Have you ever wondered why certain symptoms impact you so severely? Are you curious about why you behave in a variety of situations? With an innovative type of cutting-edge technology, you can uncover the hidden patterns within your brain that could provide insight into your thoughts, actions, and mental health symptoms.
For centuries, scientists, researchers, and psychologists have been attempting to understand the complexities of the human brain and how those intricacies relate to everyday life. The scientific field of brain mapping has revolutionized our understanding of how the brain works and has the potential to unlock a wealth of information about ourselves that we never knew existed.
If you’ve been looking for a way to improve your mental health and optimize your mental capacities, brain mapping could be the missing tool from your therapeutic regimen.
What is Brain Mapping?
Brain mapping is a broad term that refers to the process of imaging and analyzing the structure and function of the brain to understand its intricate network of connections. You’ve likely heard of magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI machines, before. That technique is one of the main ones used in clinical medical settings to analyze brain functionality after accidents or injuries. Tangentially, quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) technology is also used to develop detailed analyses of brainwave patterns and functions.
These comprehensive brain mapping techniques allow for a close inspection of specific regions within the brain and the interactions between them, which can provide valuable insights into how the brain functions and processes information.
How Exactly Does Brain Mapping Technology Work?
A variety of techniques and tools can be employed by brain mapping practitioners to create a detailed representation and assessment of the brain’s structure and function. With each type of imaging technique, data is gathered in real time and sent to the practitioner’s computer, where the data is then compared to neurotypical brain activities. This comparison allows the practitioner to spot areas of concern that may need to be further investigated or addressed through additional therapeutic interventions.
As we just discussed, there are two primary techniques in this field:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a unique, non-invasive medical imaging assessment that can produce detailed images of virtually any internal structure within the human body. In most instances, MRI technology is used to generate images of the brain’s structure. The assessment accomplishes this goal by using a large magnet, magnetic fields, and radio waves to create detailed 3D images of your organ(s). The resulting high-resolution images help practitioners diagnose a variety of conditions and identify other areas of concern.
Electroencephalography (EEG), on the other hand, is specifically designed to measure the electrical activity of the brain and is not used for any other regions of the body. Your brain cells are constantly communicating by sending thousands and thousands of electrical impulses between neuron cells, even when you’re asleep. EEG technology works to measure those electrical impulses (also referred to as brainwaves) by placing a series of electrodes on the scalp. As a result, the brain’s neural signals in are recorded in real-time, providing second-by-second data on brain activity. Those measurements can help your practitioner identify imbalances in your brainwave functions that may be inhibiting your potential and negatively affecting your mental health.
Using Independent Component Analysis to Uncover Hidden Patterns within the Brain
A variety of techniques and tools can be used within the aforementioned brain mapping therapies to develop a greater understanding of your brain’s inner workings, and one of those techniques is independent component analysis (ICA).
ICA is a technique used in brain mapping that separates a mixture of brain signals into distinct sources or components. ICA is often used during the signal preprocessing stage in EEG analyses because it helps filter brain signals so that practitioners can hone in on the most important ones. To put this in context, imagine you enter a room with multiple people speaking simultaneously; it’s tough to distinguish between all the voices as some are louder than others. The application of ICA allows you to recover the original voices of each speaker and isolate them, so you can focus on each one independently for a more accurate understanding.
By applying ICA to understand brain connectivity and cognition, practitioners can conduct a more comprehensive and complete analysis of brain activity, aiding in the identification and characterization of specific cognitive processes.
Examining Brainwaves on a Granular Level
Did you know that many symptoms of mental health disorders and conditions can be traced back to electrical imbalances within the brain? While we know that different brainwaves are associated with different states of mind, research has shown that the frequency of brainwaves may have a direct relation to certain mental health disorders or symptoms of those disorders.
For instance, slower brainwaves are generally reported more frequently in conditions like depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and sleep disorders. On the flip side, more rapid brainwaves are generally associated with symptoms of anxiety disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Through the use of qEEG technology, your practitioner can identify the independent frequencies of your brainwave patterns and will compare those patterns against neurotypical qEEG brain maps. With enough data, your practitioner will recognize brainwave patterns that may be contributing to certain mental health symptoms and can provide insights on how to improve those symptoms by treating the problem at the source: your brain.
Neurofeedback Therapy: The Next Step After Your Brain Mapping Session
Once your practitioner has guided you through a qEEG brain mapping session and identified areas of concern within your brain’s electrical activity, they will generally recommend neurofeedback training to alleviate symptoms and improve brainwave function.
Neurofeedback therapy is an innovative and non-invasive mental health treatment that works to re-train your brain for long-term symptom relief and mental health improvements. It relies on qEEG technology and the principles of operant conditioning to correct imbalances in brainwave activity naturally and without the need for medications.
During treatment, your practitioner will guide you through a series of mental exercises and situations while monitoring your brainwave patterns. When your brainwave patterns are within optimal ranges, that behavior will be positively reinforced with a reward like a song or visual stimulant. However, when your brainwaves fall out of optimal ranges, your reward is taken away, and that behavior is negatively reinforced.
Over time, the training will naturally help you restructure your brainwave patterns and you’ll develop new neural pathways to mitigate symptoms and improve mental performance.
Explore Brain Mapping Therapies Today
Brain mapping is a fascinating tool that can unlock the mysteries of our own minds. Studying our brain’s patterns and connections helps us develop a better understanding of ourselves and how we see the world. The possibilities are endless with qEEG brain mapping, from improving your mental health to enhancing your creativity and problem-solving skills. It’s time to unlock the secrets of your own mind and embrace the limitless possibilities that await.
About the Guest Author
Nellia Melnyk is a researcher, and content creator who has a keen interest in neuroscience and psychology. She has developed an impressive collection of articles and blog posts focused on improving cognitive function, overcoming mental health issues, and enhancing overall brain health. Nellia is committed to helping individuals harness the power of their brains and live their best lives.
