Workout Your Brain: How to optimize your brain functioning.
Elena Labkovsky, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Neuropsychologist
Afg Guidance Center: Where Families Flourish
There are many techniques to assess how the brain works. These include, but are not limited to, neuropsychological tests, electroencephalograms (EGG), and fMRIs. The results of these assessments help determine strengths and weaknesses in the brain and can aid in the development of an effective ways to intervene and help with whatever issues are present. The Quantitative EEG is one of the modern methods used to evaluate brain functioning. This lengthy and extensive evaluative method is based on reading the electrical impulses from the brain, analyzing the data, and producing brain maps. The brain maps inform us about the functioning of the brain, demonstrating one’s strengths and weaknesses of various parts of the brain.
Mike, age 7, was experiencing problems in his 2nd grade classroom. He struggled to maintain his attention and concentration, and experienced problems responding to limits and boundaries. His behavioral problems ranged from impulsively running around the room as if driven by a motor, staying in his seat, following directions, and completing his assignments. After the Quantitative EEG assessment was completed, the brain maps revealed an excess of slow frequency brain waves called Theta and a shortage of faster frequency brain waves known as Beta. Theta waves are associated with hypo-activity, daydreaming, and inattention. Beta waves are associated with hypoactivity and inattention, comprehension difficulties, and learning problems. The presence of these two characteristics is considered a marker for attention deficit problems.
Another example is Sarah, an 8 year old who was characterized as bright, friendly, and an exceedingly well-mannered child. Sarah presented as an exceptional student who appeared to attentively listen to her teachers. However, at home, Sarah would spend hours completing her homework when her teacher indicated she should only require 30 to 45 minutes to complete the tasks. Additionally, she struggled to recall what she learned and to comprehend basic mathematical concepts. Sarah’s brain maps revealed an excess of Alpha brain waves in the frontal part of Sarah’s head. This brain wave pattern is associated with a different type of attention difficulty known as Frontal Alpha ADD. This condition is associated with problems maintaining one’s focus, difficulties with organization and sequencing, and staying on task. This type of attention deficit is frequently undiagnosed in girls because they do not display any behavioral concerns and are often very quite in the classroom.
Based on the results of a QEEG, individualized interventions are created to help optimize the brain’s functioning. One approach that produces significant results is Neurotherapy. Neurotherapy is a medication-free procedure used to treat psychological and behavior problems by teaching an individual how to control brain activity. In neurotherapy, the therapist functions much like a personal trainer, first, evaluating an individual’s current brain functioning, designing an individualized exercise program, and then monitoring the “exercise” interventions. For an individual, it is like playing a video game where one’s brain is the joystick and you get points for activating the “weak muscle.” An individualized computer protocol is created to monitor those areas and provide feedback when you succeed in activating the area. As you master one level, the program changes to increase or alter the challenge. Over the course of approximately 20 to 40 sessions, your brain becomes optimized and develops the ability to correct itself and maintain new neuro-pathways.
Remember the brain has an amazing ability to reorganize itself by forming new connections between brain cells. Neurotherapy is an exception way of training the brain to do so. Strive to exercise your brain daily so that you too can perform at you optimized potential.
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