilepsy is suspected. Techniques that provoke epileptic activity (deep breathing, opening and closing eyes, sleep, light irritation, sleep deprivation) activate the electrical activity of the brain cortex, electrodes pick up impulses sent by the cortex and transmit them to the main equipment for processing and recording.

In addition, if epilepsy is suspected (especially temporal epilepsy, which in most cases presents difficulties in diagnosis), special sensors are used: temporal, sphenoidal, nasopharyngeal. And, it should be noted, doctors have officially recognized that in many cases it is the nasopharyngeal lead that detects the focus of epileptic activity in the temporal region, while other leads do not react to it in any way and send normal impulses.

Brain dysfunction - causes and symptoms of failures in various areas

The diagnosis of brain dysfunction made by a doctor in most cases is very frightening for the patient.

The medical term "dysfunction" is a malfunction of any function in the human body. In this particular case, it indicates problems with the tissues of the brain stem.

This is an anatomical area that controls almost all vital processes of the body. The trunk regulates the heartbeat, body temperature, respiratory apparatus, processing of food elements, etc.

Primary diagnosis

In situations in which a person’s brain receives damage of a certain nature, the trunk almost always receives damage. This leads to various disruptions in brain functions. The most traumatic ones are childbirth, hypoxia, a strong blow, bruise or concussion.

It is noteworthy that failures can be clearly expressed by certain symptoms, but sometimes it is necessary to diagnose disorders using various research techniques.

When a doctor suspects brain dysfunction, he most often issues a referral for a computed tomography scan. This diagnostic method allows you to detect damage to the brain, including in the brain stem, through its layer-by-layer display on the monitor.

It happens that the diagnosis does not require the use of tomography, usually this concerns situations in which there is no reason to suspect the presence of injury.

In such cases, the neurologist recommends that the patient undergo an ECHO-EG. This diagnostic method is based on sequential recording and examination of electrical signals from the brain. When structures are damaged, irritation is often observed; it indicates irritation of one of its zones.

MMD and other types of brain dysfunctions

Compared to the rest of the body, the mass of the brain is small; its average weight in an adult is within 1.5 kg. However, this does not prevent him from controlling most of the processes that are responsible for the vitality of the body.

Despite its importance, the brain is very vulnerable. Even minor disturbances during childbirth can greatly affect the child’s development, his vision of the world, and his emotional state.

Today, the diagnosis of minimal brain dysfunction (MCD) is made in approximately 25% of pediatric patients. Violations manifest themselves in both neurological and psychological spheres.

The symptoms manifest themselves most clearly at school age, when the child goes to school. The result is frequent headaches, excessive mobility and hyperactivity in children, and a high level of nervousness. Most children report poor memory and fatigue. Often there are developmental problems, poor concentration, motor skills and speech suffer.

difficult childbirth;
the pregnancy was difficult;
infectious diseases;
long-term effect of toxins on a woman’s body;
improper child care in infancy.

Also, disorders can be caused by traumatic brain injury, which was caused by a blow, accident, bruise, or illness.

In adults, different areas of the brain may be negatively affected. Brain dysfunction can be found in the area:

diencephalic structures – control metabolic processes, human sleep, temperature, appetite;
stem tissues - responsible for regulating the main processes of human life support, appetite, muscle fiber tone and respiration;
median structures - participate in vital processes, control the emotional background of the body, vegetative processes of the nervous system;
venous - the most noticeable symptoms of which are severe fatigue and headaches.

Median structures

This area is responsible for the stable functioning of the human autonomic nervous system, regulation of sleep processes and emotional background. Often a disorder in this area is caused by birth or traumatic brain injury. The diagnosis is made by studying the EEG.

Dysfunction of the midline structures of the brain manifests itself in thalamic disorders, as well as a group of neuroendocrine syndromes:

poor sensitivity on the body and face;
low pain threshold;
tremor;
sharp, unnatural laughter or crying;
premature puberty;
disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system.

Barrel malfunction

It is the brain stem that is responsible for the most important life support processes - contractions of the heart muscle, regulation of body temperature and others. Dysfunction of brain stem structures is caused by:

Often the diagnosis is combined with visual changes - the patient may experience changes in the facial bones and improper formation of the jaw. There is a possibility of developing asthenia, which affects speech development. There are also problems with muscle tone, excessive sweating and salivation.

With timely diagnosis and correct treatment, the consequences of disorders can be reversed and functionality can be at least partially restored.

Venous cerebral insufficiency

Venous dysfunction is characterized by damage to the vascular outflow of the brain. May be caused by injury or heart failure. Venous thrombosis can provoke the development of the disease.

This disorder is characterized by the presence of pulsating headaches, sudden surges in blood pressure, and migraines.

Often headaches are accompanied by a feeling of nausea, vomiting, and convulsions. Other symptoms:

Diencephalic structures in the risk area

Disorders can spread to different parts of the brain, which is reflected in symptoms; for example, when the intermediate part in the area of diencephalic structures is affected, the dysfunction is characterized by problems with metabolic processes, sleep disorders and a clinical picture characteristic of other areas.

Irritation manifests itself as irritation of the brain. Symptoms will vary depending on the area affected. Usually, irritation is not a separate disease, but a consequence of the course of another disease (tumor, neuroinfection, etc.).

Epilepsy attacks are the result of dysfunction of the midline and stem structures of the brain. Speech and autonomic system disorders are also detected. If the lower parts are damaged, problems with consciousness (confusion with time), attention, and memory may occur.

Far-reaching consequences

Dysfunction of brain tissue poses a great danger to humans. In particular, the trunk is responsible for important processes in the functioning of the whole organism.

If there are any violations in its work, you should certainly expect the following to develop:

When a lesion forms in the stem part, paralysis may develop.

This section was created to take care of those who need a qualified specialist, without disturbing the usual rhythm of their own lives.

Dysfunction of the midline structures of the brain can lead to disorders of the human nervous system. Doctors say that this pathology is a rather dangerous disorder. In general, a term such as “dysfunction” means a violation of a properly occurring process.

Any violations, even the most minimal ones, lead to serious deviations. These may be uncharacteristic behavior, incorrect emotional perception or retardation in intellectual development.

The trunk is the formation responsible for the vital functions and health of the body. It is located in the human brain. Among the most important body systems for which this structure is responsible are:

cardiovascular.
respiratory.
heat exchange.
digestive.

But there are often cases when a person gets injured and suffers harm to health. In this case, the brain or spinal cord may also be damaged, as a result of which it ceases to function normally and correctly. This usually happens due to an accident where an injury occurred or a bruise occurred that resulted in a concussion. Today, there are frequent cases of injury during difficult childbirth.

Disturbances in the functioning of the brain will be clearly expressed clinically or they can be diagnosed through special tests.

Diagnostics

When the therapist just has the first suspicion that a person has disturbances in the functioning of the central system, he immediately refers him to a neurologist, who should:

look for possible changes in the functioning of the brain or spinal cord.
identify lesions or abnormalities in other parts of the nervous system.
to diagnose.
indicate treatment.

Based on the neurologist’s conclusion, it will be determined what kind of dysfunction is present in the person, and methods of prescribed treatment will be selected for the fastest possible recovery.

Types of dysfunction

There are several types of pathologies in the functioning of the brain. The division into groups will depend on which department has the dysfunction or the disruption in work as a whole. Among them:

Diencephalic. This structure is responsible for human sleep, as well as appetite. Thanks to it, normal human body temperature is maintained and there is no disturbance in metabolic processes.
Stem. This structure helps regulate basic life processes such as breathing, tone and appetite.
The medians help vegetative processes in the nervous system, and are also responsible for the emotional state of a person.

The normal functioning of all these departments guarantees that a person is healthy and in a normal psycho-emotional state. But if a disorder is observed somewhere, then you need to urgently contact a neurologist so that he can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Diencephalic dysfunction

First of all, it affects the intermediate parts of the brain, or rather, begins to affect them. When observing such a disorder, a person experiences:

decreased sensitivity in the body.
a decrease in the pain threshold, as well as the development of thalamic pain.
intention tremor.
a quick and causeless change from tears to laughter and vice versa.
endocrine disorders.

This dysfunction is considered one of the most common diseases that characterize neurology. Usually the most striking representative is vegetative-vascular dystonia. The disease occurs in a third of the population and is especially common in women.

Dysfunction is treated with various medications and radiotherapy. Special diets may sometimes be used for medicinal purposes.

Brainstem dysfunction

Dysfunction of brain stem structures is one of the most dangerous pathologies for human life and health. Since the trunk is responsible for the most important systems in the body, such as the cardiovascular and respiratory, the development of pathologies in these centers can manifest itself as follows:

the vocal cords lose their function and weaken.
difficulty swallowing.
speech apparatus disorders. In this case, difficulty in perceiving speech develops, as well as impairment of writing and reading abilities.

Dysfunction of brain stem structures is diagnosed in the following ways:

Computed tomography allows you to fully examine the affected areas. It is based on x-rays. After the examination, the doctor receives very high quality images, from which the condition of the brain and its structures can be determined. CT helps not only to find the source of pathology itself, but also to establish the possible cause of its appearance.
Electroencephalography can monitor the state of the brain as a whole, as well as its proper functioning.

The signs of this dysfunction are reversible and can be removed in a few visits to a specialist. This happens due to the restoration of brain functions, the active activity of which returns after normalization of blood circulation.

Dysfunction of midline brain structures

The work of this department is aimed at the proper functioning of the autonomic nervous system in the human body. Dysfunction of the midline structures of the brain is characterized by disruption of night sleep and a person’s psycho-emotional state. This usually happens due to various types of injuries that occur as a result of a fall, blow, or during rehabilitation after them.

Symptoms of dysfunction of nonspecific midline structures are characterized by the following facts:

decreased sensitivity (this is observed on the face or torso).
decreased sensitivity to pain.
rapidly changing crying or laughing.
rapid puberty.
endocrine disorders.

When diagnosing dysfunctions of the midline structures of the brain and prescribing treatment, the neurologist must take into account the characteristics of conscious and unconscious behavior and human health in order for the therapy to be as effective as possible.

Minimal brain dysfunction in children

The child may also experience brain dysfunction. Most often it manifests as minimal brain dysfunction. This is a very common pathology, and every 5 children can be diagnosed with it. The reasons why brain dysfunction begins to develop in children are as follows:

difficult pregnancy.
difficult and long labor process.
exposure of the child to harmful and toxic substances.
infectious diseases.

Symptoms of dysfunction of the midline structures of the brain in children are quite striking and manifest themselves as follows:

severe headaches that are systematic.
there is excessive activity, as well as hyperexcitability.
There is constant nervousness and irritability.
motor and speech functions are noticeably impaired and slowed down.
retardation in development.
disturbance of attention and memory.
rapid fatigue and fatigue.

When this disease begins to develop, then, accordingly, the symptoms become more pronounced and appear much more intense. Such violations can provoke other, more serious consequences. For example, epilepsy or dangerous nervous disorders.

Foreign doctors practice such treatment as constant monitoring of the child by an osteopath. He must constantly monitor the baby’s condition and monitor whether there are any changes or deterioration in his condition. If dysfunctions of the midline brain structures are detected in the early stages, the situation can be easily corrected and the disease can be cured without subsequent harmful and negative consequences.

Conclusion

Doctors can diagnose damage to the brain or its individual structures in a person who is admitted to the hospital with a head injury that he received as a result of an accident, bruise or blow, if at the same time he faints or loses consciousness, or the patient begins to choke or has difficulty breathing. circulation.

When a patient goes to a medical facility for help and experiences symptoms of a disorder of consciousness or convulsive attacks, this means that the person has a disturbance in the activity of brain structures and parts. For a more correct diagnosis, it is best to use an EEG. She can see and recognize the first signs of brain stem stimulation.

The doctor must correctly establish the diagnosis and cause of the pathology. To complete the data, the neurologist refers the patient for a detailed examination, which includes MRI and CT. After receiving all the test results, the specialist will be able to prescribe the necessary treatment, and then monitor the results of the therapy.

Dysfunction of stem structures manifests itself in the form of disruption of the normal functioning of the brain (BM). Since the trunk ensures the maintenance of body temperature, appetite, the frequency of myocardial contractions, breathing and digestion of food, any pathologies in the functioning of this structure lead to serious complications.

Reasons for violations

Among the most common causes of the onset of the disease, experts cite trauma to the brain stem area, resulting from concussions, bruises, as well as exposure to pathogenic microflora. In children, a separate group includes dysfunctions of brain stem structures resulting from severe pregnancy, caused by prolonged consumption of alcohol, maternal smoking, or as a result of birth trauma.

If there are suspicious signs, the cause of the pathology is determined. After describing the symptoms of the disease to the patient, the doctor prescribes a computed tomography scan, in which deviations from the normal functioning of the brainstem trunk are detected as a result of layer-by-layer scanning. will allow you to identify and evaluate the size of pathological neoplasms, detect displacement or deformation of the organ.

Note! Computed tomography is not recommended in the absence of signs indicating organ trauma.

An electroencephalogram is also prescribed, the essence of which is to record the electrical signals of the brain and their subsequent evaluation. The goal of the test is to find the source that is causing the brain stem irritation. Depending on the location of the area of deformation or damage to the organ structure, experts identify the following types of deviations of the brain stem.

Minimal dysfunction

In percentage terms, this type of disease affects 1/5 of the patients. Most often, deviation occurs due to oxygen deficiency, injuries received during pregnancy or during childbirth. Experts define this form of pathology as a mild degree of damage to structures, causing a minimal number of consequences, among which the most common are memory impairment, decreased or increased activity of the child, decreased ability to concentrate, fatigue, and developmental inhibition.

Note! with damage to the brainstem, GMs are characterized by excessive impulsiveness, have difficulties with learning, concentrating and remembering the material covered, often cannot write correctly, and are characterized by impaired orientation in space.

Children with reduced activity seem lethargic and apathetic; they may have problems with the functioning of the speech apparatus and pathologies in the functioning of the nervous autonomic system. Such teenagers have a high risk of becoming antisocial citizens, they develop early cravings for alcohol and drugs, and they begin to be sexually active earlier than their peers.

Dysfunction of midline structures

This variant of pathology manifests itself in the form of sleep disturbances, emotional disorders and deviations in the functioning of the nervous system. Signs of dysfunction of the mid-stem structures of the brain are expressed as follows:

Note! Dysfunction of the mid-stem structures occurs as a result of TBI in the brain stem associated with the consequences of an accident, falls, or bruises.

Diencephalic disorders

Dysfunction of the diencephalic-stem structures is a disorder in the diencephalon, which has the potential danger of spreading the pathology to other parts of the brain, as a result of which symptoms of disorders characteristic of each of the damaged areas are added to the signs described above. Evidence of dysfunction of the diencephalic-stem structures of the brain manifests itself in the form of disorders of appetite, sleep, metabolism and thermoregulation in the patient.

Such disorders appear as a result of irritation of the cortex or other areas of the brain, which occurs due to failures of metabolism or blood supply, the presence of an infectious lesion or neoplasms of a benign or malignant nature.

Venous disorders

They appear as a result of circulatory failure due to heart failure, due to pressure exerted on the veins by a growing tumor, or due to head injuries as a result of trauma and childbirth.

Symptoms of this type of disorder may include the following:

the appearance of a bluish tint to the skin of the face;
the formation of edema in the area of the soft tissues of the face;
the occurrence of pre-syncope and fainting;
migraines that are pulsating in nature and manifest as a result of pressure surges associated with changes in weather conditions;
increased incidence of darkening of the eyes;
migraines that are dull in nature and occur in the morning;
urge to nausea and vomiting;
minimal activity occurring in the first half of the day.

Note! If there is a suspicion of spasm of the arteries or veins of the brain, it is necessary to consult a specialist who will prescribe a transcranial examination using ultrasound.

Violation of stem and cortical structures

Externally, disorders of the stem structures can manifest themselves in improper formation of the skeleton of the oral cavity, changes in the dislocation of the cranial bones in the facial area, disturbances in the functioning of the speech apparatus, excessive sweating and salivation in the patient.

Note! If the problem is detected in a timely manner and an adequate course of therapy is prescribed, the disease is reversible, and blood circulation in the area of pathology can be restored in an extremely short time.

Depending on the location of the problem area, the disorder can cause dysfunction of the subcortical-stem structures of the brain, which, if things go wrong, leads to the development of epilepsy. When the central area is irritated, there is a high probability of psychopathological deviations. Signs of pathology will depend on the location of the source of irritation, manifesting itself in the form of:

Hallucinations and seizures when the occipital region is affected.
Changes in the sensitivity of the facial area, organs of smell, vision and hearing that occur when the cranial fossa is damaged.
Uncontrolled swallowing reflexes with damage to the opercular region (downward from the central gyri).
Tremors of the head and eyes, spreading over time to other parts of the body, characteristic of damage to the posterior part of the brain.
Convulsions and when the disorder is localized in the area of the central gyrus of the patient’s brain.
Loss of consciousness and convulsions, covering one side of the patient’s body, arising from disorders localized in the adversive field (posterior part of the superior frontal gyrus).

If the problem is detected in a timely manner and the diagnosis is made correctly, the changes in the patient’s body are reversible. As a rule, therapy for such disorders includes osteopathy to restore the structure and normalize blood supply to the area of damage.

Everything about functions, symptoms in pathological conditions.

Read about: treatment, diagnosis, prevention of pathological conditions.

Find out about diseases associated with dysfunction.

The exception is severe situations in which symptoms of dysfunction of stem structures are expressed by disturbances in blood circulation, consciousness and breathing rhythm, or the presence of neoplasms that put pressure on various areas of the brain. In this case, it is necessary to immediately conduct a diagnosis in order to identify the causes of irritation of the brainstem trunk and prescribe an adequate treatment regimen. Timely implementation of these procedures will avoid surgical intervention and possible craniotomy.