# Insights from Experiencing a Continuous Flow State: A qEEG Analysis
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I never imagined I would find myself in a clinic with electrodes attached to my head, yet that is exactly what transpired during my visit to the Peak Brain Institute in Los Angeles earlier this month. This experience was intended to create a comprehensive brain map, which illuminated the functioning of my brain and highlighted areas for potential enhancement.
Below is a summary of my consultation with Dr. Andrew Hill, the clinic’s founder:
> “You’re essentially trapped in a flow state—extremely fast. This could be beneficial or it might hinder you; I can’t say for sure. However, it suggests you’re operating one or two standard deviations faster than the average. You’re remarkably quick, Oksana. This resembles a genius brain pattern typically associated with gifted intelligence, often above 150, and combined with anxiety. It’s a common pattern I observe in individuals with a rapid brain. Thus, you likely fall into the gifted intelligence category, and you may experience anxiety and overthinking.”
Dr. Hill, who is also a UCLA professor, has a deep-rooted interest in neurofeedback training, which is fundamentally a form of brain training.
Neurofeedback, or EEG biofeedback, is a therapeutic approach that provides immediate visual or auditory feedback on brain activity. The system monitors brainwaves and uses sound or visual cues to help retrain these signals, rewarding positive changes in brain states.
Understanding Brain Waves
Brain waves consist of electrical impulses in the brain, which you are experiencing at this very moment. They enable your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors through communication between neurons, the fundamental units of the brain.
Neurons interact via electrical changes, generating rhythmic patterns of neural activity known as brain waves (or “neural oscillations” for a more technical term). We can visualize and analyze these brain waves using an EEG.
The Four Primary Types of Brain Waves
Beta Waves (12 to 38 Hz) — These waves dominate our waking consciousness as we process our environment and deal with daily stress. Beta activity is essential for cognitive tasks, alertness, engagement in problem-solving, and decision-making.
Alpha Waves (8 to 12 Hz) — Characterized as calm but alert, alpha waves represent the "flow state." They facilitate present-moment awareness, meditation, and the absorption of new information, promoting mental coordination and learning.
Theta Waves (3 to 8 Hz) — Predominantly found in sleep and deep meditation, theta waves serve as a gateway to learning, memory, and intuition. They occur when we focus inward, in the transitional space between wakefulness and sleep.
Delta Waves (0.5 to 3 Hz) — The slowest brainwaves, delta waves appear during deep, dreamless sleep and profound meditative states. They promote healing and regeneration, making restorative sleep vital for overall health.
At any given moment, a combination of these brainwaves is active, influenced by brain structure, past injuries, sleep quality, and various factors that affect emotional and cognitive health. Neurofeedback aims to optimize these brainwave patterns, potentially leading to lasting improvements in brain function.
The Role of Brain Mapping
Brain mapping serves as a crucial step in identifying specific areas of the brain that exhibit excessive or insufficient activity in certain brain waves. This knowledge is essential for optimization. qEEG brain maps can reveal issues related to sleep, impulsivity, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and more.
I recorded my consultation with Dr. Hill to provide insight into what a qEEG report entails and what one can learn about brain functionality. If you're interested, you can watch the video! Alternatively, feel free to check the screenshots and explanations below.
How Brain Mapping is Conducted
The process includes a series of tests: an attention test, a quantitative EEG test with eyes closed, and one with eyes open. Participants must avoid caffeine for 16 hours and alcohol for 12 hours prior to testing. Many opt to undergo brain mapping in the morning to enjoy coffee afterward, which Peak Brain LA conveniently provides on-site.
1. The Attention Test
The attention test was rather monotonous, which is precisely the point. Utilizing a software called IVA-2 CPT, clinicians can assess visual and auditory attention and response control. It is also a reliable tool for identifying ADHD. In studies involving children aged 7 to 12, the accuracy rate for diagnosing ADHD was 92%, while 90% of non-ADHD children were correctly identified.
The test lasted about 20 minutes, requiring participants to focus on a blank screen that flashed either the number 1 or 2 while listening to an audio cue. The goal was to click the mouse each time the number 1 appeared, which became increasingly challenging as concentration waned.
#### Results
I completed the test shortly after 8 AM, feeling jetlagged and sleep-deprived, so I wasn't expecting a strong performance. However, I scored “extremely high,” as noted by Dr. Hill, with minimal performance bottlenecks.
Scores are calculated against age norms, with an average score of 100 representing the mean. A standard deviation typically ranges from 12 to 15 points.
Breaking down the results:
My attention and response quotients were two standard deviations above average, which is excellent! Interestingly, while my auditory and visual attention scores were comparable, my visual response control outperformed my auditory impulsivity control by half a standard deviation. Yet, my auditory impulsivity was still more than one standard deviation higher than average.
Next, we analyzed my vigilance, focus, and speed. Vigilance measures awareness of new stimuli, while speed assesses response time. It turned out I excelled in focus, which is somewhat unusual; most people are more vigilant when faced with new stimuli but may drift during repetitive tasks. My lower vigilance score relative to focus suggested that my brain compensates for reduced vigilance with higher speed, resulting in an overall Attention Quotient of 128—two standard deviations above average.
Next, we examined my response control, prudence, consistency, and stamina. My prudence, or ability to adjust to new patterns, scored well both visually and auditorily. My consistency, or ability to maintain a good performance pattern, was the highest of all. However, my auditory stamina was merely average for my age.
Overall, my Response Control Quotient was 125 points, nearly two standard deviations above average.
2. The qEEG Test: Eyes Closed
According to Dr. Hill, interpreting brain maps can be complex, as they involve population-level analysis based on age. For instance, yellow areas indicate brain wave activity that is two standard deviations above average.
It's essential to understand that brain maps typically remain stable over time, regardless of changes in sleep patterns. However, they may change if one engages in consistent meditation or neurofeedback training. My lack of sleep and jetlag during the test did not impact my brain map results.
#### Definitions
- Absolute Power — measured in micro-volts, this is the most critical metric.
- Relative Power — presented as percentages, this metric elaborates on Absolute Power scores by showing how high or low a brain wave is in relation to others.
Purpose of the Test
The "Eyes Closed" test assesses brain function without visual distractions. Typically, one would expect to see lower scores for Beta and Alpha waves while the slower Theta and Delta waves would be higher due to reduced cognitive load.
In my case, the opposite occurred. I exhibited heightened Beta and Alpha activity in the mid- and back-line of my brain, which is unusual. Elevated back- and mid-brain Beta waves when eyes are closed may indicate hyper-vigilance, suggesting difficulty disengaging from environmental stimuli and potential sleep challenges.
Returning to my attention test scores, despite my lower vigilance score compared to focus and speed, it remained half a standard deviation above average, which was further validated on the brain map.
3. The qEEG Test: Eyes Open
Dr. Andrew Hill remarked that my brain maps appeared normal, without excessive anomalies. Noteworthy observations from my results include slightly elevated Alpha activity with eyes open, potentially reflecting mild fatigue in the visual system or markers of chronic sleep deprivation, impacting my visual attention later in the day.
Particularly, I exhibited high Alpha activity on the back-left side of my head, which may stem from a minor childhood injury. This might manifest as difficulty focusing in crowded environments, requiring extra effort to filter out surrounding conversations.
The Alpha brain wave measurement with eyes open serves as a useful indicator for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). In individuals with ADD, the Alpha brain map is typically solid red.
Jumping to relative power, while Alpha is dominating slightly, Theta appears lower—not absolutely low, but relatively so due to Alpha consuming energy resources in that region.
The Absolute Power for Alpha is elevated, and the pattern continues down the entire column. The cluster of red lines in the Coherence row for Alpha suggests the possibility of thought rumination and worry.
Dr. Hill noted that these minor bottlenecks in an otherwise high-performing brain could be effectively targeted through neurofeedback.
Final Thoughts
My attention and response control test indicated that I function at two standard deviations above average. The qEEG report revealed a brain characterized by numerous high-performance markers intertwined with specific bottlenecks.
Ultimately, I am functioning in a continuous flow state characterized by heightened focus, speed, and processing capabilities. While I have always been an enthusiastic learner capable of intense concentration, some bottlenecks emerged from sleep disturbances, past injuries, and tendencies towards overthinking.
Fortunately, these bottlenecks are not broad issues, allowing for targeted, effective, and permanent solutions through neurofeedback training. Dr. Hill estimates that 20–30 sessions would help manage rumination, ensuring it occurs only when desired. For deeper, faster sleep, a training duration of 3–4 months is recommended, with noticeable improvements expected in about 3–4 sessions or roughly two weeks.
Though brain maps typically remain stable year-to-year, attention performance can be sensitive to recent sleep deprivation. Given that I took the test while sleep-deprived and jetlagged, I may have been capable of scoring even higher if better rested.
I hope you found this exploration of brain mapping enlightening. For more insights and my personal biohacking experiences, visit www.canadianbiohacker.com.