Local Guest Column: Brain mapping can help patients
By Adriana Steffens
Brain mapping, or quantitative electroencephalograph (QEEG), is a type of brain imaging that allows a practitioner to see the brain’s electrical activity and measure it in real time.
This analysis measures significant areas on the head that correlate with the four lobes of the brain.
Each of the lobes _ the frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal _ are responsible for various functions and relate to particular behaviors.
When there is a dysregulation in the electrical activity in a particular area of the brain, its function is interrupted.
This interruption can cause dysfunction, resulting in an array of behaviors depending upon the location of the dysregulation.
The affected area could cause not only behavioral conditions, but can affect an individual in an emotional, physical or academic capacity. The effect can range from mild to severe.
Some of the more-common concerns include anger, aggression, attentional issues, depressive symptoms and anxiety, phobias, sleep disturbances, drug dependencies and chronic pain.
The quantitative measures obtained from the mapping are compared with a clinical database and analyzed for correlative purposes.
The complete analysis is about 12 minutes long, and all areas of the brain are measured: first with the individual’s eyes opened and then with the eyes closed (because of the brain’s functioning under each circumstance).
The procedure is non-invasive with no side effects or risks, and it is safe for all ages. The clinician analyzes the results and determines the areas of dysregulation.
This is the correlative analysis that forms the basis for individual neurotherapy.
Neurotherapy
Neurotherapy is a non-invasive approach that assists the brain in building new cells (neurons) with the use of visual and audio stimulation.
The stimulation is designed to prompt the individual’s brain to respond gradually in order to correct the dysregulation.
This is the act of psychophysiological self-regulation, as the client is taught to become aware of certain brain-wave activity in real time, giving the individual information needed to control those brain waves.
There is an electrochemical process produced by each neuron in the brain that causes an electrical charge; the more neurons, the more power (amplitude) the brain has.
Some of the chemicals produced by the brain are called neurotransmitters and have significant effects on the health of the mind and body as well as the quality of consciousness. Many drugs that alter moods also affect the neurotransmitter systems.
Through neurotherapy, the brain can be taught to increase the amount of neurons in the brain, affecting these systems similar to the way that medications effect changes in the neurotransmitters.
For the last five decades, neuroscience has been exploring the relationship between brainwave patterns and disorders including alcoholism, Alzheimer’s, bipolar disorder, depression and many others.
Researchers have documented configurations or brainwave patterns/signatures for many disorders that are consistent with specific brain maps.
Therefore, according to research, a map of an individual who presents with anxiety will be consistent with other maps of individuals with the same concerns.
By changing the brainwave patterns with neurotherapy, clients have reported feeling better and actively participating in their own health care.
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Steffens, who has a master’s degree in psychology, operates Mind Matters Neurofeedback Center in Oneonta.