Premature baby. A premature baby twin with a tangle of EEG wires leading to electrodes taped to its head. An EEG (electroencephalogram) records the minute electrical impulses produced by the brain. The pattern produced reveals whether the patient is alert, awake or asleep, and can help to diagnose conditions such as epilepsy and encephalitis. The technique is also used as a test for brain death. Premature babies require intensive care and constant monitoring to reduce the risk of complications such as respiratory distress syndrome and brain haemorrhage. The downy hair on this baby is called lanugo, and is typical of premature babies.