What is the primary purpose of a montage in a polysomnography study?

The primary purpose of a montage in a polysomnography study is to record physiological signals. In a polysomnography setting, a montage refers to the arrangement and configuration of electrodes that are placed on the patient to capture various physiological signals, including EEG (electroencephalography), EOG (electrooculography), EMG (electromyography), respiratory effort, and oxygen saturation. Each electrode is strategically placed to monitor specific aspects of the patient's physiological and neurological activities during sleep. This data is crucial for understanding the patient's sleep architecture and diagnosing sleep disorders.

While analyzing sleep stages is an important aspect of polysomnography, the montage itself primarily focuses on the initial recording of the signals necessary for that analysis. Similarly, reducing noise interference and displaying patient data are significant considerations, but they are secondary to the fundamental role of a montage, which is to successfully capture the physiological information needed for further analysis and interpretation.