Lowering the high filter during EEG recording may cause what initial effect?

Lowering the high filter during EEG recording can lead to a reduction in signal clarity. The high filter is used to eliminate high-frequency noise and artifacts, which helps to ensure that the recorded EEG signals are clearer and more interpretable. When the high filter is decreased or removed, high-frequency noise becomes more prominent, which can obscure the underlying brain wave patterns and reduce the overall clarity of the signals displayed.

This situation manifests because the EEG displays both the desired brain activity and any unwanted signals or noise. By allowing more high-frequency signals to be represented, it complicates the interpretation of the EEG since these artifacts can mask or distort the true brain waves of interest. Even though this approach might enhance visibility of high-frequency events, the overall clarity of the EEG tracing can diminish, as the interpretation becomes more challenging due to the inclusion of these extraneous signals. Thus, the reduction in signal clarity when lowering the high filter is a key consequence in EEG recordings.