| |
"BRAIN MAPPING" HELPS TO IDENTIFY
PROBLEMS WITH ATTENTION
AND AIDS IN TREATMENT PLANNING
A "brain map" is a computer-generated image of how brain activity is
distributed across the cerebral cortex. Like reading a weather map, it
shows areas of higher activity and other areas of lower activity. The images above are actual measurements of brain activity in clients at Health Psychology. The top of each of the round images represents the front of the brain, with the view being toward the top of the head.
The three images shown here are brain maps of a slow brain wave called
"theta," which is generally regarded as a brainwave frequency between 4 and
8 cycles per second (also called "Hertz"). It is very common for persons
with attention deficit disorder to show an unusually high amount of theta
in their overall brain acitvity. It is thought that this is related to
problems with "daydreaming" and also impulsivity. Also, it is common for
theta to be seen in greater amounts over the center and front of the brain.
At the front of the brain are the "frontal lobes," which play a key role
in helping to manage attention and to manage impulses. The image which is
labeled ADHD shows an area (in red) of high theta activity toward the
front of the brain and was obtained with a person who was, in fact,
diagnosed with an attention problem. Compare this with the image labeled
NORMAL. This image also shows theta in white and red, but it is mostly
positioned in the middle areas of the brain. This is where theta is
usually seen in people without a clinically significant attention problem (note that we said "clinically significant," because we all have an
attention problem from time to time).
The third image is of a person
diagnosed with a LEARNING DISABILITY. This is not an attention disorder,
as such, but a problem with a specific learning task... like difficulty
with reading or with writing. Note that the areas of theta with the
Learning Disability extend toward the back of the brain and to the left.
This is a pattern we often see when there is a problem with language.
Some very important centers for language are located there.
"Brain maps" are important aids in evaluation, but they should never be
used alone. Other types of diagnoistic assessments must also be employed to provide a complete picture.. In treatment planning, they provide
important information regarding where we want to focus neurofeedback
training. Moreover, along with other types of analysis involving
statistical comparisons to a normative database, they can help to identify
certain types of brain injuries.
| |
