Neurotherapy is an unfamiliar form of treatment for most clients, and we know that the unknown can be a little scary. We want to help you to understand the process and to feel as prepared and comfortable as possible before you walk into our door.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a non-invasive medical test that measures and records the electrical activity of the brain. The procedure is painless and involves the placement of a cap equipped with 19 gelled channels on the patient's head. EEGs are utilized for both neurological diagnostics and research purposes, particularly for conditions characterized by abnormal brain wave patterns or rapid changes in neural activity.

Event-related potentials (ERPs) measure electrical brain activity in response to events, giving insight into perception, attention, and cognition. This shows how the brain reacts to stimuli and how it communicates to other parts of the brain, which can be affected by trauma, brain injury, or processing speed. This information is used to create a personalized treatment plan to optimize brain function better than the EEG alone.

A QEEG, or Quantitative Electroencephalography, is a modern form of EEG analysis that uses digital technology to record and mathematically analyze electrical activity in the brain. Sometimes referred to as "brain mapping" because it provides a detailed, quantitative picture of brain function across different regions.

QEEG differs from traditional EEG in that it goes beyond simple visual inspection of brainwave patterns. Instead, it applies statistical and mathematical methods to extract features like frequency band power, connectivity, and network activity, comparing these metrics to normative databases of typical brain function for a patient’s age group. In other words, it compares your EEG with the EEGs of a similar demographic. This allows clinicians to identify abnormalities or dysregulation in brain activity that may be associated with a range of neuropsychiatric and neurological conditions.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the physiological phenomenon of variation in the time interval between consecutive heartbeats. These variations are typically quite small—often just a fraction of a second—and are controlled by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates automatic bodily functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.

HRV reflects the balance between the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) branches of the ANS. A higher HRV generally indicates a healthy, adaptable autonomic nervous system, suggesting better resilience to stress and a well-functioning cardiovascular system. Conversely, lower HRV is often associated with stress, illness, or less adaptability, and may signal current or potential health problems such as heart disease, anxiety, or depression. Your heart rate is measured during the EEG and this information is included in your take-home report to add better insight into your health.