qEEG brain mapping in Littleton

What does a qEEG brain map measure?

It measures the electrical activity your brain produces, recorded at 20 points across the cortex, the brain’s outer layer. The software then compares your patterns with a database of people your age.

Your brain is always producing small electrical rhythms, often called brainwaves. A standard EEG records them. A quantitative EEG goes a step further and turns the recording into numbers and color-coded maps, so the patterns can be compared with an age-matched reference.

The comparison shows where activity looks higher, lower or less coordinated than expected for someone your age. That gives Dr. Dody a measured starting point instead of a guess. It doesn’t tell him why a pattern is there. That part comes from talking with you.

Is a qEEG brain map a diagnosis?

No. A brain map is an assessment, not a diagnosis.

A brain map is an assessment, not a diagnosis. It doesn’t diagnose ADHD, anxiety, depression or anything else; only a licensed clinician can do that. What it does is replace guessing with a measurement.

Think of the map as a set of patterns worth exploring. Dr. Dody looks at them alongside what you’ve told him, your exam and your history. A pattern on its own doesn’t tell you what someone “has”, and we won’t pretend it does.

What happens during a brain map appointment?

You sit in a comfortable chair while a soft, fitted cap with 20 sensors records your brain activity. You sit still with your eyes closed for a few minutes, then with your eyes open.

A little conductive gel helps each sensor pick up a clear signal. You don’t need to do anything except stay relaxed and still. The sensors only read activity; nothing is sent into the brain. Afterward, the cap comes off and you may want to rinse the gel out of your hair.

Is brain mapping safe for children?

Yes. A brain map is non-invasive and painless, and we map children from about age five, with a parent in the room.

The main challenge for younger children is sitting still for a few minutes, so we take our time and explain each step first. The same rule applies to children as to adults: the map is an assessment, not a diagnosis. How we work with children and teens.

What happens after the brain map?

Dr. Dody sits down with you and walks you through your map in plain language, then explains what, if anything, he’d suggest and what it would cost, before anything is scheduled.

You’ll see your maps and what stands out on them. You can ask as many questions as you like. If your map looks typical, we’ll tell you so. That’s still useful, and it may mean the answer lies elsewhere.

How does the brain map guide neurofeedback?

If you and Dr. Dody decide neurofeedback is worth trying, your map is what he uses to plan it.

Training is set up around your own patterns rather than a one-size-fits-all routine. The map is repeated partway through so you can both compare it with where you started. How neurofeedback works.

People come to us with a range of concerns, from focus and stress to sleep and headaches. See what people come to us for. Individual results vary, and we don’t promise outcomes.