Brain Discovery & Initial Assessment

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1 Brain Discovery & Initial Assessment

2 Congratulations! I am so happy to present to you your Brain Discovery And Assessment Report. This document contain all the findings and analysis of your brain from all the assessments you recently took. This report is exhaustive and contains a very detailed explanation of the brain mapping process and how to interpret all the information. The key points are outlined in the Executive Summary in simple to understand plain english. I hope it is informative and brings you much insight. All the best, Dr Dani Page 1

3 Your Executive Summary You have a Low Powered Brain Map especially on eyes open neural networks. This can be related to white matter issues, meaning the communication between myelinated axons is affected. This is usually due to an inflammatory process, toxins (can be a food toxin reaction due to food intolerance for example) and/or heavy metal exposure. Low Beta and Beta Deficits: can be related to low adrenals, which can be affected by caffeine. Recently coming off will help but it takes a while before you rebalance as long term caffeine and alcohol use can cover up symptoms of low adrenals while making the issue worse. Beta Hypercoherence is linked to problems in sorting out perceptual imput, which is also coming up on your dashboards (the checkboxes with metres) We are starting to see Alpha slowing as well -- another marker of metabolic issues -- moving more into inflammatory whole body/brain environment reaction. Global Delta Slowing: can be related to brain trauma (both physical, even minor bumps to head over the years, or emotional trauma, also called buried trauma). This is a sign that the brain is overloaded and consequently has a lower than average processing speed. Low Theta is associated with declarative, short term or procedural memory issues or switching topics often. This is one of most common patterns manifested due to long term chronic brain stress which damages hippocampal neurons, the memory neurons, due to high cortisol chronically. Page 2

4 Table of Contents 1. How The Data Is Collected and Processed 2. Our System 3. The Brainmap database 4. The Underarousal, inhibited and overarousal meters 5. Specific Brain function Meters 6. Analysis of Brain Function Meters 7. Midline and Subcomponent Analysis 8. Brainwave Frequency Bands 9. Detailed Brain Maps 10. Supplement Suggestions & Metabolic Analysis 11. Neurofeedback Protocol Recommendations 12. The Individual Symptom Inventory Page 3

5 How the Data is Collected & Processed This is your complete brain report and recommendations based on your Yoga Brain Lab brain map. The way that it works is this: using something called an EEG or electroencephalogram, brain electrical activity is recorded from specific standardized points on the scalp using the sensors and gel to get a good connection. The brain activity is measured and then the brain waves are converted using software into computer form and into a digital report that is understandable to the lay person. Our System The New Mind Database system used at Yoga Brain Lab is designed to investigate the relationship between electrophysiological patterns in the brain and human behaviour. It provides social- psychological measures in the form of the ISI, cognitive and emotional measures in the form of the Cognitive Emotional Report, and physiological measures in the form of the Physiological Report. These measures are cross-correlated with each other and with a qeeg report showing the distribution of electrical activity in the brain. This activity is a proxy measure of activation of brain networks showing effective and functional connectivity (Freeman et al, 2009) between Hubs and Nodes in the brain network system (Hagmann et al, 2008). The at rest measures of the EEG record the Default Mode (Buckner et al, 2008) of brain processing and the functional connectivity of brain networks. Through the correlation of these bio- psycho-social dimensions emerges the ability to measure and identify specific features of disorders, which may transcend diagnostic categories, and generate interventions as well as track the results of their implementation. Page 4

6 The Columns of Lights Under Each Meter The coloured dots under the two columns represent the likelihood that feature or issue is present and/or a problem for you. The first column is based on your answers in the CEC questionnaire that relates to the feature and the other column is based on the brain map results and the probability of that feature being a problem based on your map analysis alone. When both lights are activated (ie. both dots are red for a specific feature), it suggests a connection between the item listed and the abnormal brainmap feature. Meaning that the symptom or problem may be related to sub-optimized neural networks and improvement would be expected with neurofeedback training. Page 8

7 Specific Brain Function Meters There are 6 functional areas that we analyze using our system: Executive Processing, Memory Processing, Math Comprehension, Verbal Processing, Visual Processing and Reading Comprehension. The functional significance of items identified from the brainmap are based in the research literature in neurology and brain imaging studies identifying correlations between brain locations and brain functions. The items indicated by the maps as being likely to be areas of functional difficulty are based on probability measures. As probability measures, they do not indicate level of item severity but only level of probability that the problem is present. They represent comparisons between the existing map and similar maps of other individuals with confirmed diagnoses in these areas. This Page 10

8 Midline Analysis This is a graph that estimates the degree to which your overall EEG magnitude (the electrical strength of the brainwaves you produce) deviates, or is different from the norm. If your magnitude is very low, this means you have a low powered EEG, which can be due to inflammation, cognitive deficiencies, premature brain ageing, toxin and/or heavy metal exposure, and what is called white matter problems, ie problems with the brain cells talking to each other at a normal rate. This can be related to metabolic issues and chronic inflammatory processes and excessive energy demands on the brain and body over time. Subcomponent Analysis This section provides a breakdown by brainwave frequency or band ie delta, theta, alpha and beta (see explanations of each of these waves below) of issues in a particular band that are of global significance to your overall brain function. Each component band has been broken down into small ranges that have demonstrated clinical relevance in the published peer reviewed literature on EEG. Page 11

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10 Brainwave Frequency Bands Beta (The focusing brainwave) 12-30hz This band can be further broken down into low beta (also called SMR, the peak performer rhythm), beta and high beta. Generally if you have too much high beta or too much beta in the wrong part of the brain (e.g. More beta in the back than the front) it causes anxiety and trouble performing at your peak. Beta waves are made in the cortex (grey matter of brain) when the brain is activating, in problem solving mode and when it is using lots of glucose and oxygen. Slowed beta can be a sign of decreased processing speed, just like when a computer gets bogged down with information overload, the brain can get bogged down in a similar way. This is something that responds very well to neurofeedback training. Alpha (The alert, relaxed brainwave) 8-12hz Frontal slowed alpha is a sign of metabolic issues which must be addressed along with neurofeedback brain training to get lasting results. Alpha is the midrange frequency that corresponds to when and where a brain is in idle mode and is important for the brain s resource allocation. On the brain maps, what areas are idling too much are shown by too much red / yellow. Theta (The emotional processing brainwave) 4-7 Hz This is the second slowest brainwave that deals primarily with memory and emotion and emotional processing of memory. It is highly linked to the brain s limbic system and how the limbic system, amygdala and hippocampus talk to the higher brain areas in the cortex. We often see more theta in front vs. back, especially on the right side in ADHD. These attentional issues are highly responsive to neurofeedback training and remain changed after a full run of sessions by altering the brain s networks. Delta (The master regulating & deep sleep brainwave) 2-4 Hz This is the slowest brainwave. It is involved with the brainstem and the hypothalamus (the master endocrine gland) function as well as overall brain integration. High frontal delta causes problems with social situations, regulating emotions and problems with specific parts of memory. Posterior high delta can cause memory issues. Global elevated delta is often seen in head injuries and is linked to poor impulse control. High delta relative to beta is often seen in ADHD. Delta issues are highly responsive to neurofeedback along with correcting and working on the underlying inflammatory issues and drivers in the body. Page 13

11 Detailed Brain Maps The next section is the detailed brain map section. It requires considerable training to read this section fully and it is normally intended to be seen only by individuals trained in qeeg analysis and Neurofeedback and not for client presentation. Because we have also produced this detailed corresponding document to go along with it and educate our clients, we include them as we feel they offer such amazing information and can provide incredible insight, especially when reviewed with Dr Dani. In this section there are detailed head maps presented by dimension of analysis that display the commonly analyzed component bands of delta, theta, alpha, beta and high beta. All locations on the head are rated by coloured indicators showing relatively typical ranges of EEG activity or activity levels that are approximately one or two standard deviations too high or too low with respect to the measured populations. The different categories you will see for analyzing your brain map are chosen based on the Functional MRI brain imaging research as well as traditional neurology and neurophysiology. The different categories are Magnitude (power), Dominant Frequency, Inter-hemispheric Connectivity, and Inter-hemispheric Asymmetry. Explanation for these detailed subcomponent band maps and categories is well beyond the scope of this report and takes years of training and study by a qualified expert in the field to properly interpret. Page 14

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14 Supplement Suggestions The next section provides supplements that may be of assistance in supporting metabolic functions to support your specific brain needs. This analysis is based on how each map configuration correlates with different disorders and the supplements identified by peer review research to assist with that disorder. This is not meant to replace expert review of the client s condition by a qualified healthcare professional but is intended as a suggestive guide to to assist in your assessment process. At YogaBrainLab an Integrative Wellness & Neuro-nutrition Assessment will help to give more specific recommendations for you in this area to allow you to get the most out of your brain training sessions and make the changes last. Page 17

15 Protocol Recommendations This section provides protocol and brain site recommendations for the purpose of neurofeedback. A selection of two channel protocols is generated employing a unique Bi-hemispheric Compensatory Targeting Method of training. These protocols are derived from statistical analysis of the brain map and an expert rule system based on over 30 years of research and clinical experience. In addition, location recommendations for 4 and 8 channel Z score training are indicated. This is a different type of training that may include 4, 8 or full head 19 channel z score training depending on your specific case and the expert recommendations you will be given. The z score locations recommended on the brain map report are the most important areas to train based on your brain map. Protocol suggestions should not be considered as treatment or cure for any medical condition. Page 18

16 Thank you!