Which EEG finding is commonly associated with absence epilepsy?

The finding commonly associated with absence epilepsy is spike-wave discharges. This pattern typically consists of rhythmic, recurring bursts of spikes followed by slow waves, which can be seen on an electroencephalogram (EEG) during seizures or even during periods of hyperventilation or other triggers. These spike-wave discharges usually appear at a frequency of 3 Hz, which is characteristic of absence seizures.

In contrast, OIRDA (Occipital Intermittent Rhythmic Delta Activity) is not specifically related to absence epilepsy but rather associated with other conditions. Mu rhythm typically refers to a type of brain wave activity observed in the sensorimotor cortex and is more often related to movement and motor planning than to absence seizures. Beta activity is generally seen in alert and active states and does not correlate with the classic seizure patterns of absence epilepsy. Each of these other options reflects different EEG patterns that do not encapsulate the hallmark features of absence epilepsy as clearly as spike-wave discharges do.