Dipole Fields in Rolandic Discharges

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Abstract
The recognition of epileptic discharges in clinical EEG is a common task for the technologist and the electroencephalographer. Accurate characterization of the field and polarity of the focus may yield important information for proper localization, clinical interpretation, and diagnosis in each patient. Most epileptic discharges on routine EEG recordings are of a negative polarity with a field extending to one or two adjacent electrodes. A category of epileptiform discharge which is less often encountered in routine tracings or in the literature is that of the so- called dipole discharge. These discharges have complex fields presenting with a simultaneous negative and positive polarity at adjacent scalp areas. A dipole field is relatively common in Rolandic discharges in children. This article will discuss the mechanism of dipole spikes, their anatomic correlate and show examples of Rolandic dipoles in children.