By Clare Albright

If you have heard about neurofeedback therapy and what it can do to help solve problems related to brain function, such as ADHD, or ‘’attention deficit hyperactivity disorder'’, epilepsy, anxiety, or any other issue you are dealing with, you may have heard the suggestion that you do a brain mapping session before you start neurofeedback treatment. There are a few reasons you might want to consider a brain mapping, or Quantitative EEG session.

Quantitative EEG uses the same type of equipment that is used for neurofeedback sessions. The QEEG device will simply read your brain’’s signals to gather information about how your brain is working. Most of the time, a QEEG session will involve your doing a few different things that cause your brain to function in different ways. You might read aloud or complete math problems in your head, or you may simply have a conversation. Your brain waves will send out signals that the technician can read on the display.

What do these signals tell the technician? Well, they reveal certain patterns, from which the technician can tell how your brain is working. For instance, the can brain produce something called sleep spindles, which are a particular EEG pattern that is produced when you are asleep. If your brain is putting out these sleep spindles when you are awake, that can indicate a problem.

Another thing that technicians can read in your QEEG is whether you have a problem with epilepsy. In fact, if you are considering neurofeedback as a solution to your epilepsy or other types of seizure problems, you may want to have a QEEG done before you begin the process. The brain map from these sessions can help target your therapy and make it more effective.

Brain mapping can tell experienced technicians many details that will help with your therapy. In fact, it can reveal important information about your health, like whether you are sleep deprived. Your brain patterns can reveal much about how your brain works, and having a QEEG brain map done before you begin neurofeedback treatment can be very helpful to your therapist.

However, you should be aware that a QEEG is not always essential to the success of your neurofeedback treatment. A qualified therapist may be able to evaluate your brain function in ways that are less expensive than a QEEG, which can cost anywhere from $650 to $2,000 per session.

Ask the therapist or clinician you are considering whether they feel that your issue warrants a QEEG. If the cost is not a concern for you, or if you have a serious condition that calls for a preliminary assessment, such as a seizure disorder or traumatic brain injury, you might want to proceed with the brain mapping procedure.

About The Author

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