The enemy within

When someone suffers a Traumatic Brain Injury, the attack on the brain comes from outside the skull. With stroke, the assault comes from within. A blood vessel suddenly bursts or leaks and blood rapidly overfills the brain's cavity. Competing with the Jello®-like brain for space, pressure from the escaping blood rapidly builds up and vital brain cells are damaged and some even destroyed.

The brain waves of Stroke

Neurologists have been using the Electroencephalogram (EEG, or brain wave analysis) to evaluate the damage caused by a stroke since the 1950s. However, the popular test was only useful in helping define damage and pathology. A couple of decades ago, things changed. The EEG took on a new face with exciting potential, one that would bring advanced therapy for the damaged and dysfunctional brain. “Functional Neurology” was born.

Two big breakthroughs allowed the dramatic shift: The commercial availability of the Quantitative EEG (QEEG or computerized EEG analysis), which, in turn, led to computer based Neurofeedback (brain wave training). With the QEEG, the brain’s functional characteristics can be measured and calculated, adding a new dimension to understanding the effects stroke and other neurological processes had on the brain’s ability to do its job; Neurofeedback allowed the dysfunctional performance characteristics of the brain to be remediated, and, regardless of the condition, function to be optimized.

Defining the damages; optimizing the resources

The precise analysis capabilities of the Quantitative EEG permitted researchers to develop a Normative Reference Database, a computer library of the brain waves of “normal” subjects. With these new tools, the performance characteristics of anyone’s brain can be compared to those with no known physical, mental, or neurological issues. Reports and comparisons include:

• Topograms (Brain maps) graphically show damaged and dysfunctional brain areas;


• Coherence evaluates the efficiency of the brain's communication networks, revealing performance areas that are over or under connected;


• Phase answers the question of whether information transfer is too fast or slow for optimal performance.
  

NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training™, a 20 year research project of Dr. Marvin Sams, taps into this data to help the brain reduce function-hampering slow waves, optimize brain cell firing in areas that are over and under active, and aid the brain in adjusting communication circuits and timing issues. Combined with appropriate physical therapy and emotional support, maximal potential for remediating the aftermath of stroke is achieved.

NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training™ sessions include:

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


• Exclusive Audio-Visual Entrainment (flashing light and pulsing sound) programs created by Dr. Sams help “pull” or “nudge” the brain out of “stuck” brain patterns.


• Transcranial DC Modulation remediates brain function with a gentle DC current across the scalp. Over 60 scientific studies document its ability to modulate and stabilize brain function.


• For those physically able, Heart Rate Variability, a biofeedback based breathing technique, is taught for greater emotional resilience and applied intelligence. 

To measure progress, a Quantitative EEG is done before each session and statistical comparisons are made to the initial QEEG evaluation and the previous session. Comparative Normative Reference Database reports are also done from time to time to evaluate improvements in Amplitude power, Coherence and Phase. This tracking and attention to detail allows the determination of how much progress has been made session to session. It is an important benefit, and only offered at The Sams Center.

Training objectives

The objective of NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training™ is to bypass the physical body and work directly with the brain. In this way, the optimal possibility of recovery occurs. With the brain functioning to the full extent of its resources, therapies such as Physical and Occupational Therapy are much more effective and efficient.

Depending on the brain’s available resources, it is expected that attention, focus, mood, memory, and emotional resilience will all improve. Symptoms typically reduce as training progresses, usually starting around sessions 10 to12. Most will show significant improvement in 24-30 sessions. Even greater gains can be had with a more sessions, some or most of which can be done at home with a home trainer for a reduced cost.

It is expected that gains will hold with an adequate number of sessions, and that even greater improvement will occur over the next few months after training is complete.

Locked mood: Restricted involvement

A major advantage of NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training™ is that it helps the trainee become a more active participant in the recovery process. As is common knowledge, a stroke on one side of the brain causes numbness or paralysis of the arm or leg (or both) on the opposite side of the body. Less well known is that mood can also be affected. This surprising effect is because the right side of the brain manages negative emotions while the left side is in charge of positive thinking.

If the stroke is on the right side of the brain, spirits can stay high with the person not being able to recognize that there is a serious problem. Laying there paralyzed on one side of their body, he or she might even argue that there is nothing wrong and they just want to go home. If this occurs, it is because the brain has reassigned duties normally performed by the right side to the less damaged upbeat, optimistic left side. Without the negative right side giving emotional balance and a more realistic understanding of what is going on, the left hemisphere may be restricted in recognizing and analyzing events or situations, even big ones such as not being able to move an arm or leg.

If there is a stroke on the left side of the brain, on the other hand, there will likely be paralysis on the right side of the body, speech may be negatively affected (because the “mechanics” of speech are on the left side), and, even if the damage is not severe, there may despondency and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. This is because the pessimistic nature of the right side of the brain is in full bloom and dominating the personality.

Regardless of which side the stroke occurred, mood will likely affect recovery. For right sided strokes, there may be denial and restricted participation. With left sided damage, depression and feelings of defeat can markedly decrease motivation and full participation in therapies. NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training™ helps create a sense of well being and an enhanced appreciation of life. This shift encourages a greater participation in the recovery effort.

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.

For more information

For detailed information about NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training, click here to go to our Main Page

To go to our Contact page

Coming to Plano (Dallas), Texas difficult right now or your budget is tight? To learn about the Pegasus A.V.E. System