Life Science Encyclopedia

Clinical neurophysiology is a medical speciality that studies the central and peripheral nervous systems through the recording of bioelectrical activity, whether spontaneous or stimulated.

In some countries it is a part of neurology, for example USA and Germany. In others it is an autonomous speciality, such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden and Norway.

Its main parts are:

• Electromyography and nerve conduction study; acronyms include EMG, NCS
• Electroencephalography; acronyms include EEG
• Evoked potentials; acronyms include EP, SSEP, TCeMEP, TCmMEP
• Polysomnography, an overnight test which finds sleep abnormalities
• Intraoperative monitoring, Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring, surgical neurophsyiology; acronyms include IOM and IONM.

Organizations for clinical neurophysiology

• International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
• American Academy of Clinical Neurophysiology
• Norwegian Society for Clinical Neurophysiology
• Dutch Society for Clinical Neurophysiology
• Italian Society for Clinical Neurophysiology
• Mexican Society for Clinical Neurophysiology
• Sociedad Española de Neurofisiología Clínica
• American Academy of Neurology