QEEG Brain map

A QEEG brain map (or ‘Q’ for short) enables us to see your unique pattern of mental strengths and weaknesses – areas of the brain where there is too little or too much activity, and areas that are not coordinating their activity the best they could.

We use QEEGs for our initial assessment, to design your neurofeedback training programme, and to track your progress over your sessions. It involves nothing more than wearing a sensor cap so we can listen to what your brain is doing.

Once we can see the reason for your struggles on a brain level, we can create a neurofeedback training programme to help resolve it.

During your QEEG assessment, we gather and edit the data, process your maps and review it with you on the spot; no need to wait a week for an outside lab to process the data and make training recommendations.

Every six sessions we gather a fresh QEEG to keep the therapist in the loop, allowing progress tracking and updates to your training as you progress. It’s how we make your sessions truly personalised and dynamic.

Being able to process our brain maps on the spot has advantages. We use software analysis tools, but software cannot make human judgements or put the map in context of you and your goals. As with most fields, there is an art to it that only comes with experience.

Most people find their QEEG fascinating. There are seldom any surprises in the brain map; it is a measure how you feel and function, and presumably you already know how you feel. Still, most find real comfort and validation in getting a measure on those feelings or challenges, and relief that they can be shifted.

Consumer advice – if any neurofeedback provider says that a brain map is optional, buyer beware. This is a hallmark of a ‘pre-packaged’ neurofeedback system with pre-built protocols. The training will not be specific to you.

Note: First getting to know you and your brain is what takes the most time, so the initial assessment is the only QEEG we charge for. All tracking and follow-up maps are included with your sessions.

QEEG LORETA Z-SCORE NEUROMETRIC BRAIN MAPPING

Originally designed for brain research, we use QEEG LoRETA Z-Score Neurometric Brain Mapping. It’s a mouthful that describes itself.

EEG (ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPH)

An EEG uses surface sensors to detect the brain’s electrical patterns (known as brainwaves).Common brain imaging techniques such as MRIs, CAT scans and x-rays are built to measure brain structure. An EEG measures brain activity and function; how you are feeling, moment to moment.

We use the EEG to see any areas where your brain is ‘stuck’ in one state or another – those underlying, habitual feelings that get in your way. That ‘background noise’ that distracts or makes you uncomfortable periodically (or constantly). These are our targets for training.

Getting an EEG is non-invasive and painless. Much like a heart monitor which only records your heart rate, the sensors only record the electrical activity of the brain. It is not invasive in any way.

QEEG (QUANTITATIVE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPH)

The QEEG brain map neurometric readings give us vital information to help identify areas of over or under-activity to train, and to precisely chart your progress.

By seeing which areas have abnormal activity, we can predict what type of symptoms you may be experiencing as a result. For example, if specific brain areas involved in attention are functioning poorly and you have difficulty paying attention, we know exactly where to train to help you regulate more efficiently.

A QEEG can identify not only brainwaves, their amplitude, location and whether these patterns are typical or anomalous, but also coherence (quality of communication between regions), phase (thinking speed), and network integration. These are all crucial patterns involved in optimal mental functioning.

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The Technology

We complete a full brain map as required to ensure your training changes as you do, and precisely track your progress. It is not the usual way to go about neurofeedback training, but it’s the professional way.

Equipment and Method: Our equipment is the result of the collaborative effort of some of the world’s leading neurofeedback clinicians and researchers, working together to assemble the best neurotherapy tool possible. This is not a ‘pre-packaged’ or automated neurofeedback system.

The hardware we use was initially developed and used as a medical research tool. Our software was designed by one of the world leaders in brain research (Dr Robert Thatcher). Combined with the methods of neurofeedback pioneers Marty Wuttke, Joel Lubar and others, the result is the first major advance in the field of neurofeedback in the last 15 years.

QEEG, Full surface, 3-Dimensional Deep Brain Neurofeedback is top level brain research software. We use an FDA registered QEEG database (meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria, adequate and transparent sample size per age group, and amplifier matching). It has been clinically correlated and cross-validated, and is cited in over 100,000 peer reviewed publications. It is uniquely capable of neurofeedback directly on deep brain areas and functions; as well as Hagmann’s Hubs, Modules, and Default Mode Networks. The symptom checklist is combined with LoRETA Z scores measured during a QEEG analysis to aid to link symptoms to functional specialisation in the brain.

LORETA (LOW RESOLUTION BRAIN ELECTROMAGNETIC TOMOGRAPHY)

Using a 19 sensor cap and source-correlation software, LoRETA allows us to image (and ultimately train) brainwave patterns in deep brain structures.

Being able train these deeper structures in the brain is a major leap forward in brain mapping, and enables 3D neurofeedback. The ability to train entire brain networks as a unit significantly reduces the number of sessions required to see results.

Z-SCORE NEUROMETRICS

We compare these surface and deep brainwave readings to a research reference database, called a Z-score (Neuroguide, FDA research standard).

The Z-score is the measure of how near or far from a comfortable, stable, or efficient position different areas of your brain are.

And that is QEEG LoRETA Z-Score Neurometric Brain Mapping.

IS BRAIN MAPPING RELIABLE?

Brain mapping is a means to measure brain function. It has become a primary tool in neuroscience.

QEEGs are used in research centres all over the world to study ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, depression and bipolar disorder, PTSD, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities, and emotional conditions of every sort. It is a recognised diagnostic tool for some medical conditions in Germany and the USA.

DO I GET A REPORT?

We do provide you with a report, but it doesn’t include any findings. Unfortunately, QEEGs are not yet recognised as a diagnostic tool in the UK. Until they are, we may not provide any written findings based on a QEEG.

For our UK clients, the sole purpose of the initial QEEG is practical; to identify exactly what we’ll be training, whether it looks simple or complex, and what you can expect in terms of number of sessions and results.

We cover the key information with you in person during the assessment and provide you with your brain map images with an explanatory key. After your sessions are complete, we do a comparitive report so that you can see your results.

It’s the best we can do under the law of the land. Some practices provide findings regardless, but as we’d like to continue for another 10 years we stick to the regulations. So for now, diagnostic QEEG reports are only available for our clients abroad using our remote service.