Brain Map
A painless qEEG scan records your brain’s electrical activity and turns it into a detailed, color-coded map that shows where things look over- or under-regulated.
It is hard to change something you cannot see. A qEEG brain map is how we make your brain’s activity visible before we try to train it.
At Source Neurofeedback in Clarksville, TN, every plan starts here. The brain map is painless, takes about an hour, and gives us a picture of your brain’s electrical activity rather than a hunch about it.
What a qEEG brain map measures
qEEG stands for quantitative electroencephalography, which is a technical way of saying we measure the tiny electrical signals produced by groups of brain cells working together and put numbers to them. You wear a snug cap fitted with sensors. The sensors only listen; the cap is passive. It reads the activity your brain is already producing, with no current going in and no needles involved.
Your brain runs on rhythms. Faster waves tend to show up when you are alert and focused, slower ones when you are resting or drifting toward sleep. The map records those rhythms across different regions and compares them, so we can see which areas look overactive, underactive, or out of step with the rest.
What the map can and cannot tell you
This is the part we want to be straight about. A qEEG brain map is a picture of electrical activity. It is not a medical diagnosis, and it does not by itself identify a disease. What it does well is show patterns of regulation, and that is the information we use to decide where neurofeedback training might focus.
A brain map is not a substitute for medical care, and it does not diagnose or rule out any medical or psychiatric condition. Some symptoms need a doctor, not a brain map: a new or sudden severe headache, a seizure, fainting, new weakness, numbness, or confusion, or any recent head injury all call for prompt medical evaluation. If you are unsure, or you have questions about your medications, talk with a physician first. Neurofeedback is a wellness and training approach, not a treatment for disease.
Two people can walk in with the same complaint and show very different maps, which is exactly why we measure first instead of assuming. The map keeps your plan tied to your own brain rather than to a one-size-fits-all protocol.
What your brain map appointment in Clarksville is like
The session is calm and asks very little of you. You sit comfortably while we place the cap and record a few minutes of activity, usually with your eyes open and then closed. There is nothing to study for and nothing to do except relax. Most people are surprised by how ordinary it feels for something that produces such a detailed result.
Once the recording is finished, the raw data is processed into a color-coded report, the kind of map where warmer and cooler colors show where your activity sits relative to typical ranges.
From the map to your plan
The brain map is the starting point, not the destination. The next step is your results review, sitting down with Dr. Cindy Morrey to go over what it shows and turn it into a training plan built around your goals. The map gives that conversation something real to work from.
If you have spent a long time guessing at what is going on in your head, a qEEG brain map is a way to swap some of that guesswork for measured, visible information you can look at together.
Common questions
What is a qEEG brain map?
A qEEG brain map is a recording of your brain’s electrical activity, turned into a color-coded report. qEEG stands for quantitative electroencephalography. Sensors in a soft cap read the natural rhythms your brain produces, and software compares those patterns across regions so we can see where activity looks fast, slow, or out of balance. We use it to guide neurofeedback training, not to diagnose.
Does getting a brain map hurt?
No. It is painless and non-invasive. You wear a snug cap of sensors that only listen to your brain’s activity, the way a microphone picks up sound. Nothing is sent into your brain, there is no electrical current, and there are no needles.
Can a qEEG brain map diagnose my condition?
No, and we are careful not to present it that way. A brain map shows patterns of electrical activity, not a medical diagnosis. It does not identify or rule out any disease on its own. It is a wellness and training tool that helps us decide where to focus neurofeedback. For diagnosis of a medical or psychiatric condition, please see a physician.
How long does the brain map take?
Plan on about an hour for the appointment. The recording itself is only a few minutes, usually with your eyes open and then closed. The rest is getting the cap fitted comfortably and making sure the signal is clean.
What happens with the results?
After the recording, the data is processed into your color-coded map. In a separate results review, Dr. Cindy Morrey walks you through it in plain language and connects it to what brought you in, then builds a training plan around your goals. The map is the first step, not the whole process.
Do I need a referral or a diagnosis to get a brain map?
No. You can start with a qEEG brain map without a referral, and we will talk through what it shows. We are not here to replace your doctor, and if you already work with one, we are happy to coordinate.
Ready to see your brain map?
Book a qEEG brain map and results review. We’ll show you exactly what’s going on, and build a drug-free plan to help.