When you’re ready for change, we start by understanding how your brain is communicating. During your first visit, we complete a quantitative EEG (qEEG) and an EKG right in our office. These tests are painless and non-invasive, and they give us a precise view of the networks involved in mood, focus, sleep, and stress regulation.
We use your results to personalize care, whether you move forward with our insurance-covered rTMS pathway for depression or consider MeRT®, an emerging, data-guided option.
The Initial Analysis is our baseline testing: qEEG brain mapping plus EKG. Together, they provide a detailed picture of your brain’s rhythms and timing. We use this information to design your plan and to measure progress over time.
A qEEG (quantitative electroencephalogram) records your brain’s electrical activity (brainwaves) and turns it into visual maps and metrics. It's a kind of functional “fingerprint” of how your brain is working. And it helps us see where activity may be too fast, too slow, or out of sync with age-matched norms.
qEEG reports typically summarize activity across frequency bands: delta (1–3 Hz), theta (4–7 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), beta (13–30 Hz), and gamma (>30 Hz). A healthy brain shifts smoothly among these states depending on what you’re doing; the qEEG highlights where that rhythm is off, or right on track.
The EKG records heart rhythm so we can examine heart–brain timing alongside your brainwaves. This helps ensure clean, accurate data and informs how we tailor stimulation timing and follow your progress (for both rTMS and MeRT).
Coverage note: rTMS for depression is often insurance-covered when criteria are met. MeRT is investigational and generally self-pay.
Your first visit usually lasts about 45 minutes, including setup. We’ll fit a comfortable cap with sensors (like a snug swim cap), record short segments with eyes closed and eyes open, and capture a quick EKG. The qEEG recording itself typically takes 10–15 minutes.
Come with clean, dry hair and avoid gels, oils, or heavy products that can interfere with the sensors. Try to sleep normally and eat as usual; this helps us capture your typical brain activity.
You’ll see color-coded topographic maps (one “top-down” head map per band). In general: red/orange indicates higher-than-average activity; blue indicates lower-than-average; green is within expected range. We compare your data to a large, age- and sex-matched reference to highlight meaningful differences.
No. MRI/CT show brain structure. A qEEG shows function—how your brain is firing in real time. Many people find this functional view helpful for guiding and tracking care.
You’ll review your findings with Dr. Awodele, our Medical Director. He'll explain what he sees, answer your questions, and discuss next steps.
If you choose to move forward with treatment, we’ll schedule sessions five days a week for two weeks (your first treatment block).
We treat in two-week blocks. At the end of each block, we repeat qEEG/EKG and check symptoms to see how you’re responding. If your brain maps and symptoms are improving, we continue in additional two-week intervals until you and Dr. Awodele are satisfied with progress. (We also complete a final qEEG at the end of care to review results.)
Yes. qEEG is non-invasive and painless—it only records your brain’s natural activity; nothing is sent into your brain. Most people tolerate it easily, including teens and many neurodivergent patients with gentle pacing and breaks if needed.
Your maps help us:
Call BrainCare Performance Center today, or request an appointment online, to talk with our New Patient Coordinator about next steps. There's a clear path forward, and we’re ready to walk it with you.