Brain mapping the source of ADHD
Neurofield technology for help with ADHD
An Elegant Way To Better Understand ADHD
Focus and attention are essential for children to do well in school. The frontal lobes should be balanced with Alpha and Beta waves to help them attend to all of the demands school offers. Most diagnoses of ADHD is subjective, and treatment may be subjective too. One way to gain an objective analysis of ADHD is with a quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) brain map.
A qEEG brain map measures brain activity at multiple sites on the surface of the scamp and compares this activity to a normative data base. When a qEEG is performed at the nCenter, data is collected from 19 sites. We collect the surface voltage on the scalp at each of these 19 sites over approximately 20 minutes and then the frequency range and amplitude of each signal is compared with a normative data base. We use a mathematical function known as a Laplace transform to break the composite signal from each site into five frequency bands; Delta (1-4), Theta (4-8), Alpha (8-12) , Beta (12-16) and High Beta (16-30). (Note, we do not discuss data on sub-Delta {<0} or Gamma {>30} ranges in this analysis). These frequencies represent the sinusoidal firing of waves of neurons. The qEEG compares the amplitude and the frequency range of cyclical neuron firing at each site and displays the variance from the normative data base in units of standard deviation, represented by colors. Then we generate a head shaped color map for each of the frequency ranges. Depending on what variations from the normative data base are discovered in what brain areas, we can see on this map indications of various conditions: depression, anxiety, head trauma, ADHD and others. We can then develop protocols of pulsed electromagnetic stimulation (pEMF) and transcranial current stimulation (tDCS, tACS and tRNS) to physically modify these indications. For example, if we see excessive High-Beta, that can indicate anxiety, and we can then administer a protocol to reduce the High-Beta in the areas indicated by employing pEMF, tDCS, tACS, tRNS and standard neurofeedback.
For the sake of children’s attention issues in school, let us now examine ADHD indications specifically. Brain waves in the Theta range are associated with the subconscious and a dream like state. Excessive Theta is appropriate when we are in bed preparing for sleep but not appropriate for eyes open daytime interactive activity that happen in a classroom setting. If these Theta waves are evident during the brain mapping for a client, they may be an indication of a difficulty or inability to focus known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A qEEG brain map can be used to identify and quantify this condition. It is in fact the only biomarker used in the field of psychology and one we regularly employ at the nCenter. So when looking for solutions, remember that the qEEG brain map is an elegant diagnostic procedure that can be used to create various treatment solutions for many psychological diagnosis, including ADHD.
