Brainmapping (QEEG)

A Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG), also known as a Brainmap is a diagnostic technique that has benefits for neurofeedback. An elastic net cap with 19 sensors is placed on the head so that the brainwave activity can be measured. There is no piercing of the skin. Brainwaves are then recorded with eyes closed and again with eyes open. This data is then compared to one or more normative databases. This results in a series of tables and graphs which indicate which areas have brainwave abnormalities, the degree of abnormality, and the brainwave frequencies that are involved. This leads to specific neurofeedback protocols. The benefit of doing a QEEG is that it may reduce the number of neurofeedback sessions and increase the effectiveness of treatment.

Brainmaps guide efficient and effective treatment by guiding where the sensors should be placed and what frequencies should be addressed in training.

Understanding the numbers and graphics

The numbers generated are Z scores which is a metric which represents how normal or abnormal a score is in comparison to the Neuroguide Database. A Z score of +1 represents a score exceeding 84% of individuals that age; +1.25 exceeds 89%; +1.5 exceeds 93%; +2.0 exceeds 98%.

A combination of tables and graphics of Z scores appear below for either the traditional eeg bands (e.g. Delta 1-4 Hz.; Theta 4-7 Hz.; Alpha 8-12 Hz., Beta 12-25 Hz, etc.) or for specific single Hz. bins to enable increased precision.
 
The heads use colors to represent the Z scores at the 19 sites, with the nose on the top. Grey represents scores that are normal (+/- 1 Z score). The dots on the head are electrode sites (e.g. the top two being prefrontal sites)

 

Here is an example of three seconds of EEG recorded at 19 sites which shows the brain making normal brainwaves to start but then shifts into a dysregulated state where it makes the larger, slower brainwaves (theta). This dysregulated state is likely occurring when this ADHD child is inattentive.
 

ADHD Child’s EEG (8yrs old)

When this child’s recorded brainwaves are averaged and compared to a database we find that he is making more theta activity in the frontal and prefrontal sites is greater than 97% of children his age. This information can be represented in graphs as seen below.



 

Same ADHD child’s EEG represented graphically

We can see his excessive theta activity in the graph below:

 


Adult with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and acquired brain injury

An overanxious woman who banged the back of her head has a different looking brainmap, showing the excessive delta and theta in the back of her head, in addition to the excessive alpha everywhere.

 


Adult with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

An adult suffering with severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has a QEEG which shows very excessive fast wave activity, a common pattern in OCD:

 


Adolescent with Seizure Disorder

An adolescent with a severe seizure disorder (5x/week) had this QEEG before and after treatment:


After a course of neurofeedback, you can see he had a much improved QEEG (and only one seizure in 3 months). Notice the significant reduction of Delta and Theta activity.

 

Connectivity: A measure of how the various parts of the brain communicate with each other

Brainmaps provide a great deal of additional information in a variety of tables and graphs. In addition to measures of the power of the EEG at various speeds, the Connectivity measures give information about but about how well one part of the brain is communicating with another part of the brain.
This adolescent with ADHD and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has difficulties with effective communication between various prefrontal and frontal lobe sites.