Mapping Madness: What qEEG Analysis Reveals About the Schizophrenic Brain

Schizophrenia is a well-known disorder, and it affects around 1% of the population nationwide; however, it is not yet fully understood from a scientific perspective. First documented in the 19^th century as dementia praecox, it was later renamed schizophrenia, from the Greek words for “split mind.” Historically, schizophrenia has often had a poor prognosis, but findings in the neuroscience of schizophrenia have illuminated potential new treatments that could be more effective than the antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics that have traditionally been used to manage the disorder. qEEG studies have revealed that brainwave dysregulation is a major factor in schizophrenia, leading to the intriguing possibility that neurofeedback therapy could be used to treat this debilitating condition. Luckily for residents in the New York area there are several BrainCore clinics that specialize in neurofeedback for schizophrenia. 

The Problems with Pharmaceutical Schizophrenia Treatment 

Schizophrenia is usually treated with prescription medications. Currently, a class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics is used most often; examples are Seroquel and Risperdal. These are considered to have a lesser side effect profile than earlier antipsychotics, such as Thorazine and Halperidol, which could cause extrapyramidal side effects similar to the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Drugs for schizophrenia work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. Although drugs that work on these receptors were known to be effective before evidence was produced to support the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia, more recent research has verified that excess dopamine availability is a factor in schizophrenia.

Antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics are usually effective for some symptoms and types of schizophrenia, but not always. In schizophrenia, there are two classes of symptoms:

·         positive symptoms

·         negative symptoms

Positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and other traits that are absent in normal individuals but present in those with schizophrenia. Negative symptoms include poverty of speech, apathy, lack of motivation, anhedonia (the inability to experience pleasure), and other normal features that are absent in schizophrenic individuals. Antipsychotics tend to be successful for treating positive symptoms; however, the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, the onset of which is often insidious, often prove more intractable despite medication. Neurofeedback therapy guided by qEEG mind mapping could be a promising modality for managing negative symptoms of schizophrenia and related disorders.

  

qEEG Mind Mapping of Schizophrenia 

Research into the neurophysiology of schizophrenia using qEEG (quantitative encephalography), an imaging technique that uses software to perform calculations to compare EEG readings of an individual to databases in order to look for abnormalities, has produced new findings about brainwave dysregulation in schizophrenia. Mind mapping of schizophrenia brains has revealed poor self-regulation of brainwave frequencies, as well as hemisphere asymmetry, a type of brainwave dysregulation found in different forms in many brain-based disorders in New York. Specifically, researchers have found that schizophrenic individuals show decreased alpha activity, but increased beta, theta, and delta activity. Research has also elucidated differences in brainwave regulation that distinguish schizophrenia from depression, making qEEG mind mapping a potentially useful biomarker and diagnostic tool for determining that a person has schizophrenia rather than another psychotic condition, such as depression with psychotic features.

Although researchers have yet to carry out enough large-scale, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials to confidently declare the efficacy of qEEG-guided neurofeedback therapy for schizophrenia, case studies that have been published thus far have produced very promising results. Furthermore, analysis of qEEG mind mapping data of schizophrenic patients on their antipsychotic medications reveals that medications result in the normalization of the neural dysregulation. This could mean that using qEEG mind mapping to plan neurofeedback therapy for schizophrenia could present an effective alternative to antipsychotics, minus the many negative side effects of the drugs. For more information or to schedule a consultation with your local BrainCore clinic visit our website or call: 516-587-7810

Neurofeedback for Peak Performance

Neurofeedback for Peak Performance:

Training Your Brain to Enhance Your Abilities

Much of the news and scientific literature surrounding neurofeedback therapy in the broader New York area has been focused on its promising applications for treating a range of brain-based conditions, including ADHD, autism, anxiety, insomnia, and more. However, treating abnormalities and pathologies is not the full extent of neurofeedback’s usefulness. Neurofeedback therapy can actually be used to enhance a person’s abilities, facilitating what is called peak performance. Neurofeedback has been successfully used for peak performance within a number of disciplines, including sports performance, musical performance, and even to enhance the abilities of surgeons. 

Alpha-Theta Training: Neurofeedback for Relaxation and Optimization 

The form of neurofeedback therapy most often used for peak performance training is called Alpha-Theta Training. This is often carried out using auditory stimulus, rather than the moving image displays used in most neurofeedback therapy. Alpha-Theta training is geared toward increasing and enhancing alpha and theta wavelengths. The protocol for Alpha-Theta neurofeedback training guides users into a deeply relaxed, trancelike state called the alpha-theta crossover state, which is similar to being in the very early stages of falling asleep. In this mentally relaxed state, repressed memories and old anxieties sometimes resurface and can be resolved. Many patients report having deeply transformative internal experiences during the course of alpha-theta neurofeedback training. Indeed, alpha-theta neurofeedback protocol is very similar to both hypnosis and to historically traditional methods of meditation found in Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and other spiritual philosophical systems around the world. The alpha-theta state of calm neutrality has been shown to enhance performance in a variety of areas.  

Applications of Alpha-Theta Neurofeedback Training 

Alpha-theta neurofeedback training in the New York area has numerous implications. Alpha-theta training has successfully helped:

·         Increase endurance and strength for sports and athletics by increasing mental relaxation and attenuating the effects of fear of failure, unpleasant memories of past failures, and other barriers to excellence

·         Musicians perform at their optimal capacity

·         Surgeons perform delicate procedures; in one study, the time surgeons took for microsurgical tasks was reduced by 26%

·         People manage stress and pressure in their jobs

The main benefit of alpha-theta training for these purposes is to facilitate a state of calm mental focus. This helps athletes and performers to avoid “choking up,” and can help reduce performance anxiety and test anxiety, and to enhance memory and recall abilities.

Like other applications of neurofeedback therapy in the New York area, alpha-theta training for peak performance generally begins with a qEEG (quantitative electroencephalography) brain mapping session, as well as a performance test to evaluate reaction time, speed, error frequency, and other parameters. It is usually performed over the course of several weeks, in 45-minute sessions, several days a week. This allows the neurofeedback provider to help you to encourage brainwave states that are associated with better performance, and to discourage states that correlate with reduced performance quality.

NEUROFEEDBACK IN NEW YORK

Mortality Risks of Medication for Insomnia Treatment

Beginning in the 20^th century, it became quite common in Port Washington to prescribe various sleep-inducing medications to patients who complained of subjective insomnia. Originally, the medications of choice were barbiturates and benzodiazepines. In later years, these classes of drugs were supplanted by non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics, such as Ambien and Lunesta, which were recognized as carrying a lesser risk of addiction and overdose. In 2010, an estimated 6% to 10% of the national population was prescribed one of these drugs for treating their insomnia.

Although Ambien and Lunesta remain a popular choice for insomnia treatment in Port Washington, numerous studies have produced evidence of significant health and mortality risks associated with long-term use of these medications, especially in elderly patients. 

1979: Sedatives Recognized as Cancer Risk—A Fact Summarily Swept Under the Rug 

Back in 1979, the American Cancer Society’s landmark Cancer Prevention Study 1 came to the conclusion that, without a doubt, cigarettes cause cancer. You may not know, however, that the same study also concluded that long-term use of hypnotic medications were just as strongly associated with excessive deaths. Because the study was not initially designed to study these drugs, these results were conveniently ignored. Since then, numerous studies have affirmed that there are risks associated with long-term use of hypnotic medications.

These medications are much safer when used in the short term; the real risks are with long-term chronic use. 

Why Is Long-Term Chronic Use of Insomnia Medication So Risky? 

Scientists have not yet fully determined the causes of the mortality risks of long-term hypnotic use for insomnia treatment. Some of the effects that may contribute to the risks of chronic sedative-hypnotic use include:

·         Impaired coordination, reaction time, memory, and alertness, which may increase the risk of falls and accidents, especially with the elderly.

·         Medication for insomnia treatment may depress the respiratory system. This could aggravate sleep-related breathing disorders, especially in people with a history of COPD or heart problems.

·         People who have difficulty sleeping may additionally self-medicate using alcohol or other depressant drugs, which intensify the effects of sedative-hypnotics and benzodiazepines to an extent that can potentially be dangerous.

Are There Safer Alternatives to Medication for Insomnia in Port Washington? 

Researchers involved in studies confirming the mortality risks of long-term use of sleep medication recommend that the public be informed of the risks of hypnotic sleep medication, and that physicians should take care in prescribing these medications—especially to elderly patients. The researchers also recommend that physicians discuss non-pharmacological alternatives with their patients.

There are several alternatives to medications for insomnia in Port Washington, many of which are strongly supported by clinical studies of their effectiveness. Some alternative treatments that may be safer than sleeping pills include:

·         Cognitive-behavioral therapy - a form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying thoughts and behaviors that contribute to problems like insomnia and anxiety. Many people in Port Washington have trouble sleeping because they’re stressed, have poor sleep hygiene habits, or because of other reasons that can be remedied through changes in behavior.

·         Herbs and supplements - such as melatonin and valerian root, are effective for many people without the risks and side effects associated with synthetic pharmaceuticals.

·         Neurofeedback therapy - now available in the Port Washington area, is one of the most promising alternatives to pharmaceuticals for insomnia treatment, as well as anxiety and a host of other brain-based conditions. Neurofeedback therapy uses EEG neuroimaging to identify and correct brainwave dysregulation in certain areas of the brain, which has been identified as a key factor in insomnia.

Long-term use of sleeping pills, including benzodiazepines like Xanax and non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics like Ambien and Lunesta, has been shown to be associated with higher risk of mortality and may be dangerous. Better options for long-term insomnia treatment include CBT, herbal remedies, and neurofeedback therapy. These may be much safer and more appropriate choices of treatment for Port Washington insomniacs.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR INSOMNIA

Brain Training with Binaural Beats: Using Sound to Train Your Brain

Many people in the broader New York area are interested in using methods of brain training to reduce anxiety, increase creativity, and otherwise augment their mental capabilities. There are several methods of brain training, including neurofeedback therapy and computer games such as those found on Lumosity.com. However, one of the most accessible brain training methods is the use of isochronal tones and binaural beats. In fact, you can try this right now by searching “binaural beats” on YouTube, or checking out the links at the end of this post. Isochronal tones and binaural beats are proven brain training methods to change your mood and thought patterns using brainwave entrainment. 

What Are Binaural Beats? 

Binaural beats were discovered in the 19^th century, although it was in the 20^th century that their applications for brainwave entrainment were fully recognized. Binaural beats can be used to induce relaxation, creativity, and other positive mental states. They use two tones at different frequencies that combine together and are best experienced when using headphones. When two tones of slightly different frequencies are played, one into each ear, the brain will actually perceive them together as a beating tone. This effect results from the way the brain processes interaural time differences between each ear in order to localize sounds.

Binaural beats are known to have a relaxing effect, and different frequencies may facilitate different effects through an effect called brainwave entrainment. When a stimulus, such as a binaural beat, is a frequency in the range of brain waves, the predominant brainwave frequency is thought to move toward the frequency of the stimulus. Although auditory stimuli, such as binaural beats, are used most often, this effect can also apply to visual stimuli. Binaural beats with frequencies corresponding to alpha, beta, delta, gamma, or theta brainwave frequencies can facilitate a person’s brain to move into those brainwave states. Different brainwave frequencies correlate with different mental states. For example, beta brainwaves are associated with active thinking and willful concentration, while alpha brainwaves are associated with rest, mental tranquility, and peaceful Zen-like meditative states.

By using binaural beats, you can help move your brain into an alpha state to relax yourself, into a beta state to enhance alertness and concentration, and otherwise help facilitate certain mental states. Delta-frequency binaurals can be used to help you sleep, and theta and gamma binaurals have been associated with inducing out-of-body experiences and lucid dreaming.

Where Can I Find Binaural Beats Online? 

Finding binaural beats online is quick and easy. For best results, you will want to use a pair of high quality headphones. Since many people find the tones by themselves to be somewhat unpleasant, they are often superimposed onto a white noise background of soft music or nature sounds.

You can find a range of different binaural beats by simply searching “binaural beats” on YouTube. One good YouTube channel for finding binaurals for brain training is MindAmend, a channel run by Jason Lewis that contains a wide range of audio for brainwave entrainment including binaural beats, isochronal tones, whale songs, and more.

You can get to MindAmend by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrpFW99zAUaJT8cKmqeagkg

Different binaural beats have different frequencies and different effects. You may want to try several to find the ones that work best for you. The effectiveness of a given binaural beat can vary from person to person, and you may find that some have little effect, whereas others prove to be quite powerful. Try experimenting with several to find which ones work best for you. You can listen to binaurals while working or doing other activities; however, one of the best ways to use them is to put your headphones on, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and begin to enter a meditative state.

For Broader New York Area residents interested in brain training, binaural beats are an easy, accessible, and effective way to experiment with altering your brainwave frequencies and with them, your state of consciousness. Using binaural beats is relaxing, therapeutic, and can have beneficial effects. Depending on the state you want to achieve and which beats you use, you may find it easier to enter meditative states, to enhance your concentration, or even to enter out-of-body experiences (OBE), although OBEs can be jarring if you have never had one before, rest assured that yes, you do come back from them!

BRAIN TRAINING WITH NEUROFEEDBACK

Treatment for Brain Damage: Dealing with Anomic Aphasia

Brain damage can create a wide range of effects; many are strange or oddly specific depending on which areas of the brain are affected. When an area of the brain associated with language functions is damaged, aphasia can result. Aphasias are deficits in language ability and can take many forms. One type of aphasia is anomic aphasia, which involves difficulty remembering words or names. Generally the person can speak with correct grammar, but must circumlocute in order to express an idea that he or she can no longer recall the word for. For example, someone may be unable to name a raccoon, and instead resorts to something along the lines of “those grey animals with stripy tails and little bandit masks.” Generally anomic aphasia can be managed, but for the most part people do not recover completely. 

What Causes Anomic Aphasia?

Anomic aphasia is caused by damage to the parietal lobe or temporal lobe of the brain. In most individuals, this is more likely if the damage occurs on the left side of the brain, which is where language is usually processed. Damage can result from a stroke, traumatic injury, or a tumor. 

Types of Anomia 

There are three main types of anomic aphasia:

·         Word selection anomia occurs when a patient can recognize an object when it is named, but cannot name it. Sometimes the anomia only affects naming certain kinds of objects, such as animals or colors.

 

·         Semantic anomia involves a loss of word meanings. The person can no longer recognize the name of an object and is unable to say it when asked.

·         Disconnection anomia results from impairment in the pathways that connect sensory and language corticies. For example, the person may be able to name an object when the information is presented by sound or touch, but not when it is presented visually.  

What Kind of Treatment for Brain Damage Can Help with Anomic Aphasia? 

Anomic aphasia cannot be cured entirely, but exercises that help in word-finding and circumlocution skills can help people manage the disorder. These exercises include:

·         Circumlocution Induced Naming Therapy, in which the patient uses circumlocution to assist with naming, can help people with anomic aphasia by strengthening the relationship between semantics (word meaning) and phonology (word sounds).

·         Picture naming is a therapeutic method that can help for anomic aphasia. Pictures or props can be used to help prompt the patient.

·         Long-term speech therapy is often indicated in cases of anomic aphasia.

When an area of the brain associated with language functions is damaged, aphasia can result. One type of aphasia is anomic aphasia, which involves difficulty remembering words or names. While there are exercises available to help with this condition, there is no cure. If you are in the Port Washington area and would like more information on anomic aphasia and the ways to manage this condition, please contact us today.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR BRAIN DAMAGE IN PORT WASHINGTON, NY

How Does A Neurologist Assess Visual Field Loss? 

Medical conditions including glaucoma, stroke, traumatic injury, and other diseases or injuries affecting the eye or the regions of the brain that process vision, can damage the extent of a person’s visual field. These conditions are usually assessed, diagnosed, and treated by a neurologist or an ophthalmologist, depending on whether the deficit is in the eye or in the brain. 

What Kinds of Visual Field Deficits Are There?

There are four main types of visual field loss:

·         Altitudinal field defects - Loss of vision above or below the horizontal center of the visual field. These defects are usually caused by a deficit within the eye itself, rather than in the brain areas responsible for processing vision.

·         Bitemporal hemianopia - A loss of vision at both sides of the visual field.

·         Central scotoma - A loss of vision at the center of the visual field.

·         Homonymous hemianopia - Vision loss at one side in both eyes. This usually results from an injury to the optic chiasm, the point at which the optic nerves partially cross.

There are also other types and variants. For example, instead of a hemianopia, in which half of the visual field is affected, someone can have a quadrantanopsia, in which one quarter of the visual field is affected. A scotoma, which is a blank spot, can also take the form of a scintillating scotoma, a bright shimmering region. It depends on the cause and nature of the damage that caused the visual field deficit to occur. An expert neurologist is highly trained to identify and distinguish between the types and causes of visual field deficits. 

What Are Visual Field Tests? 

There are several types of tests that can be used to assess the nature of a visual field deficit.

·         A confrontation visual field exam is often given by a neurologist or ophthalmologist as a preliminary examination. The patient is asked to cover one eye and look at the examiner. The examiner then moves their hand, usually with a finger extended or while holding a pen, back and forth. The patient is asked to tell the examiner when the hand is or is not in their field of view.

·         In a Tangent Screen test, different sized white or colored pins are attached to a black wand and moved across a black background.

·         In a Goldmann Perimeter test, a hollow white spherical bowl is propped up to face the patient and is positioned at a fixed distance. Moving a light tests peripheral vision.

·         In Automated Perimetry, a patient presses a button to indicate when they see lights of incremental brightness.

These are some of the tests that can help a neurologist or ophthalmologist determine the nature and extent of visual field loss.        

Can Visual Field Loss Be Treated Or Cured? 

It is very rare for a person to recover completely from visual field loss; however, the power of neuroplasticity does allow some recovery to occur. There are several methods and processes by which someone can be treated for visual field loss.

·         Spontaneous recovery - Although spontaneous recovery is rare, it has been known to happen. It usually occurs within three months of the injury.

·         Interventional approaches - Sometimes training is used to help reduce visual field loss. Methods include:

o   Restorative training - There is ample evidence demonstration visual system neuroplasticity in animals, including humans. In Visual Restoration Therapy (VRT), visual stimuli are presented in the border region between the blind region and field of vision, often in one-hour daily sessions over a six-month period. This method may be more effective for patients with optic nerve damage than for those whose loss of visual field has its basis in the brain.

o   Optical aids - Aids, such as prism glasses, can help shift a patient’s visual field to reduce visual field loss.

o   Compensatory training - This is aimed at helping patients cope more effectively with their visual field loss, rather than remediating or reversing the loss. Patients are trained to make larger eye movements and other methods to aid in day-to-day functions, such as locating objects in the visual field.

There are various forms of visual field, depending on where the damage has occurred. Strokes, tumors, or trauma can damage brain areas associated with vision that result in a reduction of the visual field. If you live in the New York City area and would like more information on the forms of visual field loss, please contact us today! 

NEUROFEEDBACK IN THE NEW YORK AREA

Tips For Finding a Quality Child Therapist

Living in a time where life has so many demands the stress can sometimes pour over into our family lives. For children who are still understanding themselves and may not know how to handle stress, this can be overwhelming. More families are seeking counsel for general family issues especially those dealing with children afflicted with behavioral disorders. Fortunately, the broader New York area offers many therapy options to those families.

A good child therapist connects with children on a personal level and should have extensive experience and training in counseling adolescents. Parents need to be sure that the therapist has practical knowledge and experience in counseling other children with similar disorders.

The child needs to feel that they're inside a safe atmosphere that enables them to communicate freely throughout the counseling sessions. Getting references from other parents is also a good way to gauge if a certain counselor will be a good fit for your child. For those living in New York there are a range of resources available to help you find the best option for your children.

Each child therapist should have a technique for relating to the child and determining their needs. During the initial sessions, the issues to be addressed should be laid out and discussed using the parents’ input. The therapist should communicate freely with parents concerning the progress of their child. Parents should know how success is going to be measured. Some things to keep in mind when looking for a therapist for your child:

·         Education and certification

·         Work hours

·         Costs and payment schedule

·         Personal and professional references

·         Experience and background with your child’s diagnosis

·         Ease of communication

·         Positive strategies to connect with the child

·         Rate Of success and how success is measured

There are many things to consider when selecting a therapist for your child. The key factor is to make sure that the child feels safe and they feel comfortable interacting freely with the professional helping them. If the child is comfortable and feels safe, he or she will be more open to working with the therapist. Each session should be a positive experience for your child and should be a stepping-stone to providing the child with the tools to use to make their lives more fulfilling. By carefully choosing your child’s therapist, he or she will have a greater possibility of building a positive relationship that will allow your child the best chance at success within their therapy experience.

For residents of the broader New York area seeking more than just a counseling session, such as therapy to manage behavioral and neurological disorders, learn about BrainCore Therapy and check out what services they have to offer. You may contact their office at 516-587-7810 or visit their website: http://braincoreny.com/