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A Primer on EEG Spectrograms: a de-identified EEG/qEEG teaching atlas
Marcus Ng , Jin Jing , M. Brandon Westover
Published: July 10, 2026. Version: 1.0.0
When using this resource, please cite:
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Ng, M., Jing, J., & Westover, M. B. (2026). A Primer on EEG Spectrograms: a de-identified EEG/qEEG teaching atlas (version 1.0.0). Brain Data Science Platform. https://doi.org/10.60508/ndmj-wz29.
Abstract
Quantitative EEG (qEEG) spectrograms compress hours of EEG into a single image and are increasingly used at the bedside, but reading them is a learned skill. This project accompanies "A Primer on EEG Spectrograms" and provides a de-identified teaching atlas that pairs raw EEG with its spectrogram across a broad range of patterns.
The dataset contains 224 labeled EEG segments — normal rhythms and variants, sleep, artifacts, seizures, and ictal-interictal-continuum patterns (lateralized and generalized periodic discharges and rhythmic delta activity, brief rhythmic discharges, and more). Each segment is self-contained: the raw EEG display window, the one-hour qEEG spectrogram, and the display/montage parameters, with time-of-day axis labels only (no names, medical record numbers, or dates).
The included MATLAB code regenerates the paired EEG/qEEG atlas figures directly from the committed segments, so readers can reproduce every example and adapt the visualization to their own recordings. The goal is to teach spectrogram interpretation "from first principles" by always showing the underlying EEG alongside the spectrogram.
Background
Quantitative-EEG (qEEG) spectrograms are increasingly used at the bedside but are a learned skill to interpret. This teaching atlas pairs raw EEG with its spectrogram across a broad range of normal and abnormal patterns so clinicians can learn spectrogram reading from first principles.Software Description
224 labeled EEG segments in SegMats/ (one .mat per example, named by pattern; self-contained EEG + spectrogram display data; time-of-day axis labels only; no names/MRNs/dates), two figure lookup tables (recording timestamps removed), and MATLAB plotting code (montage helpers + paired EEG/qEEG plotting; *_fromSEGMAT.m regenerate figures from the committed segments).Technical Implementation
Clinical EEG segments spanning normal rhythms/variants, sleep, artifacts, seizures, and ictal-interictal-continuum patterns were curated and expert-labeled. Each was exported as a self-contained segment (paired EEG display window + one-hour qEEG spectrogram + display/montage parameters). MATLAB code regenerates the paired EEG/qEEG atlas figures from the segments.Installation and Requirements
MATLAB R2016 or later. No installation beyond cloning; run main_plotEEGqEEGpair_MGH_fromSEGMAT from the repo root (figures written to Pics/). See REPRODUCE.md and DATA_SOURCE.md.Usage Notes
Set caseName to any file in SegMats/ (e.g. Absence_seg284.mat) and run the *_fromSEGMAT.m script to regenerate the paired EEG + qEEG figure. Verified: reproduces the atlas figures from the committed segments.Release Notes
First public release: 224-segment de-identified EEG/qEEG teaching atlas + code.Ethics
De-identified data collected under IRB approval; recording dates removed, no names or MRNs; only time-of-day axis labels retained.Acknowledgements
We thank the clinicians and patients whose de-identified recordings form this teaching atlas.Conflicts of Interest
See the associated publication (J Clin Neurophysiol 2022;39:177-183).Access
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BDSP Credentialed Health Data License 1.5.0
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