Brainstorm, the BRAINTOPIA Podcast

Reading the Brain: How QEEG Reveals Function and Patterns

• Sandra Hooper-Murcott • Episode 3

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How Does A QEEG Brain Map Reveal Brain Function?

Ever wish you could see the patterns behind anxiety, focus problems, or stubborn sleep issues? We sit down with Sandra Hooper-Murcott, founder of BRAINTOPIA Neurofeedback Centers, to break down how a QEEG brain map turns brain activity into practical insights you can act on. Instead of guessing, we walk through how quantitative data reveals probability-based patterns that align with symptoms and guide smarter care.

Sandra explains the difference between traditional EEG and QEEG, why database comparisons matter, and how a simple cap and ear clips capture signals across 14 brain regions. We explore the two core readings—magnitude and dominant frequency—and how they can hint at metabolic efficiency, mitochondrial function, and how well the brain converts fuel into usable energy. You’ll hear how the 15–16 page report integrates objective brain data with a cognitive-emotional checklist, offering a nuanced view of anxiety, ADHD, sleep disruption, and cognitive performance challenges.

From there, we share how the map informs personalized neurofeedback protocols and how clinicians refine those recommendations inside a four-pronged framework: metabolic, environmental, psychological, and functional. You’ll also learn why clients often feel seen and validated when the patterns on the page match the struggles they’ve carried for years. No diagnostic claims—just clear, data-driven direction and a practical way to train healthier brain states.

If you’re curious about non-invasive, evidence-informed options for anxiety, ADHD, sleep, or post-concussive symptoms, this conversation offers a clear starting point. Subscribe for more science-backed brain health insights, share with someone who could use clarity, and leave a review to tell us what you’d like us to explore next.

To learn more about BRAINTOPIA Neurofeedback Centers visit:
https://www.BraintopiaCenters.com
BRAINTOPIA Neurofeedback Centers
Multiple locations across the Dallas–Fort Worth area
972-640-7022

SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to Brainstorm, the Brain Topia Podcast, hosted by Sandra Hooper Murcott, founder of Braintopia Neurofeedback Centers. With locations across the Dallas Fort Worth area, BrainTopia helps children, teens, and adults improve brain function through advanced neurofeedback brain training. On this podcast, we explore the science of brain health and real-world solutions for symptoms linked to anxiety, ADHD, sleep challenges, emotional regulation, and cognitive performance. This is Brainstorm, where understanding your brain is the first step toward lasting change.

SPEAKER_02:

UEEG Brain Map is like a blueprint of your brain's electrical activity, showing what's balanced, what's stressed, and what needs support. Welcome everyone. I'm Chelsea Earlywine, co-host and producer here in the studio with Sandra Hooper Murcott, founder of Braintopia Neurofeedback Centers. Sandra, I hope your day is going well so far. It is. Glad to be here. Great. Well, Sandra, to kick off the conversation, can you first explain what does QEEG stand for and how does that brain map reveal brain function?

SPEAKER_01:

So QEEG stands for quantitative electroencephalogram. So that is quantitative in nature means that we take this data, we're not reading raw EEG data, but we're taking the EEG data, putting it into a database and comparing that against hundreds of thousands of other brain maps. And what that does for us is it gives us some probability factors that tell what we may be seeing in someone's uh brain map. And that brain map is truly the crux and the cornerstone of what we do here at Braintopia.

SPEAKER_02:

So, Sandra, how is I think a lot of people are probably familiar with the EEG? How is that different?

SPEAKER_01:

So it's just like I said, we are not reading raw EEG data. That takes a really specialized skill set and we and and takes many, many years of education to do that. So what we are doing is our software, uh, which comes with a company called Braincore, has an extensive database, an extensive database that we upload that into. And then we are again comparing that against hundreds of thousands of maps that gives us information such as metabolic factors, um, how the how the brain waves are moving is is true data, but that quantitative nature just gives us some other information that we may be seeing of potential gut health issues or potential uh behavioral issues that we may be seeing and different symptoms that people are experiencing.

SPEAKER_02:

So, how exactly are you collecting that data during the brain mapping session?

SPEAKER_01:

Great question. So we put this this very beautiful cap on people's heads. Uh it it is is quite the sight when you come in and brain map. Nothing is nothing hurts though. So nothing, it's non-invasive. Nothing is everything's on the the top of your head, so kind of like a swim cap. And then there's ear clips. And so what that is doing is just reading the brainwave activity. We do uh, like we said, we're looking at 14 different zones and symmetrical sides of the brain, that different lobes of the brain that we're looking at as well. And taking that information, we do eyes closed factors, which is looking at truly the functional brain when it's not taking in stimuli, and then eyes open when it is taking, when the brain is taking in stimuli. So we can get a reading on both of those sides of that coin. Oh, it's so fascinating.

SPEAKER_02:

So, Sandra, what type of patterns or irregularities can QEG reveal about brain function?

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, there's so much. So we're looking for ultimately we're looking at two major readings: magnitude readings, which is how fast or slow the brain waves are moving, and that gives us information that's very important into the the symptoms that a client is experiencing. And then also dominant frequency, which is the power level. That also gives us information into how the brain is responding. Is there an issue with mitochondrial function? Is there into how the brain is taking um any kind of fuel from oxygen or food? And how is that, how is it making it into ATP in this at the cellular level? So, this this report that we get after we do the brain map is 15 to 16 pages. So it is extensive. And it's going to give all kinds of readings. It takes both subjective and objective data, because we have something called a cognitive emotional checklist that we do prior to the brain map that is is part of that mapping process. And so we can look at both symptomatically and metabolically, physically, how the brain is responding and put those together, and that's that quantitative nature that that makes this map so so important. And we always say neurofeedback may not be for everyone, but the brain map, the QAG brain map is for everybody. Everyone should have a brain map on a regular basis to know how their brain is functioning.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, it's so fascinating. So, how do these maps help you identify the root causes of symptoms like anxiety or focus issues or sleep challenges?

SPEAKER_01:

Great question. So it's important to note that our maps are not diagnostic in nature. So they are not diagnosing anything, but because we have in our database hundreds and hundreds of thousands of maps, we're able to see patterns. And that's what, you know, that's why quantitative data is so important. We can see patterns. So based on how certain brain waves are moving, we can correlate that with the patterns of what symptoms and what, you know, what if people are coming to us with the diagnosis, we can match those up. And so that's the data that we're getting. Nothing again is we're not saying you have X, Y, and Z where it's not diagnosing, but we're we can say based on how, based on the patterns of brainwave activity, here are some things that we may be seeing. We could be seeing hyperthyroid situations. We could be seeing evidence of TBI or concussion, we could see evidence of gut health issues. And so that helps us to direct the client of where to go, not only with neurofeedback, but we have a four-pronged approach. So we look at metabolic, environmental, psychological, and functional. We're the functional piece, but then we partner with other people to look at all of that. So that four-pronged approach is where we can go in helping them to truly get to root causes once we get this brain map information.

SPEAKER_02:

Wow. So how does how does the brain map itself guide the creation of a personalized neurofeedback training plan?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, because again, our technology company is so amazing. We'll give a shout out to them again, Braincore. They have done all the heavy lifting as far as correlating what's on the brain map with the protocols that are recommended. So when we get that map, we already have a list of protocols that are recommended based on how the brain waves are responding to the QEG brain map. Now, we are clinical in nature, so we can override that if we see certain things that we want to try first. As the clinician, I make those decisions in our centers. But ultimately, we really stick really closely to that map because we're very data-driven and we want to make sure that everything is individualized based on the data that we're getting from those maps.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. So, Sandra, to close out today's session, what do clients typically find most surprising or maybe validating when reviewing their brain map results?

SPEAKER_01:

The funniest thing that happens in most brain maps is they'll look at me and say, How do you know this about me? And I'm like, I don't. I mean, this is I just know how to read the map. And so people are most of the time really surprised that this validates years and years of symptoms that they have felt. And so that one releases them from any kind of shame if there's any there that they're feeling like they should be able to handle certain things. But I think the biggest surprise is that it the map is usually, I mean, uh nine times, 9.9 times out of 10 is right on with what they're experiencing. And that just uh makes the job of helping them so much easier.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, it's so interesting. Well, Sandra, thank you so much for helping us understand how powerful and informative a QEG brain map can be. We appreciate your clarity and we will see everyone next time.

SPEAKER_00:

You've been listening to Brainstorm, the Brain Topia podcast. If you or someone you love is struggling with symptoms associated with anxiety, ADHD, sleep issues, or focus challenges, neurofeedback may offer a safe, non-invasive path forward. To learn more about Braintopia Neurofeedback Centers and our locations across the Dallas Fort Worth area, visit BrainTopiaCenters.com or call 972-640-7022. That's BraintopiaCenters.com or 972-640-7022. Thank you for listening. We'll see you next time.