9/18/2019 What are EEG and QEEG?

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WHAT ARE EEG AND QEEG? S M T W T F S

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THE HUMAN BRAIN | QEEG | ERPs | LORETA
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THE HUMAN EEG 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

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The human brain is surely the most complicated system in nature.

Electroencephalography is the brain-imaging tool used to measure the brain’s View BSI webinar recordings at your own pace.
bioelectrical system. It measures spontaneous brain activity and has the highest Inexpensive CEs. www.bsiwebinars.com
temporal resolution of all brain imaging tools. The activity of groups of neurons is
represented by specific wave patterns. Optimal patterns of connectivity and Neurofeedback Bibliography with abstracts. Last
networking are vital to good brain health. compiled Sept '14

BSI BLOG
QEEG (QUANTITATIVE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM)

Further, quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) compares your client’s EEG to that of a TESTIMONIALS FROM REPORT USERS AND
normative database. With a quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG), event related potential COURSE ATTENDEES:
recording (ERP) and/or other assessment tools; you the clinician can determine where there is
pathology or deviation from the norm and use this information to design neuromodulatory treatments. "What an honor and privilege to be taught QEEG
and LORETA by two of the most recognized and
respected people in the field of EEG; Joel Lubar,
PhD and Jay Gunkleman, QEEGD. BSI's small
class size, coupled with hands on experience
gave us real insight into the mechanics of using
QEEG with clients. I now feel ready to go
forward by incorporating these techniques into
my practice."
- - - RI, LMFT, CNT Los Angeles, CA

"To date I’ve done over 300 Qs with BSI and

compared to other services I’ve used, their
reports are far superior and Jay is always
available for discussion of each case. I have
learned so much from Jay by discussing these
cases with him."
Recording the EEG is a practiced skill. The old adage, “Garbage in, garbage out” holds true to EEG - - - RJS, PhD, LCSW, BCB, BCN, Houston, TX
acquisition. Skills to help the patient sit relaxed and keep his or her eyes motionless, whether with
eyes open or closed are necessary. Additionally, certain populations, such as ADHD or autism "I have found BSI's recorded webinars as an
spectrum disordered will need careful coaching to remain still for a length of time. Others may need excellent resource to improve my neurfoeedback
coaching to stay awake, etc. Importantly, reading the live trace to evaluate for epileptiform activity, skill sets. BSI's webinars provide user-friendly
pre-sleep onset and/or other transient activity is essential. access to leading applied and research experts

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9/18/2019 What are EEG and QEEG? - BSI
Hooking up, whether using 19, 24, 68 or 128 channels, as well as within neurofeedback. In addition, my graduate
with a cap, or separate electrodes are also considerations. The students have purchased recorded webinar
electrodes you apply digitally amplify and filter the signal right at sessions; they reported this resource reduces
the site they’re placed; so careful placement is essential and based the complexity of neurofeedback through
upon the International 10/20 System (128 site system pictured cohesive and comprehensive trainings related to
right). Impedance should be below 10 (preferably under 5) and at neurofeedback."
most 3 kOhms apart. BSI provides QEEG interpretations for your - - - JL, EdD, Assistant Professor Psychology,
client’s recorded EEG. Illinois Institute of Technology

Knowing what montage to use is another important consideration. "Dr. Kerson is an excellent teacher and
For example, in bipolar montages, consecutive pairs of electrodes are linked by connecting the neurofeedback supervisor. She provides a warm
electrode input of one channel to input of a subsequent channel, so that adjacent channels have one and caring approach to learning the process as
electrode in common. The bipolar chains of electrodes may be connected going from front to back well as the content - even when it is difficult to
(longitudinal) or from left to right (transverse). Referential montages connect all of the active sensors understand. She has a great sense of humor,
to one reference (or possibly linked-ear reference). and makes the learning interactive and fun.
More importantly, she really cares about her
There are many steps to creating a QEEG report. They are: students and takes the time to be sure everyone
is succeeding."
1. Acquisition of the recording;
- - - SS, PhD Associate Professor UNLV
2. De-artifacting the record;
3. Viewing the artifacted record to determine if any transient behaviors persist;

4. Reviewing FFTs, spectral displays and other digitally filtered images;

5. Comparing the subject to a normative database;

6. Isolating pathologies;

7. Writing the report .

You can lean how to read a report HERE and view a sample one HERE.

This is the spectral analysis created by passing the de-artifacted EEG file seen above through the
Fourier analysis, with the spectral peaks being created at frequencies that have rhythmicity, such as
the widespread alpha or the bi-central mu, with these values later compared to a normative database
(as seen below).

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9/18/2019 What are EEG and QEEG? - BSI

Client’s values are now compared to an age matched normative group, showing divergence in
parietal slowing, excess eyes open alpha, bi-central mu, and fronto-central beta spindles. The small
marks are significance markers, with the smaller marks signifying a probability of 0.05, and the middle
sized marks being 0.01, and the larger marks associated with probability of over 0.001 (one chance in
a thousand). These values are considered “Z-scores”, which show the divergence from normal.

This mapping image shows the average coherences, and this shows the frontal alpha to be
hypercoherent (red), and the central mu to be locked out of that hypercoherence as central
hypocoherence (blue). The lack of faster alpha yields the lower than expected coherence measures.

Further Reading:
The Art of Artifacting – Hammond & Gunkelman
Electroencephalography: Basic Principles, Clinical Applications and Related Fields –Niedermeyer,
Lopes Da Silva

EVENT RELATED POTENTIALS (ERPs)

The awakened functioning EEG is comprised of ongoing rhythms, like theta, alpha and beta,
intermixed with the brain’s responses to specific stimuli. These specific responses to stimuli are very
small, commonly less than 10 microvolts, and these miniscule voltages are embedded in the ongoing
EEG which may be 50-150 microvolts commonly.

This makes these smaller signals almost impossible to detect, but if an averaging technique is used,
these small signals can be added together so they get larger and can be seen, but the EEG when
added together randomizes out, so the smaller specific response signals emerge from the
background EEG.

When these averaged signals are then processed, the brain’s response to these sensory stimuli and
the brain’s processing of the information can be evaluated.

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9/18/2019 What are EEG and QEEG? - BSI

The Stroop test is one commonly used to evaluate latency of response. Others include N-Back, VCPT
and classically these ERPs were merely crudely evaluated looking for gross changes in peak
latencies. Modern analysis allows us much finer understanding of the rich information embedded in
these signals. We use Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to break the ERP into the steps of
processing the brain actually does, from perception, to evaluation of the task and even the response,
and eventually even the comparison of the task response to the person’s model of how the response
task should go.

This detail of analysis lets us compare how an individual’s response matches with those responses
recorded from various clinical populations as well as compared with an age matched normative
reference population.

The technical details of the ERP task and recording technique, the de-artifacting, signal processing,
and clinical interpretations, once mastered are not excessively complex. Our workshops take these
evaluations and recording tasks from being seen as “complex and difficult to comprehend” to being a
routine part of any evaluation of brain function.

The depth of understanding needed to add these tools to your current clinical evaluations is imparted
by our expert presenters.

LOW RESOLUTION ELECTROMAGNETIC TOMOGRAPHY (LORETA)

One shortcoming of the EEG is its spatial resolution. Another is that it records surface activity only.
LORETA uses an inverse-solution to determine subcortical activity based upon the surface-recorded
EEG. In essence, by estimating current density sources, it extrapolates the underlying activity, giving
us a view of the more deep structures of the brain. Known as the “poor man’s fMRI,” due to it’s high
correlation to fMRI studies, it is the first inexpensive, non-invasive assessment tool for practitioners of
neuromodulatory approaches.

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9/18/2019 What are EEG and QEEG? - BSI

The maps* are examples of presentations of specific abnormalities.

This is a LORETA Map* relative to a static MRI image.

One must very carefully de-artifact for LORETA interpretations. In the sample above*, we see
elevated delta activity, most notably in the frontal areas. This is likely eye-movement artifact because
of its presence in delta only.

*All LORETA images are courtesy of Cannon, 2011 – reference below.

Further Reading:
Low Resolution Electromagnetic Brain Tomography (LORETA): Basic Concepts and Clinical
Applications - Cannon

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