The QEEG acquisition appointment takes between 1-2 hours. An electrode cap, as seen above, will be placed on your head and conductive gel inserted into each of 23 sensors on the cap.

The conductive gel must soak down through the hair to the skin in order to relay the brainwave activity to the sensors in the cap. Rarely, but occasionally, people who are very sensitive to touch find this process mildly uncomfortable. Most people easily tolerate the process.

During the EEG recording it is important to sit still and remain as relaxed as possible. It is not necessary to remain this way for more than a few minutes at a time. We can stop and take breaks as needed.

After recording the EEG for 10 minutes with eyes closed and eyes open, the cap is removed and the gel is cleaned off. It is likely you will want to plan to go home and wash your hair when the process is completed.

Please follow the below instructions to be prepared.

A fee for the test covers the cost of data acquisition, a neurologist’s review and a written report with treatment recommendations by Jay Gunkelman, world-renowned QEEG specialist, President and Chief Science Officer at Brain Science International. Usually insurance does not cover the QEEG. Please contact Jessica or Robin for more information.

BE AS RESTED AS POSSIBLE
Try to be as well rested and alert as possible prior to the EEG. If you unusually tired (for you), the EEG acquisition should not be done. Please contact your clinician before the appointment if you are feeling extremely tired or sleepy that day and we will reschedule.

CLEAN, DRY HAIR
The day before or the day of the test, thoroughly shampoo your hair TWO times. Be sure to scrub your entire scalp, forehead, and earlobes with your fingertips, rinse your hair thoroughly between and after washing. Hair must be thoroughly dry for the EEG.

NO HAIR PRODUCT
Do not apply hair conditioner, mousse, gel, or hair spray, and keep your forehead free of make-up, lotions, and conditioners. In addition, do not braid your hair or wear earrings.

NO STIMULANTS
Please do not use stimulants the day of the test. Examples are: coffee, tea, cigarettes, caffeinated soft drinks, etc. Also, avoid illegal or over-the-counter drugs, foods, herbs, or herbal teas that promote sleep/relaxation or the awake/alert state on the day of the EEG.

NO CONTACTS
Do not wear contact lenses as they may become uncomfortable thereby causing EEG artifact which disrupts the acquisition of good EEG data.

MEDICATIONS
It is best to be free of medications that may alter the EEG. Prior to scheduling the QEEG, our staff will gather a detailed medication history from you and consult with your prescribing doctor as needed. Do not make any decisions about stopping medications without first consulting with the physician who prescribed them.

The heart rate has a variable pattern that reflects our breathing and level of stress. Positive emotions and a calm, balanced nervous system result in a highly coherent heart rate variability score, whereas negative emotions are reflected by a less coherent, more erratic pattern of activity. A highly coherent heart rate is reflected by a smooth, sine-wave-like pattern in the heart rate variability reading.

The heart’s functioning has a significant effect on brain function—influencing emotions, attention, memory and processing. When a person is distressed or experiencing negative emotions, and the heart rhythm is less ordered and more erratic, the signals then sent to the brain inhibit higher cognitive functioning. This makes it much harder to think clearly, make effective decisions, retain information or learn new material. When our heart rate is more coherent, then the signals sent to the brain facilitate better emotional and cognitive functioning.