Which monitoring technique should always be used to assess the presence of afterdischarges (ADs)?

Electrocorticography (ECoG) is recognized as the most appropriate monitoring technique for assessing the presence of afterdischarges (ADs) due to its ability to directly measure electrical activity from the cerebral cortex. ECoG involves placing electrodes directly on the surface of the brain, which enables it to capture high-resolution data with excellent temporal and spatial accuracy. This direct contact with the cortical tissue allows for the detailed monitoring of seizure activities and afterdischarges, making it a superior choice for neurophysiological assessments.

In contrast, while techniques like the electrocardiogram (ECG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have their respective roles in medical monitoring, they do not provide specifically relevant information on cortical electrical activity. ECG monitors heart activity and cannot assess brain function directly. MRI offers valuable structural imaging but lacks the temporal precision and direct electrical data collection necessary for identifying afterdischarges.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) provides high-resolution data regarding brain activity and can be used to detect certain electrical activities, but it is less common and measures magnetic fields rather than electrical potentials, which might not be as effective for detailed monitoring of afterdischarges compared to ECoG.

Therefore, ECoG stands out as the ideal technique