Nature at its best

Our brain is “packaged” like an egg yolk. It is suspended in the thick glycerin-like cerebral spinal fluid, a shock-absorbing viscous fluid. Because the brain is the consistency of Jell-O^®, it conforms to the space inside the skull, regardless of its size. And, it is wrapped in the dura, a thin, rubber-like material that helps keep it all together. Our big advantage over the fragile egg shell, however, is obvious: Our brain is encased in the skull, a rigid, hard case. To add even more protection, the scalp has a give and take so it slides to help deflect a blow. Nature has done an awesome job of protecting our most valuable asset. As good as it is, however, even Nature's best design has limits: If your head is hit hard enough to overcome these protective barriers, the price paid can be horrific.

The (literal) root of the problem

But it doesn’t take a direct blow to the head to have major damage. Our brain sends information through thread-like filaments called axons. Communication signals move from one area in the cortex (the thin, outer layer, “thinking” part of our brain) to another, from the cortex to the brain's deep structures, and from the brain to all parts of the body and back again. This is how our brain talks to itself -- by rapidly connecting, disconnecting, and reconnecting its many specialized areas.

A heavy blow to the head or a whip lash causes a rapid acceleration and deceleration of the brain. The head whips forward (or backward, or sideways), stops abruptly, and then jerks back. Because the thin cortex (the brain's outer layer) and white matter (the brain's bulk) are of different densities, they move at different speeds through the acceleration/ deceleration process. The two types of tissue slip against each other with the sudden forward and rapid motion, and billions of axons can be damaged (axonal bruising) and even clipped and severed (axonal shearing).

Neuroscience at its best

So what do you do when your life is suddenly turned upside down by a brain trauma? In the past, one could only wait, being patient and hopeful as Nature helped heal the damage. Sometimes this was enough, sometimes not. Fortunately, advances in Neuroscience have given even those with severe trauma a much greater chance of recovery and getting his or her life back. What is this break though? How does it work? Can it get me back to work quicker?

Detecting and defining the damage

The Electroencephalogram (EEG or brain wave analysis) has been used since the 1950s to help diagnose neurological diseases and assess the effects of brain trauma. While the traditional EEG has given Neurologists decades of access to whether a particular brain is damaged or shows a disease process, by today’s standards, it is a somewhat crude diagnostic tool. In the 1980s, Neuroscientists added a new dimension by bringing the analytical power of the at the time new desk top computers to better understand the complexity of the brain waves. A revolution in brain research was created, allowing a breakthrough in understanding brain function and opening the door to new and exciting treatment options.

To give just one example, the Quantitative EEG, as it came to be known, allowed the development of a Normative Reference Database, a computer “library” of the brain waves of normal subjects. This major advance means that anyone’s brain can be analyzed and the performance characteristics analyzed for areas that are under or over active, defective communication networks (Coherence), and whether energy transfer from brain area to brain area is too quick or too slow (Phase). Using this database, the effects of trauma are easily determined and can even be scored as to the degree of severity.

Another major advance that came from the computerization of the EEG is Neurofeedback (brain wave training). It is now possible to actually remediate the dysfunctions found in the Quantitative EEG. With these advances, “Functional Neurology” was born.

The brain talking to itself…or not

As far as axonal injury is concerned, one of the most important measurements to come from the Quantitative EEG is Coherence, a statistical analysis of how efficiently the brain is able to connect performance centers. If the brain is found to be over connecting from axonal injury, energy transfer is delayed because there are not enough of the right types of cells to fire; if under connecting, information transfer is incomplete and performance suffers.

With traumatic brain injury, Coherence is typically high. High Coherence is evidence of axons being bruised, clipped, and sheared. As a result, energy transfer between performance areas is delayed and performance suffers. High Coherence leads to decreased intelligence and learning ability, as well as inflexible thinking and behavior patterns. Other mental problems, fuzzy thinking and confusion, for example, and physical symptoms such as dizziness and headaches, are common.

Low Coherence may be seen from the damage from the opposite side of the head from a blow. Low Coherence is a sign that an area is functionally disconnected and is unable to move information to and from other brain regions efficiently. This is often seen in those with learning disabilities.

Another measurement available in the Quantitative EEG, Phase, gives feedback on how quickly or slowly energy is moving between various areas. If information is delayed or accelerated, processing is inefficient and life can become a challenge.

Remediating the effects of Traumatic Brain Injury

Because it works directly with the brain, NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training™ is an accelerated process for the remediation and recovery of the effects of traumatic brain injury. The Quantitative EEG defines where and in what way the brain is neurologically inefficient and doing its job poorly; research based training protocols then remediate what is found.

Included in NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training™ sessions are:

• Proprietary, clinically proven Neurofeedback™ (brain wave training) protocols created and developed by Marvin Sams, a medical professional with over forty decades of clinical and research experience.


• Heart Rate Variability biofeedback teaches breathing techniques to coach the body to be more relaxed under stressful situations.


• Exclusive Audio-Visual Entrainment (flashing light and pulsing sound) programs developed by Dr. Sams help “pull” or “nudge” the brain out of “stuck” brain patterns, a common finding in those that have suffered trauma.


• Transcranial DC Modulation, a technology that enhances and stabilizes brain function.

To track progress, an updated Quantitative EEG is done at each session. Statistical comparisons are made to the initial QEEG evaluation and the previous session to determine how much progress has been made. This important benefit is available only at The Sams Center.

Speaking to usual outcomes, focus, attention and learning ability improve, mood becomes stabilized with a general sense of well being, memory is sharpened, and emotional resilience is enhanced.

Training Schedule

If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, we schedule to your convenience. At least two to four sessions a week are recommended.

For those coming from outside the Dallas/Fort Worth area, a typical stay is two weeks. We do two sessions a day, working six days a week.

Many complete NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training in 24-30 sessions. Those with a traumatic brain injury, complicated symptoms, or a long history of drug use may take a few more sessions. Should this prove to be the case, training can be completed on a brief return visit in a few months or weeks, or with a special at-home trainer.

Fees

E-mail us from our Contact Page or call 972.733.3009 or 972.612.0160 for our current fee schedule.

To schedule an evaluation

Just call 972.733.3009 to arrange a convenient time for you or your family member to start.

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