ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE QUANTITATIVE DESCRIPTION OF PATIENT BRAIN STATES

A method and system for the quantitative description of human abnormal brain states, for example, to distinguish cerebral death from a barbiturate induced deep coma, includes an electroencephalograph (EEG) system utilizing scalp electrodes and amplifiers. A computer based system controls a multimodal stimulator (clicks, flashes, etc.) to provide evoked response data for different sensory systems. The ongoing EEG and averaged response data are processed quantitatively and compared with previously stored normative data, describing brain states in patients free of head trauma, to calculate a set of Z-transformations. The Z-transformations define Z, the brain state vector (BSV), which may be visually displayed. The length, direction and change of BSV over time provide an evaluation of the anatomical location of any damage, the severity of functional impairment and the rate of improvement or deterioration of the patient's state in order to aid in selection and guidance of treatment.