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Preparing for Your Brain Map

Getting ready for your QEEG brain mapping session is easy. Follow these simple guidelines to ensure the best quality recording.

✅ Day of Your QEEG

Hair & Hygiene

DO: - ✅ Wash your hair the morning of or night before - ✅ Use regular shampoo - ✅ Let hair dry completely

DON'T: - ❌ Use heavy conditioner - ❌ Use hair gel, mousse, or spray - ❌ Use dry shampoo - ❌ Apply oils or serums to scalp/hair

Why: Hair products create a barrier between electrodes and scalp, making it harder to get clean signals.

Medications & Caffeine

⚠️ IMPORTANT GUIDELINES:

Caffeine (18 hours before, or no caffeine after 4pm the day before): - ❌ Coffee (regular AND decaf - decaf still has caffeine) - ❌ Tea (black, green, white tea) - ❌ Energy drinks - ❌ Pre-workout supplements - ❌ Caffeinated soda - ❌ Chocolate (contains caffeine) - ✅ Herbal tea (caffeine-free) is fine - ✅ Water is fine

Prescription Stimulants (48 hours before if medically safe): - ❌ Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, Concerta, etc. - 🟡 Hold if medically safe (consult your prescriber) - ✅ Continue if you cannot safely stop

Other Medications/Supplements: - 🟡 Hold if medically safe to do so (check with prescriber) - ✅ Continue essential medications if you cannot safely stop

Why stimulant abstention matters: Stimulants significantly alter brain activity patterns. To get an accurate baseline brain map, we need to see your brain without these influences. This helps us create the most effective training protocols for YOU.

Safety first: If you cannot safely hold medications, take them as prescribed. We'd rather have you safe than have a "perfect" QEEG.

Talk to your coach if you have questions about specific medications or timing.

What to Wear

Comfortable clothing: - Avoid turtlenecks or high collars (makes electrode placement difficult) - Something you can relax in for 60-90 minutes - Room temperature appropriate

Remove before session: - Earrings (especially large/dangly ones) - Necklaces - Hair ties/clips/bands from head area

⏰ 24 Hours Before

Avoid These Supplements

Skip 24 hours before QEEG: - ❌ Lion's Mane mushroom - ❌ Other mushroom supplements (reishi, cordyceps, etc.) - ❌ Any new supplements you just started

Why: Mushroom supplements can temporarily affect brain activity. We want your baseline, not supplement-influenced state.

Continue normally: - Regular vitamins - Fish oil / Omega-3 - Standard daily supplements you've been taking for a while

No Neurofeedback Training

DO NOT train neurofeedback the day before your QEEG

Why: Training affects your brain state. We need to see your baseline, not the effects of yesterday's session.

Rule of thumb: 24-48 hours between last training session and QEEG

🚫 Day-Of Restrictions

No Intense Exercise Morning-Of

Avoid the morning of your QEEG: - Intense cardio (running, HIIT, spinning) - Heavy weightlifting - Vigorous workouts

Why: Intense exercise temporarily affects brain activity, blood flow, and arousal levels. We want your brain at baseline.

Light activity is fine: Gentle walking, stretching, or yoga are OK.

No Sauna or Steam Room

Avoid same day as QEEG: - Sauna - Steam room - Hot yoga - Very hot baths

Why: Extreme heat can temporarily affect brain activity and blood flow.

Other days: These are all fine! Just not the day of your brain map.

Get Normal Sleep

Try to: - Get your typical amount of sleep - Go to bed at your usual time - Wake up naturally if possible (or your regular wake time)

Don't: - Pull an all-nighter before QEEG - Sleep way more or way less than usual - Change your sleep schedule dramatically

Why: We want to see your brain in its typical state, not sleep-deprived or unusually well-rested.

📅 Before You Arrive / Set Up

For In-Office QEEG

Plan to arrive: - 5-10 minutes early for check-in - Total time: 60-90 minutes

Bring: - Your intake paperwork (if not submitted) - List of current medications/supplements - Questions for your QEEG Review with Dr. Hill

For Remote (At-Home) QEEG

Before your scheduled time: - Equipment arrives 1-2 days before - Review the QEEG setup guide sent by coach - Have Zoom link ready - Clear space to sit comfortably

During setup call: - Coach guides you via Zoom - You'll fit the cap with coach's help - Takes about 15-20 minutes to set up

🤔 Common Questions

Why do I need to stop caffeine/stimulants?

Stimulants significantly alter brain activity. Caffeine and stimulant medications increase beta waves, affect arousal levels, and mask underlying patterns we need to see. A baseline QEEG should show YOUR brain without chemical enhancement so we can: - Identify true patterns - Create accurate protocols - Track real progress over time

What if I can't stop my stimulant medication safely?

Safety first! If you're on prescribed stimulant medication (ADHD meds, etc.), talk to your prescriber AND your Peak Brain coach about: - Whether it's safe to hold medication for 48 hours - Scheduling QEEG on a weekend when you don't take medication - Proceeding with medication on board (we'll note this)

Never stop prescribed medication without medical guidance.

How long before QEEG should I stop caffeine?

Caffeine: 18 hours before, or no caffeine after 4pm the day before your QEEG

Example: If your QEEG is at 10am Thursday, no caffeine after 4pm Wednesday.

Can I have decaf coffee?

No. Decaf coffee still contains caffeine (~5mg per cup, which can add up). Even small amounts of caffeine can affect QEEG results. Avoid all coffee (regular and decaf) for 18 hours before your QEEG.

What about tea, soda, chocolate?

18 hours before (or after 4pm day before), avoid ALL sources of caffeine: - Coffee (regular AND decaf) - All tea except herbal (black, green, white, oolong) - Energy drinks - Pre-workout supplements - All soda (caffeinated and many "caffeine-free" sodas still have trace amounts) - Chocolate and cocoa products (contain caffeine) - Some pain relievers (check labels - Excedrin, etc.)

Safe alternatives: Herbal tea (chamomile, peppermint, rooibos), water, fresh juice

Can I eat before my QEEG?

Yes! Eat normally. Don't come hungry or overly full. Your regular breakfast/lunch is fine.

Should I avoid sugar before QEEG?

No need to change your diet. Just eat what you normally eat.

What about alcohol?

Avoid alcohol 24 hours before if possible. If you had a glass of wine with dinner the night before, you're probably fine. Just no day-of drinking.

What if I'm sick?

Mild cold: Usually OK, but let us know

Fever or very ill: Reschedule - we want your brain at baseline, not fighting off illness

What if I'm on my period?

Totally fine! Hormone fluctuations are part of your baseline. Don't worry about menstrual cycle timing.

Can I wear makeup?

Yes! Just avoid anything on your forehead/scalp area where electrodes will go.

What if I forgot and used hair gel?

Let us know! We can work with it (may just take longer to get good signals). Worst case, you can wash it out and we'll reschedule.

💡 Optional But Helpful

Things That Make QEEG Easier

If you can: - Have someone help part your hair (for at-home QEEG) - Clip long hair back temporarily - Bring reading glasses if you need them (for intake forms)

Not required, just makes things smoother!

📊 What Happens Next

After Your QEEG Recording

  1. Data is uploaded and processed
  2. 48+ hours later: QEEG Review scheduled with Dr. Hill
  3. Review session: Dr. Hill explains your brain map, patterns, and initial protocol recommendations
  4. Then: Begin neurofeedback training!

📋 Quick Checklist

48 Hours Before: - [ ] Hold prescription stimulant medications (if medically safe to do so) - [ ] Consider holding other medications/supplements (consult prescriber)

Day Before: - [ ] No caffeine after 4pm - [ ] No mushroom supplements - [ ] No neurofeedback training - [ ] Normal sleep - [ ] Wash hair (if you normally would)

Day Of: - [ ] No caffeine (18+ hours since last caffeine) - [ ] No intense exercise in the morning - [ ] Wash hair with no products - [ ] Comfortable clothes - [ ] No sauna/steam/hot yoga - [ ] Remove earrings/necklaces - [ ] Arrive 5-10 min early (in-office) OR have Zoom ready (remote)

🆘 Questions?

Remote clients: Post in your Slack channel

In-office clients: Call your location if you have questions

Not sure about something? When in doubt, ask! We'd rather answer a question than have you worry about it.

The preparation is simple: be yourself! We want to see YOUR typical brain state, so just show up as your normal self. 🧠✨