A skull 

x-ray is a picture of the bones surrounding the brain, including the facial bones, the nose, and the sinuses. The test is performed in a hospital
radiology department or in the health care providers office by an x-ray technician. You will be asked to lie on the x-ray table or sit in a chair. Your
head may be placed in a number of positions. A skull x-ray may detect increased intracranial pressure and unusual skull structures that are present
at birth (congenital).
How to Prepare for the TestInform the health care provider if you are pregnant. Remove all jewelry.
How the Test Will FeelGenerally, there is little or no discomfort during an x-ray. If there is a head injury, positioning the head may be uncomfortable.
ReferencesStevens JM. Cranial and intracranial disease: trauma, cerebrospinal fluid disturbances, degenerative disorders and epilepsy. In: Grainger
RC, Allison D, Adam, Dixon AK, eds. Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging . 5th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap
5.
Electroencephalography (EEG) is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp produced by the firing of neurons within the brain.[2] In clinical
contexts, EEG refers to the recording of the brain's spontaneous electrical activity over a short period of time, usually 20–40 minutes, as recorded
from multiple electrodes placed on the scalp. In neurology, the main diagnosticapplication of EEG is in the case of epilepsy, as epileptic activity can
create clear abnormalities on a standard EEG study. [3] A secondary clinical use of EEG is in the diagnosis of coma,encephalopathies, and brain
death. EEG used to be a first-line method for the diagnosis of tumors,stroke and other focal brain disorders, but this use has decreased with the
advent of anatomical imaging techniques such as MRI and CT.
Derivatives of the EEG technique include evoked potentials (EP), which involves averaging the EEG activity time-locked to the presentation of a
stimulus of some sort (visual, somatosensory, or auditory). Event-related potentials (ERPs) refer to averaged EEG responses that are time-locked to
more complex processing of stimuli; this technique is used in cognitive science, cognitive psychology, and psychophysiological research.
Technique for recording electrical activity in the brain, whose cells emit distinct patterns of rhythmic electrical impulses. Pairs of  electrodes on the
scalp transmit signals to an electroencephalograph, which records them as peaks and troughs on a tracing called an electroencephalogram (EEG).
Different wave patterns on the EEG are associated with normal and abnormal waking and sleeping states. They help diagnose conditions such as
tumours, infections, and epilepsy. 
Preparation
 Avoid taking sedative drugs, such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates, before the test.
 Unless you are having a sleep-deprived EEG, come to the test well rested to avoid distorted results.
 Wash your hair the night before the test. Do not use hair cream, oils, or spray afterward.
Test procedure
 You lie down on the examining table or bed while eight to 20 electrodes are attached to your scalp.
 You are asked to relax and lie first with your eyes open, then closed.
 You may be asked to breathe deeply and rapidly or to stare at a flashing light both of which produce changes in the brain-wave patterns.
 If you are prone to seizures, you may experience one during the test.
 If you are being evaluated for a sleep disorder, EEG may be performed continuously during the night while you are asleep. Such a
recording, which may involve an evaluation of other body functions during sleep, is referred to as polysomnography.
After the test
 The electrodes are removed and the glue that held them in place is washed away with  acetone. You may have to use additional acetone at
home to completely remove the glue.
 Unless you are actively having seizures or are restricted by your physician, you may drive home.
 If the EEG was performed overnight, you should arrange to have someone drive you home.
 If you stopped taking anticonvulsant drugs for the EEG, you can usually start taking them again.
Factors affecting results
 Lack of sleep before the test can distort some of the brain waves.
 Movements of the eyes, tongue, head, or body during the recording.
 Low blood sugar that may be caused by fasting.
 Medications that affect the brain.
PET scan
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that uses a radioactive substance (called a tracer) to look for disease in the body.
Unlike magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans, which reveal the structure of and blood flow to and from organs, a
PET scan shows how organs and tissues are working.
How to Prepare for the Test
You must sign a consent form before having this test. You will be told not to eat anything for 4 - 6 hours before the PET scan, although you will be
able to drink water.
 Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant.
Also tell your health care provider about any prescription and over-the-counter medicines that you are taking, because they may interfere with the
test.
Be sure to mention if you have any allergies, or if you've had any recent imaging studies using injected dye (contrast).
During the test, you may need to wear a hospital gown. Take off any jewelry, dentures, and other metal objects because they could affect the scan
results.
How the Test Will Feel
You will feel a sharp prick when the needle with the radioactive substance is inserted into your vein. You shouldn't feel anything during the actual
PET scan.
References
Beller GA, Kramer CM. Nuclear cardiology and computed tomography. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa:
Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 5
What is a Doppler scan? 

A Doppler is a type of ultrasound scan designed to measure blood flow in different parts of your baby's body, such as the umbilical cord, brain, liver

and heart. The measurements are used to assess your baby's health. A Doppler scan can be performed at the same time as a normal ultrasound,

and uses the same equipment.

Myelography is a type of radiographic examination that uses a contrast medium to detect pathology of the spinal cord, including the location of
a spinal cord injury, cysts, and tumors. The procedure often involves injection of contrast medium into the cervical or lumbar spine, followed by
several X-ray projections. A myelogram may help to find the cause of pain not found by an MRI or
Myelography has been largely replaced by the use of CT and MRI scans.
References

 Bontranger, Kenneth L. & Lampignano, John P. (2005). Radiographic Positioning and Related Anatomy , St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby. ISBN
0-323-02507-2.
 Precautions
 Patients who are unable to lie still or cooperate with positioning should not have this examination. Severe congenital spinal abnormalities
may make the examination technically difficult to carry out. Patients with a history of severe allergic reaction to contrast material (x-ray dye) should
report this to their physician. Pretreatment with medications to minimize the risk of severe reaction may be recommended.
 Preparation
 Patients should be well hydrated at the time of a myelogram. Increasing fluids the day before the study is usually recommended. All food
and fluid intake should be stopped approximately four hours before the myelogram.
 Certain medications may need to be stopped for one to two days before myelography is performed. These include some antipsychotics,
antidepressants, blood thinners, and diabetic medications. Patients should consult with their physician and/or the facility where the study is to be
done.
 Patients who smoke may be asked to stop the day before the test. This helps decrease the chance of nausea or headaches after the
myelogram. Immediately before the examination, patients should empty their bowels and bladder.
 Aftercare
 After the examination is completed, the patient usually rests for several hours, with the head elevated. Extra fluids are encouraged, to help
eliminate the contrast material and prevent headaches. A regular diet and routine medications may be resumed. Strenuous physical activity,
especially any which involve bending over, may be discouraged for one or two days. The doctor should be notified if a  fever, excessive nausea and
vomiting, severe headache, or stiff neck develops
.
In medicine, a lumbar puncture (colloquially known as a spinal tap) is a diagnostic and at timestherapeutic procedure that is performed in order to
collect a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) forbiochemical, microbiological, and cytological analysis, or very rarely as a treatment ("therapeutic
lumbar puncture") to relieve increased intracranial pressure.
PreparationPatients can go about their normal activities before a lumbar puncture. Experts recommend that patients relax before the procedure to
release any muscle tension, since the lumbar puncture needle must pass through muscle tissue before it reaches the spinal canal. A patient's level
of relaxation before and during the procedure plays a critical role in the test's success. Relaxation may be difficult for those patients who face
frequent lumbar punctures, such as children with leukemia. In these cases, it is especially important for the child to receive psychological support
before and after each procedure. It may be helpful to praise a child who remained still and quiet during the procedure, and to remind the child of his
or her good behavior before the next lumbar puncture.
AftercareAfter the procedure, the doctor covers the site of the puncture with a sterile bandage. Patients must avoid sitting or standing and remain
lying down for as long as six hours after the lumbar puncture. They should also drink plenty of fluids to help prevent lumbar puncture headache,
which is discussed in the next section.
Electromyography (EMG) is a technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles.[1] EMG is performed using
an instrument called an electromyograph, to produce a record called an electromyogram. An electromyograph detects the electrical
potential generated by muscle cells[2] when these cells are electrically or neurologically activated. The signals can be analyzed to detect medical
abnormalities, activation level, recruitment order or to analyze the biomechanics of human or animal movement.

Cerebral angiography is a form of angiography which provides images of blood vessels in and around the brain, thereby allowing detection of
abnormalities such as arteriovenous malformations and aneurysms. Cerebral angiography is done in the hospital or large radiology center. You will
be asked to lie on an x-ray table. Your head is positioned and held still using a strap, tape, or sandbags, so you do not move during the procedure.
The health care provider will attach electrocardiogram (ECG) leads to your arms and legs, which monitor your heart activity during the test. How to
Prepare for the Test
You must sign a consent form. Your health care provider will explain the procedure and its risks.
Routine blood tests and examination of the nervous system will be done before the procedure.
Tell the health care provider if you:
 Are allergic to shellfish or iodine substances
 Have a history of bleeding problems
 Have had an allergic reaction to x-ray contrast dye or any iodine substance
 May be pregnant
You may be told not to eat or drink anything for 4 to 8 hours before the test.
When you arrive at the testing site, you will be given a hospital gown to wear. You must remove all jewelry.
Nerve conduction velocity
Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) is a test of the speed of electrical signals through a nerve.
How to Prepare for the Test
Normal body temperature must be maintained (low body temperature slows nerve conduction).
Tell your doctor if you have a cardiac defibrillator or pacemaker, as precautions may need to be taken.
A nerve conduction velocity test (NCV) is an electrical test that is used to determine the adequacy of the conduction of the nerve impulse as it
courses down a nerve. This test is used to detect signs of nerve injury. Nerve conduction velocity is the speed at which an electrochemical signal
propagates down a neural pathway. Many things can affect this, including axon diameter, myelination, and the internal resistance of the axon. Nerve
conduction velocity differs from species to species, and to a lesser degree, from individual to individual.