A brainmap is a report containing colored pictures of a person's brainwaves.  It is an "above" perspective which uses different colors to show areas of the brain where brainwaves are too high, normal, or too low.

A brainmap is actually a QEEG or quantitative encephalogram.  It involves a recording of brainwaves at 19 locations.  Sophisticated mathematical analysis of the raw brainwaves and the use of normative databases, distinguish the QEEG from a normal clinical EEG which is commonly used by neurologists.  One's results are then analyzed and compared to "normals" of the same sex and age.  This gives the neurotherapist a guide for what needs to be done in neurotherapy treatment.

The QEEG includes the four major brainwaves: delta, theta, alpha, and beta.  It helps pinpoint the problem areas which may be related to dysfunction or symptoms.  For example, it is common for ADD/ADHD children to have excessive theta waves which cause drifting attention.  It is also common for chemically dependent people to have excessive higher level  beta.  Those with concussion or head injuries often have some high amplitudes of slow wave activity which leaves them feeling "in a fog" and unable to function cognitively at their previous level.

Dr. Shackelfor has Neurosearch-24 QEEG equipment and is able to perform a brainmap in his outpatient office in about one hour.  He then sends raw data to an certified EEG technician who edits out artifact, runs it through several databases, and produces colored brainmaps along with neurotherapy treatment recommendations.

Doing neurotherapy guided by the brainmaps makes for efficient treatment.  After some 20 to 25 sessions, we do another QEEG to see the current areas of excessive amplitude.  Now we have an updated guide to continue with the most efficient treatment..