Neurophysiology Clinical Physiologist – Information for Health Professionals.

Neurophysiology

A Clinical Physiologist (Neurophysiology) is concerned with the investigation of function in the central and peripheral nervous system. If you’re a healthcare scientist working in neurophysiology, you’ll be a specialist practitioner investigating the function of the nervous system by obtaining bioelectrical activity, whether spontaneous or stimulated to help diagnoses disease and monitor neurological disorders.

Investigations/Interventions

• Nerve Conduction studies (NCS): These diagnostic tests of the peripheral nervous system, especially useful in evaluating diseases of the muscles, nerves, and nerve roots. Records electrical activity of the muscles and the passage of them along nerves in the limbs. Most nerve-muscle disorders that occur fall into one of two types of categories, morphologic or physiologic, which can be seen within the motor unit. These disorders can either be acute, or have a slow developing nature.
• Electroencephalography (EEG): Diagnostic test of thalamocortical rhythms (brain waves), useful in evaluating seizures and various abnormalities of the central nervous system. This is done by hooking up electrodes on the surface of the scalp to record currents from the cerebral cortex.
• Evoked Potentials (EP): Diagnostic test evaluating specific tracts of the central and peripheral nervous system. May include visual, auditory, or somatosensory evoked potentials. These record the electrical responses of the brain and spinal cord to the stimulation of the senses.
• Intraoperative Neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM): Patients benefit from neuromonitoring during certain surgical procedures, namely any surgery where there is risk to the nervous system. Most neuromonitoring is utilized by spine surgeons, but neurosurgeons, vascular, orthopaedic, otolaryngologists, and urology surgeons have all utilized neuromonitoring as well. (advanced areas of practice)

External Link:

• Professional Association: Association of Neurophysiology Scientists of Australia Inc. (ANSA)