Frequently asked questions
How do we measure what’s happening inside of the brain?
A Brain Map is a cognitive assessment that measures 293 brain functions, including those related to memory, attention, impulse control, and decision-making – to name just a few. Expert technicians take measurements from electrodes placed on the scalp, then compare them to databases that contain thousands of brain scans of typically functioning brains. Comparison and analysis enables the Neurologics team to identify known neuroelectric biomarkers for specific brain conditions.
Neurons create an electrical signal every time they fire. These signals are so fast they are measured in fractions of a second. qEEG is sensitive enough to capture your brain’s electrical impulses and create an accurate, objective map of your brain function.
Yes. One hundred percent. Neurologics uses FDA-registered technology. Trained experts conduct the mapping process. Specialists in neurology, neurophysiology, and behavioral neuroscience analyze all data.
Many people believe CAT scans, PET scans, MRIs and fMRIs are the best ways to peer inside a living human brain. It is true that these are amazing tools and help people all over the world every day, but they have a common flaw: they capture only structural data as opposed to the functional data captured by qEEG. A Neurologics qEEG-based Brain Map allows us to see how the brain functions in real time. This is a revolution in neuroscience, and we are the only people who do it.
Brain Mapping – what’s it like?
On the day of your scheduled Brain Map, your Neuroengineering Technologist – the person who maps your brain – will find a quiet place for you to sit at a table in front of a computer. They will place a cap over your head that has evenly-spaced holes containing sensors that touch your scalp. Your Technologist will fill the holes in the cap with conductive gel that allows them to see the electrical activity in your brain: your personal bioelectric signature.
First, to get a picture of your brain at rest, your Technologist will ask you to sit quietly with your eyes closed, then open. Next, we challenge your brain with a series of exercises in order to see how your brain functions. With the cap on, you’ll perform an assortment of tasks involving sound, numbers, and symbols. Your performance allows us to see how your brain works when challenged with specific cognitive tasks.
No. Brain Mapping is completely non-invasive. Clients tell us it feels like wearing a bumpy hat, with little cold spots where the conductive sensor gel touches their scalp.
On the day of your map, avoid consuming caffeine, sugary meals, or carbonated drinks – the presence of these chemicals in your brain skew readings. Also, no products in your hair, such as gel or hairspray. Your hair must be completely dry before your map begins.
No. But we will start your session by asking you to fill out intake forms and complete a web-based clinical questionnaire.
The entire process takes about two hours.
Within two weeks. Once your Technologist completes the mapping procedure, we schedule a one-hour Report of Findings conference call, during which we discuss the results of your Brain Map and recommend potential Neurologics Neuroengineering® optimization options.
How does Neuroengineering work?
Neuroengineering is the process of using qEEG to build and reinforce neural pathways that improve cognitive performance.
As soon as you complete your Brain Map and choose a Neurologics Neuroengineering® optimization program.
With your Brain Map, we pinpoint the areas of your brain that need training. We assign specific training exercises that up- or down-regulate brain activity to rebalance your brain. Activities may involve impulse control, memory, executive decision-making, judgment, and attention, among others.
Neuroengineering brain training– what’s it like?
You will do your Neurongineering sessions in front of a computer at home, on the road, or in your office. With the help of your Neuroengineering Coach, you will place two sensors on you scalp and one on your ear, connect to our secure web portal, and begin your exercises.
All you need to bring is yourself. Also, you don’t want to be hungry or thirsty during your sessions, so make sure to have something to eat and drink beforehand.
You’ll need:
- A secure, high-speed internet connection
- A private Skype account
- A neuroengineering laptop – a device you will obtain prior to starting sessions
- An uninterrupted hour of your time.
About an hour.
The number of sessions varies with the individual, but most of our clients receive a minimum of 48 sessions.
Subjectively, our clients tell us that Neuroengineering feels like how their hair grows: you don’t feel it right away, but over time, you see big changes. Objectively, we re-map your brain after 22-26 sessions. The new map tells us how the program is working, and enables us to fine-tune your optimization plan for optimal outcomes. The majority of our clients say they can feel the difference in their brain function after 12 sessions.
Think of your Neuroengineering Coach as a personal trainer – but for your brain, not your body. They are there to answer any and all questions you might have. Their primary job during the sessions is to make sure the sensors are placed properly, verify you’re doing the correct exercises, and remind you to get comfortable and enjoy the process.
Sleep! Your brain restores, self-repairs, and recovers best while you are asleep. During the course of your optimization, make sure you get a solid eight hours of sleep every night. Some clients report feeling fatigued after Neuroengineering sessions. This is normal, and indicates your brain has been hard at work. Do not schedule more than one training session per day.
How is this program different from other similar programs?
- Accurate measurement. We measure 293 domains of the brain – over 35,000 endpoints in all. Our processing technology is faster and more precise than any other service available, anywhere.
- Targeted optimization programs. Our best-in-class assessment allows us to identify exactly where the problem is, which means we can develop optimization protocols that fix what needs to be fixed and leave the rest alone. We get to the core of your issues, no matter what they are.
- Proven outcomes. We have an excellent track record for optimizing traumatic brain injury, ADHD, PDD, autism, mild cognitive impairment, addiction, and several other conditions. For every brain we map and optimize, the information goes into a database and tells us how well the assessment and optimization are working and what we can do to improve it.
- Advanced clinical delivery model. We’re seasoned experts in telemedicine: our Neuroengineering Coach is right there with you for every session, ensuring proper placement of the sensors and confirming you are performing the correct set of brain training exercises.
- Experience in brain imaging and optimization. 21,000 and counting. That is how many clients we have helped over the course of our professional careers. This puts us years ahead of other similar companies and programs. It typically takes close to twenty years for new techniques to migrate from academic/teaching hospitals and become standard practice. You don’t have to wait twenty years: with Neurologics, you can benefit from our qEEG-based Neuroengineering today.
- Continuous technological advancement. We use assessment and optimization protocols developed by a former NASA engineer, and incorporate the latest breakthroughs in brain science made by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Human Connectome Project at the University of Southern California. Neuroscientists call the 21st century The Century of The Brain. We’re thrilled to be at the forefront of this exciting new era of research and clinical application.
- Something Completely Different. Most assessment protocols measure the brain at rest. But that does not give clinicians the data they need to pinpoint problems in brain function. We measure activity while the brain is in action, under stress, and performing challenging cognitive tasks. That is the Neurologics difference: we get a full picture of what is happening in the brain and see things other programs never see. What they cannot see, they cannot address. We see more, so we can address more. That means you get more: more accurate assessments, more targeted optimization plans, and more improvement in cognitive function.