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NEONATAL EEG PATTERNS AND
TERMINOLOGY IN CRITICAL CARE FINAL
EXAM 2026|200+Qs&As|A+GRADE
1. At what postmenstrual age (PMA) does the neonate’s EEG
typically become continuous in active sleep?
A) 24 weeks
B) 28 weeks
C) 32 weeks
D) 36 weeks
Answer: C – 32 weeks PMA is the approximate age when the
EEG becomes continuous (though with long interburst intervals) in
active sleep.
Rationale: Before 30 weeks, the EEG is highly discontinuous (tracé
discontinu). By 32–34 weeks, continuity improves, but it is not
fully continuous until term (37–40 weeks).
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2. The pattern “tracé discontinu” (or “tracé alternant”) in a
term neonate is considered:
A) Normal during quiet sleep
B) Always abnormal
C) A sign of seizures
D) Only seen in premature infants
Answer: A – Tracé alternant (alternating bursts of activity with
periods of attenuation) is a normal feature of quiet sleep in term
neonates.
Rationale: In quiet sleep, term infants show tracé alternant, which
disappears by 44–46 weeks PMA. In premature infants, the
pattern is called “tracé discontinu.”
3. Which of the following is a normal EEG feature in a 28-
week premature infant?
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A) Continuous delta activity
B) Spindle-like rhythms
C) Occipital delta brushes
D) K-complexes
Answer: C – Delta brushes (also called “delta waves with
superimposed fast activity” or “delta-rapid oscillations”) are
normal at 28–34 weeks, most prominent over occipital regions.
Rationale: They are a hallmark of prematurity and disappear by
term.
4. The “occipital delta brush” is characterized by:
A) 0.5–1 Hz delta with superimposed 8–20 Hz fast activity
B) 3 Hz spike-wave complexes
C) Bursts of high amplitude polyspikes
D) Rhythmic theta of 5–7 Hz
, Page 4 of 138
Answer: A – Delta brushes consist of slow delta waves (0.3–1
Hz) with superimposed rapid frequencies (8–20 Hz), best seen in
the occipital and temporal regions.
Rationale: They are a normal maturational pattern, not
epileptiform.
5. At what postmenstrual age do sleep spindles first appear?
A) 24–26 weeks
B) 30–32 weeks
C) 34–36 weeks
D) 38–40 weeks
Answer: B – Sleep spindles (central/vertex, 11–15 Hz) first
appear around 32–34 weeks, but they are not well-formed until
term.
Rationale: Spindles become more robust after 36 weeks and are
a key marker of quiet sleep.
NEONATAL EEG PATTERNS AND
TERMINOLOGY IN CRITICAL CARE FINAL
EXAM 2026|200+Qs&As|A+GRADE
1. At what postmenstrual age (PMA) does the neonate’s EEG
typically become continuous in active sleep?
A) 24 weeks
B) 28 weeks
C) 32 weeks
D) 36 weeks
Answer: C – 32 weeks PMA is the approximate age when the
EEG becomes continuous (though with long interburst intervals) in
active sleep.
Rationale: Before 30 weeks, the EEG is highly discontinuous (tracé
discontinu). By 32–34 weeks, continuity improves, but it is not
fully continuous until term (37–40 weeks).
,Page 2 of 138
2. The pattern “tracé discontinu” (or “tracé alternant”) in a
term neonate is considered:
A) Normal during quiet sleep
B) Always abnormal
C) A sign of seizures
D) Only seen in premature infants
Answer: A – Tracé alternant (alternating bursts of activity with
periods of attenuation) is a normal feature of quiet sleep in term
neonates.
Rationale: In quiet sleep, term infants show tracé alternant, which
disappears by 44–46 weeks PMA. In premature infants, the
pattern is called “tracé discontinu.”
3. Which of the following is a normal EEG feature in a 28-
week premature infant?
,Page 3 of 138
A) Continuous delta activity
B) Spindle-like rhythms
C) Occipital delta brushes
D) K-complexes
Answer: C – Delta brushes (also called “delta waves with
superimposed fast activity” or “delta-rapid oscillations”) are
normal at 28–34 weeks, most prominent over occipital regions.
Rationale: They are a hallmark of prematurity and disappear by
term.
4. The “occipital delta brush” is characterized by:
A) 0.5–1 Hz delta with superimposed 8–20 Hz fast activity
B) 3 Hz spike-wave complexes
C) Bursts of high amplitude polyspikes
D) Rhythmic theta of 5–7 Hz
, Page 4 of 138
Answer: A – Delta brushes consist of slow delta waves (0.3–1
Hz) with superimposed rapid frequencies (8–20 Hz), best seen in
the occipital and temporal regions.
Rationale: They are a normal maturational pattern, not
epileptiform.
5. At what postmenstrual age do sleep spindles first appear?
A) 24–26 weeks
B) 30–32 weeks
C) 34–36 weeks
D) 38–40 weeks
Answer: B – Sleep spindles (central/vertex, 11–15 Hz) first
appear around 32–34 weeks, but they are not well-formed until
term.
Rationale: Spindles become more robust after 36 weeks and are
a key marker of quiet sleep.
