The Center for Brain Health is currently recruiting for a research study. It is a treatment study that is researching a new approach to improving thinking skills in adults who have survived a stroke and/or traumatic brain injury. 20 people are needed, and the study starts March 10th.
The study involves participation in 12 group sessions (one hour for each session) to discuss and learn information and strategies that could help improve thinking skills. The sessions will run for 2 months - twice a week for the first five weeks and once a week for an additional three weeks. Treatment includes reading, writing and discussing with other group members and researchers. The treatment will be at The Center for Brain Health, 2200 W. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas 75235. http://www.brainhealth.utdallas.edu/contact/
Testing will be done prior to treatment, immediately following treatment and 6 months post treatment. Testing includes fMRI (functional MRI, using a standard MRI machine), neuropsychological testing (paper pencil tasks) and discourse (language) testing (paper pencil tasks). fMRI testing will be done at UT Southwestern. All other tests and treatment will be done at The Center for Brain Health.
Participation in this study is free, but those wanting to participate must meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria as well as meet the requirements for MRI testing. Participants must be able to make a commitment to the study (8 weeks of treatment, pre/post testing and 6 month follow up testing).
Contact information: Ms. Asha Kuppachi (972) 883 3218.
Inclusion criteria:
Stroke and/or traumatic brain injury survivors at least one year post injury, between the ages of 19 and 65; able to read and write in English; physically able to write.
Exclusion criteria:
Have pre-existing brain abnormality such as cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, schizophrenia or other psychiatric illness, mental retardation, learning disability.
Currently in therapy such as speech, occupational or neuropsychological rehabilitation.
Currently using any psychotropic drugs (http://www.cncplan.com/psychotropic%20medications%20list.htm)
Have any hearing loss or uncorrected visual deficit.
Abuse drugs or alcohol.
Claustrophobia (fear or discomfort of narrow/confined spaces – specifically for MRI machine).
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Upcoming conference:
The Brain Injury Association of America -
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) will present the 2008 National Brain Injury Caregivers’ Conference June 6-8, 2008 at the Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport Hotel in Dallas, TX. http://www.biausa.org/livingwithbi.htm
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Next meeting: March 10, 2008
Lifelines: The Brain Injury Support Groupmeeting at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
The March meeting is scheduled for Monday, the 10th, from 6:30 – 8:00 PM (directions below). We are honored to have Dr. Marvin Sams present information about Neurofeedback for brain injury.
What is Neurofeedback?
We are able to go about our day because our brain talks to itself with highly complex waves of energy. These internal dialogues allow us to pay attention and focus on what is going on in our world, to remember what it is we want to know or need to do, to go to and stay asleep, and to color our life with emotional actions and reactions.
Medical professionals have known about these electrical conversations for over 60 years, using a devise called the electroencephalogram (EEG) to record the brain waves. Neurologists (medical doctors that diagnose and treat diseases of the brain and nervous system) find the EEG indispensable, looking for distortions in the brain wave patterning to help diagnose seizures and manage epilepsy, and to help diagnose or rule out a brain tumor, blood clot, or stroke in those with such symptoms as black outs, headaches, or unusual behavior. A few years ago, computer technology had advanced to a point that a brain wave analysis system could be created that broke down the complexity of the brain wave patterning. As research in major medical centers evolved, the Quantitative EEG revealed that there is much more to brain waves than the detection of brain disease: The technology can also let us know where and in what way the brain is efficiently doing and not doing its job.
The brain, in other words, uses the neurofeedback tones to do what it was designed to do by nature: Use information coming in from the outside world to learn or teach itself something. In this instance, the "something" it learns is that increasing (or decreasing) certain frequencies helps it better focus, understand incoming information better, and execute complex tasks in a more efficient way. There is a fundamental difference between traditional instrumented biofeedback and the more recently developed neurofeedback. Biofeedback helps us learn to take conscious control of our internal terrain for better management of stress and stress-related health problems. With neurofeedback, however, it is not "us" that learns the new behavior: It is our brain. Just as "we" learned to walk and ride a bike, all "we" have to do is go through the motions. (In this case, sit with electrodes on our head and play a video game or watch a video.) Our brain quickly and easily learns what it needs to do to perform complex tasks in a better and more efficient way.
Who is Dr. Sams?
Marvin W. Sams, N.D., R. EEG T., Dipl. EEG, BCIA-EEG is a Certified EEG Biofeedback Practitioner (Biofeedback Certification Institute of America), a Registered EEG Technologist (American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic Technologists), and a Certified Quantitative EEG Technologist (Association of Certified Quantitative EEG Technologists).
He is Past President and Past Board Member of the American Society of EEG Technologists, and Past Board Member of The American Board of Registration of EEG Technologists. Currently, Dr. Sams is Technical Editor of the Journal of Neurotherapy, Board Member of the American Board of Certification in Quantitative Electroencephalography, Secretary-Treasurer of the EEG Biofeedback Division of the American Association of Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, and Immediate Past President of the American Association of Quantitative EEG Technologists.
Dr. Sams has almost four decades of psychophysiological, electrophysiological and electroneurodiagnostic experience in both clinical and research setting. His past professional affiliations include: Staff EEG Technologist at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, Research Supervisor of the Section of EEG at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, and Faculty and Supervisor of the EEG Laboratories at the Ohio State University Hospitals, Columbus, Ohio.
*Text from Dr. Sams’ web site at http://www.thesamscenter.com/index.htm
Contact information:
The Sams Center
2301 Ohio Drive Suite 200
Plano, Texas 75093
(972) 612-0160
Please send a reply email to Kimberly Aikman (kaikman1@sbcglobal.net) or call 214 289 0286 so we know to expect you.
Directions to Presbyterian Hospital:
Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas is located on Walnut Hill Lane, just east of U.S. 75 (Central Expressway). The meetings are in the
Fogelson Building, Ground Floor, Classroom A
Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
8200 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, TX 75231
When turning into the campus from eastbound Walnut Hill, the best route to take may be the driveway prior to the light for the main entrance. The driveway curves away from the main entrance (direction towards North Central Expressway) and the entry to the parking lot is on the left (gated entry). The Fogelson Building has a small dome on top and is next to the Margot Perot Center.
Using the underground parking is the easiest way to reach the meeting location; if entering from the main floor, cross the foyer (past the stairs) and take the elevators to the ground floor. Classroom A is to the left off the elevators.
Remember that parking is now free! Be sure to get your validation sticker at the start of the meeting.
Neither Lifelines nor Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas endorse or recommend any method, treatment, or a program for persons with a brain injury. The intent of the group is to provide support and make information available. Attendance in the group is not a substitute for an informed discussion between a patient and his/her health care provider. No endorsement is intended nor implied.
Neither Lifelines nor Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas endorse or recommend any method, treatment, or a program for persons with a brain injury. The intent of the group is to provide support and make information available. Attendance in the group is not a substitute for an informed discussion between a patient and his/her health care provider. No endorsement is intended nor implied.
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