WHAT ARE WE MEASURING?

Our brain is made up of billions of electrically charged cells called neurons. When these neurons communicate with one another, they give off waves of electricity which we call brainwaves.  Electroencephalography (EEG) is a technique that “listens” to the brainwaves by placing electrically conductive electrodes over the scalp to record the activity of the brain at different locations.

 

 

WHAT IS A QEEG OR BRAINMAP? 

Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) is an advanced version of EEG that digitally analyzes and summarizes the electrical signal. It uses the same technology of recording electrical waves that an electrocardiogram (ECG) uses on the heart. qEEG enables us to take a functional snapshot of the brain’s patterns of communication. It is designed to identify dysregulated wave patterns that may be related to certain symptoms. Brain maps in correlation with symptoms reported allow for selecting effective neurofeedback protocols to regain balance within brain wave patterns. 

 

 

WHAT IS NEUROFEEDBACK (NFB)? 

It is a method of training brainwaves to alter the structure and function of the brain to overcome certain symptoms. This concept is based on a neurological model known as NEUROPLASTICITY. Neurofeedback is a brain training method that teaches the brain how to produce more normalized brain wave patterns by creating new connections (pathways) in the brain.  As brain waves normalize, the client’s brain is better able to regulate itself, and many of the symptoms that the client is experiencing begin to diminish and fade away. 

 

During NFB, individuals are connected to a computer using noninvasive, painless sensors on a cap. The computer reads their brain waves, and when brain waves appear properly ordered it feeds back that information to the client. This feedback appears in the form of a movie, show, and/ or sounds that let the client know that the brain waves are ordered correctly. For example, if brain waves are moving in a more ordered direction, the monitor gets brighter, if the brain wave patterns are moving away from an ordered pattern, the screen gets darker. This provides an incentive for the brain to organize itself in a more orderly fashion because the natural drive to want to see the screen bright. NFB facilitates the brain to make new connections or pathways for being able to diminish their symptoms.