Seminar in Epileptology: Normal awake and sleep patterns, interictal abnormalities, and ictal patterns on scalp EEG

The accurate interpretation of scalp EEG remains an instrumental diagnostic component of epilepsy care. Knowledge of what constitutes normal EEG findings, non-epileptiform abnormalities, and epileptiform patterns-both ictal and interictal-is essential for appropriate patient management. The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) has developed an educational curriculum containing learning objectives necessary to accurately diagnose and manage people with epilepsy. In this Seminar in Epileptology, we address the learning objectives related to assessment and interpretation of EEG background activity, normal sleep patterns, provocation methods, interictal abnormalities, and ictal patterns, as well as a brief discussion on relevant advances in scalp EEG analysis and future perspectives on this topic.