A qEEG (Quantitative Electroencephalogram) or Brain Map is an assessment tool to objectively measure and evaluate a person’s electrical brain activity or brain waves. The assessment provides a detailed clinical report or “brain map” to look at the brain’s functionality and explain clients’ concerns and symptoms. Showing us the functional aspects of the individual’s brain, such as if and where there are abnormalities in brain activity patterns, can be responsible for certain disorders such as ADHD, Anxiety, PTSD, mood disorders and more. The qEEG can show if an individual has too much or too little brain activity and also how the different areas of the brain are communicating appropriately compared to an age matched reference.
Brain maps are important aids in our patient evaluation and treatment planning process. We know what cognitive or emotional functions each area of the brain performs and how that may manifest in symptoms for the client. With our previous knowledge and the brain map as a guide, we are able to evaluate treatment plans, protocols, and numbers of sessions needed.
The process itself is painless. It consists of wearing a head cap. It will have electrodes, which are the small metal discs attached to it with wires coming off it. The electrodes can assess the electrical impulses coming from your brain and they’ll send that electrical signal from your brain to the computer to analyze the results. The EEG does not hurt. The cap does nothing but read the electrical activity from brain. We will have to add gel to help the electrodes receive the brain electrical data. Once all hooked up we will need to do an eyes-open and eyes-closed baseline for you. We’ll ask you to sit still for about 10 minutes with your eyes closed. Then, we’ll ask you to do the same thing but this time with your eyes open.
With this data we will have a comprehensive overview of the client overall neurocognitive and mental functioning. qEEG’s are done prior to starting any neurofeedback treatment.
