What is the difference between EEG and MRI?

An EEG stands for electroencephalography. It is a procedure where a machine measures the brain’s electrical activity. This is used for a variety of reasons including the diagnosis of epilepsy, sleep problems, comas, and brain death. EEGs are only used in extreme cases. MRI are similar because they also are used in a similar fashion. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging.

The EEG focuses primarily on the brain and what it is doing. It looks at the electricity so to speak of the brain. An MRI, on the other hand, uses magnetism and it looks at the whole body and not just the brain. Therefore, many people get an MRI if they suspect that the person has a disease somewhere in their body.