What is a QEEG or Quantitative EEG brain map? Is it helpful for treatment planning for neurofeedback therapy?

What is a QEEG Brain Map and What are the Benefits for Neurofeedback Therapy?

For more information about Neurofeedback, go to http://www.NeurofeedbackBook.com Dr. Clare Albright is a psychologist (CA License PSY11660) and a Neurofeedback practitioner and can be reached at (949)454-0996

QEEG is the acronym for Quantitative EEG, which is used to map out the brainwave patterns in each region of a person’s brain. With this, a person’s brainwave patterns can be identified to help determine how well a person’s brain is functioning. It can provide important data for neurofeedback therapists to help them to plan a patient’s treatment. A prime example of how QEEG works is that approximately eighty percent of all children diagnosed with ADHD have excess theta patterns, which would clearly show up in a certain color on their QEEG brain map.

QEEG has been used since the 1970s and today it has become a popular and effective diagnostic tool used prior to neurofeedback therapy. With this addition, therapists and doctors have a much easier time identifying various patterns of brainwave activity, which allows for better treatment planning of patients.

Brainwaves include:

- Beta brainwave – Appears when the mind is active or engaged in mental activity; beta waves range between 15 and 40 cycles per second.
- Alpha brainwave – This brainwave is associated with non-arousal, as in resting or reflection time with slower cycles usually between 9 and 14 cycles per second.
- Theta brainwave – Here is where daydreaming and wandering of the mind are common. Cycles are very slow, between five and eight per second.
- Delta brainwave – This brainwave has the slowest cycle of per two to three per second and is associated with deep, dreamless sleep.

Before the development of QEEG, the only way to record brainwaves was with a polygraph, but with advancement in technology, determining a person’s brainwave activity is much more accurate. When QEEG is used as a complimentary tool to neurofeedback, the information obtained concerning brainwave patterns and the way they relate to emotions, thoughts, and physical responses provides a more robust diagnostic tool prior to starting neurofeedback therapy.

Often, identifying that a person has a certain combination of alpha, theta, and delta brainwave patterns can help doctors narrow in on a specific disorder that might otherwise be missed. Even seeing how a person’s brain reacts to different stimulants, environments, or situations can be extremely beneficial, helping the therapist make a better treatment plan. Then, as the patient is trained with neurofeedback therapy, he or she may understand how to control the brainwaves in a different way by avoiding the situations, environments, or stimulants that are causing negative reactions within the brain.

Having the ability to see the reason for a particular emotional response, as well as the region of the brain producing the response allows therapists to focus on specific biofeedback and neurofeedback training to help the patient overcome some of the more difficult challenges. In other words, training with neurofeedback becomes more pinpointed so ultimately, results are seen more quickly, and the potential for success is much greater.

Keep in mind that while QEEG is an important diagnostic tool, it is not intended as a standalone tool but one that can enhance the effectiveness of other therapies, especially neurofeedback. While QEEG can be used along with a variety of therapies, neurofeedback is by far the one used most often simply because it may provide the best opportunity for the patient to learn about the way his or her brain works, why it is working the way it does, and how the body is reacting to the brainwave patterns. All of this combined is what teaches people to control mind, body, and emotions so they can go on to live a healthy, and happy

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