What is qEEG?
In the simplest terms, quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) is the process in which electrical activity of the brain is transformed into digital information and pictures, providing an explicit snapshot of the brain’s activity. It then takes the data, and compares it to a database to determine the hyper- and hypoactivity within different brain areas. Allowing us to see the functionality of the brain. It is highly reliable and test-retest scores are also evidence for its credibility.
The Data
The raw signals are converted into a QEEG that represents the amount of electrical power at each site. This allows for comparison to a set of established norms (database), comparing the analyzed brain to the rest of the world. Zero represents normal activity, and higher numbers (positive or negative) reflect whether the electrical activity is hyper (too much) or hypo (too little).
The top row reflects the absolute power in frequencies at each site. For example, in the upper middle there is an area of blue, reflecting decreased activity in the Alpha brain frequencies. This is associated with problems in multitasking and day to day functioning. In the second row there is an area of blue in the Delta frequencies, which reflects problems with sleep and working memory.
What can be seen in a QEEG?
Anxiety
TBI/Concussions
Depression
Mood / Irritability
Social Perception
Stress Management
Trauma (physical/emotional)