What is Clinical Neurophysiology 2026?
Clinical Neurophysiology 2026 by Daniela P. Quayle is a comprehensive clinical handbook covering EEG, nerve conduction studies, EMG, evoked potentials, intraoperative monitoring, autonomic testing, sleep studies, movement disorders, and advanced techniques. It is primarily designed for clinical neurophysiology trainees, neurologists, specialist clinical physiologists, and practicing consultants.
Introduction
Clinical neurophysiology sits at the intersection of neurology, neuroscience, and diagnostic medicine. It provides clinicians with tools for investigating the electrical and physiological function of the nervous system, from cerebral activity recorded by electroencephalography (EEG) to peripheral nerve and muscle function assessed through nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG).
Clinical Neurophysiology 2026, by Daniela P. Quayle, is designed as a practical handbook bringing these different areas together in one volume. Published by Oxford University Press in 2026, the book forms part of the Oxford Specialist Handbooks in Neurology series.
The author is identified as an Honorary Research Fellow at Imperial College London and a Consultant in Clinical Neurophysiology at Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
The book was developed from the author's experience during specialist training in clinical neurophysiology. Its stated purpose is to connect the major neurophysiological procedures and to provide a coherent resource spanning commonly encountered investigations as well as more specialized techniques.
The author specifically describes the need for a text that brings the different procedures together, including the transition between adult and pediatric testing.
This makes the book particularly relevant to clinical neurophysiology trainees, neurologists with an interest in the specialty, specialist clinical physiologists, and practicing consultants who want a concise reference for less-common procedures and clinical cases.
Book Overview
Full Book Title
Clinical Neurophysiology
Author
Daniela P. Quayle
Series
Oxford Specialist Handbooks in Neurology
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Publication Year
2026
ISBN
978-0-19-889823-8
DOI
10.1093/med/9780198898238.001.0001
The bibliographic pages identify Oxford University Press as the publisher and give the 2026 copyright and publication information.
Medical Specialty
Clinical neurophysiology/neurology
Intended Audience
The author specifically identifies neurologists with a specialist interest in clinical neurophysiology, clinical neurophysiology trainee doctors, specialist clinical physiologists, and practicing consultants among the intended readers.
WHAT THIS BOOK COVERS
The central strength of clinical neurophysiology is its breadth. Rather than concentrating on a single investigation, the book presents the major branches of clinical neurophysiology in a structured progression.
The contents begin with foundational principles and then move through EEG, electrodiagnostic studies, evoked potentials, intraoperative monitoring, autonomic testing, small-fiber and pain studies, sleep, movement disorders, and advanced techniques.
Principles of Clinical Neurophysiology
The opening chapter establishes the foundations needed to understand clinical neurophysiological testing. It addresses the patient approach, electronics, signal processing, cellular physiology, and interpretation of data.
This introductory material is important because clinical neurophysiology is not simply about recognizing patterns on a monitor. Understanding how electrical signals are generated, recorded, amplified, filtered, and interpreted provides the conceptual basis for understanding the investigations that follow.
The book also emphasizes the clinical approach to testing. A targeted history and physical examination help determine which nerves and muscles should be prioritized to maximize diagnostic yield.
Normal and Paediatric EEG
EEG is one of the major cornerstones of clinical neurophysiology, and the contents include dedicated sections on normal EEG, pediatric EEG and maturation, and abnormal EEG.
The inclusion of pediatric EEG is particularly relevant because interpretation changes with maturation. The book's overall structure also reflects the author's intention to connect adult and paediatric testing rather than treating them as completely separate disciplines.
Abnormal EEG
The abnormal EEG section extends the reader's understanding from normal physiological patterns toward clinically relevant abnormalities.
For learners, this progression—from principles and normal recordings to abnormal findings—provides a logical educational framework for developing EEG interpretation skills.
Basic Nerve Conduction and Needle EMG
Nerve conduction studies and needle EMG form another major foundation of clinical neurophysiology. The book introduces electrodiagnostic evaluation of the peripheral nervous system, including nerves, roots, plexuses, muscles, and the neuromuscular junction.
The foundational discussion explains that NCS and EMG provide information about peripheral nervous system function and require specialized testing because many peripheral nerves are small.
Advanced Electrodiagnostic Studies
After establishing basic NCS and needle EMG concepts, the book progresses to more advanced electrodiagnostic investigations.
This organization reflects the overall philosophy described in the preface: commonly encountered procedures are introduced first, while less frequently encountered tertiary-care procedures appear later.
Pediatric Nerve Conduction and EMG
Paediatric electrodiagnostic testing receives its own chapter, reinforcing the book's attention to age-related differences in clinical neurophysiology.
This is particularly useful for practitioners who need to understand how testing approaches differ across patient populations.
Neurophysiology of Neuromuscular Disorders
The book also applies electrodiagnostic principles to neuromuscular disorders. This creates a bridge between technique and clinical application, helping readers understand how physiological findings contribute to the assessment of neurological disease.
Basic and Advanced Evoked Potentials
Evoked potentials constitute another substantial component of the book.
The foreword highlights the breadth of this section, including somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), with discussion extending beyond the most familiar nerves. It also mentions late event-related potentials and other specialized applications.
Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring
Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is covered as a dedicated major topic.
The foreword specifically identifies IONM among the specialized areas addressed, including different modalities of stimulation.
Autonomic Function Testing
Autonomic neurophysiology is another dedicated area. The book includes autonomic function testing alongside the more established EEG, NCS, EMG, and evoked-potential techniques.
Small-Fibre and Pain Studies
The book extends beyond conventional large-fiber electrodiagnostics to include small-fiber and pain studies. This gives the handbook a broader clinical scope than a text focused solely on routine EEG and EMG.
Sleep Studies
Sleep studies in clinical neurophysiology are covered in a dedicated chapter. Their inclusion demonstrates the book's attempt to represent the specialty as a broad discipline rather than a collection of isolated investigations.
Movement Disorders
A dedicated chapter examines neurophysiological approaches to movement disorders. The book discusses applications involving techniques such as EEG, EMG, evoked potentials, reflex testing, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and event-related potentials in the context of movement disorders. It also addresses EMG-guided treatment applications.
Advanced Adjunct Techniques
The final major content area is devoted to advanced adjunct techniques. This section complements the more commonly encountered investigations and introduces readers to specialized applications within contemporary clinical neurophysiology.
Key Features
- Comprehensive coverage of the major branches of clinical neurophysiology
- Dedicated treatment of EEG and pediatric EEG
- Basic and advanced nerve conduction studies and EMG
- Separate coverage of pediatric electrodiagnostic testing
- Neurophysiology of neuromuscular disorders
- Basic and advanced evoked potentials
- Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring
- Autonomic function testing
- Small-fiber and pain studies
- Sleep studies
- Neurophysiological approaches to movement disorders
- Advanced adjunct techniques
- Discussion of technical protocols, clinical applications, and interpretation
- Coverage influenced by international training requirements and professional guidance
- A progression from common secondary-care procedures to less frequently encountered tertiary-care techniques
Who Should Read This Book?
Medical Students
Medical students with an interest in neurology or neuroscience may use the book to develop an understanding of how physiological investigations contribute to neurological assessment. However, the book assumes a sound foundation in anatomy, medical management, and interpretation of relevant imaging, so it is not presented as an introductory medical-school textbook.
Residents and Trainees
Clinical neurophysiology trainees are one of the book's principal audiences. The foreword describes the handbook as particularly useful for trainees who need familiarity with the main methods and techniques and exposure to more specialized parts of the curriculum.
Specialists
Neurologists and clinical neurophysiology consultants may find the handbook useful as a reference or aide-mémoire, particularly for less-common procedures and cases.
Exam Candidates
The book may be particularly relevant to trainees preparing for clinical neurophysiology examinations because its development incorporated key aspects of the European Training Requirements for Clinical Neurophysiology 2017, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Certification Curriculum, and International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology guidelines and consensus papers.
Why This Book is Useful
Clinical Relevance
The book emphasizes clinical neurophysiology as a practical discipline. Its chapters are organized around techniques, technical protocols, clinical applications, and interpretation of results.
This approach helps connect the mechanics of an investigation with its role in clinical practice.
Evidence-Informed Educational Framework
The author states that the book incorporates key aspects of European and American training curricula as well as International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology guidelines and consensus papers. This provides an international educational framework rather than limiting the book exclusively to one national training system.
Practical Applications
The book covers both commonly encountered investigations and specialized techniques. Its early chapters establish the foundations of EEG, NCS/EMG, and evoked potentials, while later chapters introduce procedures and cases more commonly encountered in tertiary care.
Board and Curriculum Usefulness
Because the author deliberately considered recognized training requirements and certification curricula, the book has clear potential value for structured learning and examination preparation. Its role should nevertheless be understood as a handbook and educational reference rather than a replacement for local curricula, supervised clinical training, or institutional protocols.
Learning Efficiency
One of the book's defining characteristics is its attempt to condense a broad specialty into an accessible handbook. The foreword describes it as sitting between the detailed curriculum and larger, more expansive textbooks and educational resources.
Table of Contents Overview
The book's main chapters are:
- Principles of clinical neurophysiology
- Normal EEG
- Paediatric EEG and maturation
- Abnormal EEG
- Basic nerve conduction and needle EMG
- Advanced electrodiagnostic studies
- Paediatric nerve conduction and EMG
- Neurophysiology of neuromuscular disorders
- Basic evoked potentials
- Advanced evoked potentials
- Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring
- Autonomic function testing
- Small-fibre and pain studies
- Sleep studies in clinical neurophysiology
- Neurophysiological approaches to movement disorders
- Advanced adjunct techniques
The book then concludes with references and an index.
Strengths of The Book
A major strength is its breadth without abandoning clinical orientation. Clinical neurophysiology contains numerous specialized techniques, and the book attempts to organize them within one coherent framework.
Another strength is its progressive structure. Readers begin with fundamental principles before moving through normal and abnormal EEG, basic electrodiagnostic studies, advanced investigations, and increasingly specialized applications.
The book also benefits from its international orientation. Although the author's training context includes the UK clinical neurophysiology curriculum, she states that the text was designed to be relevant beyond the UK and incorporates European, American, and international professional frameworks.
Its focus on technical protocols, clinical applications, and interpretation is another important educational feature. Rather than presenting investigations solely as theoretical concepts, the book connects the methods with their practical clinical use.
Finally, the book covers both established and specialized areas, including autonomic testing, small-fibre and pain studies, IONM, movement disorders, sleep studies, TMS-related applications, and other advanced techniques.
Limitations
The book itself identifies several boundaries that readers should understand.
First, it is not intended to be exhaustive. The author explicitly notes that additional less-common techniques continue to develop, including techniques that may be experimental or have less well-defined normal values.
Second, the book does not cover non-clinical research techniques, local guidelines, or treatments. Its primary purpose is to establish an understanding of clinical neurophysiology techniques used to investigate the nervous system.
Third, it assumes that readers already possess a reasonable foundation in anatomy, medical management, and relevant imaging interpretation. This may make it less suitable as a first-ever introduction to medicine or neuroscience.
Finally, the bibliographic material provided does not state an edition number, so this review does not assign one.
Comparison With Similar Books
Clinical Neurophysiology 2026 is between formal training curricula and larger, more detailed textbooks. The foreword describes its role as a concise condensation of the specialty's techniques and clinical utility.
The preface also contrasts its intended role with broader Oxford clinical handbooks, explaining that the author sought a similarly cohesive resource specifically for clinical neurophysiology.
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FAQs
Clinical Neurophysiology is a 2026 Oxford University Press handbook covering the major techniques and clinical applications of clinical neurophysiology, including EEG, nerve conduction studies, EMG, evoked potentials, intraoperative monitoring, autonomic testing, sleep studies, movement disorders, and advanced techniques.
The book is written primarily for neurologists with a specialist interest in clinical neurophysiology, clinical neurophysiology trainee doctors, specialist clinical physiologists, and practicing consultants.
Yes. EEG is one of the major components of the book. Dedicated chapters cover normal EEG, paediatric EEG and maturation, and abnormal EEG.
Yes. The contents include basic nerve conduction and needle EMG, advanced electrodiagnostic studies, paediatric nerve conduction and EMG, and neurophysiology of neuromuscular disorders.
Yes. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is included as a dedicated chapter, alongside basic and advanced evoked potentials.
The book can support examination and curriculum-based learning because its development incorporated elements of European training requirements, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Certification Curriculum, and International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology guidelines and consensus papers.
No. The author explicitly states that the text does not cover treatments. Its focus is understanding clinical neurophysiological techniques and their applications.
It can provide a structured introduction to clinical neurophysiology, but it assumes that the reader already has a sound foundation in anatomy, medical management, and interpretation of relevant imaging.
Conclusion
Clinical Neurophysiology 2026 by Daniela P. Quayle is a broad clinical handbook designed to bring together the major techniques used across modern clinical neurophysiology.
Its coverage extends from the foundational principles of electrical and physiological measurement through EEG, paediatric neurophysiology, nerve conduction studies, EMG, neuromuscular disorders, evoked potentials, intraoperative monitoring, autonomic testing, small-fibre and pain studies, sleep, movement disorders, and advanced adjunct techniques.
Its particular educational value lies in the way it connects technical procedures, clinical applications, and interpretation within one structured resource. The book is especially relevant to clinical neurophysiology trainees, neurologists with an interest in the specialty, specialist clinical physiologists, and consultants who need a concise reference for both common and less frequently encountered investigations.
The book also has an intentionally international perspective, drawing on European training requirements, an American certification curriculum, and International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology guidance and consensus material.
For readers seeking a practical overview of the specialty rather than a treatment manual or non-clinical research textbook, Clinical Neurophysiology provides a focused educational framework for understanding how neurophysiological techniques are performed, applied, and interpreted in clinical practice.
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