There are approximately 100 billion neurons in the human brain.
Your initial analysis consists of a series of diagnostics in order to see exactly what is happening in your brain. We will explain more fully below, but first, let’s discuss the brain itself.
In essence, your brain operates through populations of neurons interacting with each other. And much of this interaction is through tiny electrical oscillations or brain waves.
For our purposes, it is important to note that many factors can disrupt the neurons in your brain, including:
- Illness or Disease
- A serious injury to the head or repeated head injuries
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Harmful addiction
- Developmental disorders (such as autism, learning disorders, ADD, ADHD)
- Trauma, extreme stress, or anxiety
- Congenital conditions
These disruptions can be minor or significant, and the threshold of tolerance varies from individual to individual. While some people can still function in their day-to-day activities, others are utterly debilitated and have no quality of life. However, with a little gentle stimulation in the right direction, very often brain function can be improved.
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Brain Assessment
The first step of your initial analysis is to understand the current state of your brain’s function and performance. In brief, we do this by using an MRI, an EEG, or an Online Cognitive Test, and sometimes all three, depending on your situation.
These diagnostic tests are completely non-invasive and pain-free. They simply measure brain wave frequencies.
First, we will determine the initial testing based on your symptoms and issues. Then, once testing is complete, 0ur scientific and clinical teams analyze the results to determine your current brain state. They can then formulate a treatment protocol customized for you.
Using neurophysiological data, our approach is to develop a highly customized treatment plan in order to encourage healthy brain communication.
What is the CBS Cognitive Assessment?
CBS stands for Cambridge Brain Sciences, the leading online platform for cognitive assessment. CBS is in a unique position to push the boundaries of our understanding of the brain, as they have one of the largest secure cognitive databases.
In fact, since 2009, hundreds of thousands of people have used CBS to gain a deeper understanding of their brain health while contributing to large-scale scientific studies that have advanced our knowledge of the brain. Because of their impressive results, we offer this testing as part of our initial analysis.
These tests will quantify core aspects of your brain health using a set of fun, gamified, and scientifically validated cognitive tasks. Once you complete the tests, you will receive a comprehensive yet simple and easy-to-read cognitive assessment report in minutes. We at BrainStim Centers recommend everyone take these tests before, during, and after any treatment.
What is an EEG?
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that measures the electrical patterns of the brain. The patterns shown on the EEG reflect the cortical activity of the brain, also referred to as brainwaves. The EEG measures the current attention and metabolic state of the brain, which is constantly changing based on alertness, consciousness, and the neurological state of the individual being tested.
A qEEG, or quantitative EEG, is an in-depth analysis of the digitized EEG. Sometimes referred to as brain mapping, the qEEG scan takes about 20 minutes. The reason we use this form of brain mapping is that it provides a comprehensive analysis of an individual’s brain activity.
Therefore, as each EEG is completely unique to the individual, we can tailor our approach to therapy to give the best possible outcomes for each patient with their specific needs. Moreover, for those with neurological conditions, we may see significant EEG rhythm variations.
What is an MRI?
While many MRI scans involve placing you inside a machine, ours does not. Our MRI is much faster and requires no sedation, no injections, and no claustrophobia because of being placed in a tube. It is easy and completely painless. In fact, after about nine minutes, you are all done!
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head produces detailed images of your brain and brain stem. Additionally, our MRI produces high-resolution anatomic details in the brain without needing radiation. And this type of MRI provides excellent contrast between the different soft tissues of the body, which makes it especially useful in imaging brain pathology. And according to studies, this type of MRI can identify traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and other physical issues with the brain.
Because of its inherent benefits, a brain MRI is an essential tool for diagnosing diseases and planning treatments. However, the normally long scan time for a brain MRI can limit its effectiveness in patients who are prone to motion and frequently require sedatives. In fact, some full MRI scans can take up to an hour, and this can risk motion artifacts in the images (from patient movement). That’s why patients often need general anesthesia, at an added cost and discomfort. But there’s no need for any of that with our much quicker MRI protocols.
