When the patient looks up, what will the waves on the E2 and E1 channels do?

When a patient looks up, the eye movements induce changes in the electrooculogram (EOG) readings recorded by the electrodes placed at various locations, such as E1 and E2. The EOG captures the changes in electrical potential that occur as the eyes move.

In this context, when the patient looks upward, the electrical activity generated by the movement of the eyes causes the signals from E1 and E2 to shift towards each other. This is due to the direction of the movement relative to the placement of the electrodes. As the eyes move upward, a positive potential increase occurs in the direction of the upward gaze, resulting in the recordings from both channels showing a deflection toward each other on the EOG tracing.

The significance of understanding this relationship lies in the interpretation of the EOG signals during sleep studies or other assessments involving eye movement, as it helps technicians determine the state of the patient based on their eye activity.