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QEEG Brain Mapping Explained

Your QEEG brain map is the foundation of personalized neurofeedback. This guide explains what it is, why we do it, and how we use it to guide your training.

🗺️ What is QEEG?

The Basics

QEEG = Quantitative Electroencephalography = "Brain Map"

What it measures: - Electrical activity across your entire brain - 19-21 sensors record simultaneously - Both eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions - Creates quantitative data (numbers, statistics)

What makes it "quantitative": - Compared to normative database (thousands of healthy brains) - Statistical analysis (Z-scores, standard deviations) - Color-coded maps for visualization - Objective, measurable patterns

🎨 The Brain Map

Color-Coded Visualization

Your QEEG creates separate maps for each brainwave frequency: - Delta map (0.5-4 Hz) - Theta map (4-7 Hz) - Alpha map (8-12 Hz) - Beta map (13-20 Hz) - High Beta map (20-32 Hz)

Colors represent deviation from average: - Blue = below average - Green = average - Yellow/Orange = slightly above average - Red = significantly above average

Your unique constellation of patterns = your brain's signature!

📊 Z-Scores Explained

What They Mean

Z-score = How many standard deviations you are from average

Example - Theta at Fz: - Average person: Z-score of 0 - You: Z-score of +2.3 - Meaning: Your frontal theta is 2.3 standard deviations above average - In color: This would show as red

Clinical significance: - Z-scores between -1 and +1: Normal range - Z-scores above +2 or below -2: Clinically significant

What We Look For

Not just individual spots, but patterns: - Elevation across multiple sites (trait pattern) - Asymmetries (left different from right) - Coherence (how sites communicate) - Response patterns (eyes-open vs eyes-closed)

Your brain map tells a story about how your brain is wired and functioning.

🧬 Endophenotypes

Stable Brain Patterns

Endophenotype = genetically-influenced, stable brain trait

Characteristics: - Heritable (runs in families) - Stable over time (doesn't change day-to-day) - Associated with cognitive/behavioral traits - NOT a diagnosis (just a pattern)

Common endophenotypes: - High frontal alpha (creative, intuitive, sometimes scattered) - Frontal theta excess (ADHD-like attention patterns) - High beta patterns (anxious, ruminative thinking) - Alpha asymmetry (mood/emotional regulation patterns)

Dr. Hill identifies these during your QEEG Review and explains what they mean for you.

🎯 How We Use Your QEEG

Protocol Selection

Your brain map guides:

1. Which sites to train: - High activity areas (may need regulation) - Low activity areas (may need enhancement) - Asymmetries (may need balancing) - Specific patterns (targeted approach)

2. Which frequencies to reward/inhibit: - Based on your deviations - Targeted to your goals - Adjusted by your response

3. Training progression: - Start conservatively (build foundation) - Iterate based on effects - Follow-up QEEGs track changes

Personalization

Why QEEG-guided training matters:

Example - Anxiety:

Person A's QEEG: High beta at Fz (Z = +2.5) - Training: Fz-Pz with high beta inhibit - Goal: Reduce overarousal

Person B's QEEG: Low alpha, normal beta - Training: Reward alpha at Pz - Goal: Build relaxation capacity

Both have anxiety, completely different brain patterns, completely different training!

Your brain is unique - your training should be too.

📅 When You Get Brain Maps

Initial QEEG

Before starting training: - Establishes baseline - Identifies patterns and targets - Guides initial protocols - Reference point for later comparison

Follow-Up QEEGs

Purpose: Track progress, refine training

Timing: - Session 15-20: First progress check (~1 month) - Session 30-40: Mid-program check (~2 months) - Annual: For long-term clients - After long break: Re-baseline before resuming

Typical change at 20 sessions: 0.5-1.5 standard deviation shifts!

🔍 What Your QEEG Shows

About Your Brain

The map reveals: - How your brain is wired - Where you deviate from average - Potential reasons for symptoms - Cognitive strengths and challenges - How different regions communicate

About Your Symptoms: - Why you experience what you do - Which patterns correlate with which symptoms - What areas to target for your goals

About Your Training: - Where to start - What to expect - How to sequence protocols - When to remap

🎓 QEEG vs. Medical EEG

Different Purposes

QEEG (Brain Map) Medical EEG
Quantitative analysis Qualitative review
Compared to norms Looks for abnormalities
Guides neurofeedback Diagnoses seizures/epilepsy
Color-coded statistical maps Raw waveform inspection
10-20 minutes recording Often longer or overnight

QEEG is NOT a medical diagnostic tool - it's an assessment for neurofeedback training.

🤔 Common Questions

Is QEEG safe?

Completely safe! - Only measures electrical activity - Nothing goes into your brain - Like an EKG for the heart - No side effects - Painless (just cold gel)

How accurate is it?

Very accurate when done right: - Research-grade equipment - IQCB standards (International QEEG Certification Board) - Large normative databases - Expert analysis

Peak Brain uses: - CGX Quick-21 or Cognionics systems - Dr. Hill personally reviews all maps - Multiple quality checks

Your QEEG is reliable!

Will my brain map change?

Some things change, some don't:

Stable (trait-level): - Overall phenotype pattern - General architecture - Endophenotypic characteristics

Can change with training: - Specific Z-scores (magnitude) - Some frequency amplitudes - Asymmetries - Coherence patterns

Typical change: 0.5-1.5 SD shift in targeted areas over 20-40 sessions

What if my results are "very abnormal"?

Remember: Different ≠ broken!

Many exceptional people have unusual brain maps: - Creative geniuses - Entrepreneurs
- High-performers - Neurodivergent individuals

Abnormal often correlates with: - Unique cognitive styles - Creative thinking - High intelligence - Specific talents

We optimize your unique brain, not try to make you "normal"!

Can I see examples of brain maps?

Your own: Available in your portal (QEEG Consults tab)

General examples: Ask Dr. Hill during your review if you're curious about typical patterns.

Privacy: We don't share other clients' maps publicly.

Your QEEG is a detailed, scientific map of your unique brain. It guides personalized training, tracks your progress, and helps us understand why you experience what you do. Trust the data - it reveals the path to your goals! 🗺️🧠