Papers by kirtley thornton
The electrophysiological effects of a brain injury on auditory memory functioning The QEEG correl... more The electrophysiological effects of a brain injury on auditory memory functioning The QEEG correlates of impaired memory
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2018
Research Objectives: To investigate the value of the quantitative EEG variables in the diagnosis ... more Research Objectives: To investigate the value of the quantitative EEG variables in the diagnosis and treatment of the memory problems of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design: The research employed discriminant analysis to differentiate between TBI and normals. The intervention research employed the results of a QEEG cognitive activation evaluation to determine the focus of the EEG biofeedback interventions (45 sessions). Setting: Research was conducted in a private practice location over a 20+ year period. Participants: For the diagnosis research there was a sample size of normal subjects (109) and TBI subjects (89). Discriminant analysis was conducted across 5 cognitive tasks (eyes closed, auditory attention, visual attention, auditory memory, reading memory). For the rehabilitation research there was a total of 59 subjects (normal (12), learning disabled (32), brain injured (15). Interventions: The EEG biofeedback treatment focused on the variables which were below normative values in the original evaluation on the variables which were related to performance in the normal group. Main Outcome Measure(s): During the intervention period, the participant was intermittently reassessed on their memory. Results: The discriminant analysis indicated a 100% correct classification rate between normal and brain injured. Averaging improvement across 3 studies showed average improvements of 1.78 standard deviations across all participants and a 2.3 SD improvement in the brain injured participant in auditory memory. Conclusions: The QEEG can be a useful diagnostic tool in the determination and rehabilitation of a TBI patient. Author(s) Disclosures: Dr. Thornton is developing software which can employ the statistical analysis involved in the discrimination of a brain injury research he has reported. Dr. Thornton is developing software which can conduct an automated cognitive QEEG evaluation as well as implement appropriate interventions for the EEG biofeedback sessions.
NeuroRehabilitation, 2002
Five clinical case studies (1 normal, 3 brain injured and 1 subject who had a left frontal hemato... more Five clinical case studies (1 normal, 3 brain injured and 1 subject who had a left frontal hematoma) are presented which addressed the effectiveness of EEG biofeedback for auditory memory impairment. A normative QEEG activation database of 59 right-handed subjects was developed, which delineated the QEEG variables which were positively related to auditory memory performance (paragraphs). Persons who had experienced a brain injury underwent the same procedure employed in the development of the database. The person's values on the effective parameters of memory functioning were determined. EEG biofeedback interventions were determined by the individual's deviation from the normative reference group in terms of the relevant QEEG parameters of effective auditory memory (paragraph recall). Improvements ranged from 39% to 134% and either maintained or improved in all of the subjects who had a follow up assessment that occurred from one month to one year following termination of treatment.
The Role of the Quantitative EEG in the Diagnosis and Rehabilitation of the Traumatic Brain Injured Patients
Concussions in Athletics, 2014
The quantitative EEG (QEEG) has proven to be useful in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of the co... more The quantitative EEG (QEEG) has proven to be useful in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of the cognitive problems of the traumatic brain injured (TBI) subject. This chapter reviews the evidence on the use of the QEEG in discriminant analysis of TBI vs. normal individuals and the cognitive rehabilitation of the cognitive problems of the TBI patient. The research documents two cognitive activation approaches to QEEG analysis which have obtained 100 % accuracy in their diagnostic decision. Previous cognitive rehabilitation efforts have not been particularly effective in improving cognitive performance. The coordinated allocation of resource model of brain functioning was proposed as a conceptual framework to understand the brain’s electrophysiological functioning. The model employs a cognitive activation evaluation and comparison to a normative activation database approach to determine the EEG biofeedback protocols. The approach has produced an average of 2.31 standard deviation improvements in auditory and reading memory in the TBI patient. Thus, the evidence supports the use of the activation database-guided QEEG in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of the TBI patient.
Methodology for Discriminating Concussion Subjects from Normal Subjects by Identifying and Using QEEG correlates of concussion across 4 cognitive tasks
Method for improving memory by identifying and using QEEG parameters correlated to specific cognitive functioning
Method for the display, analysis, classification, and correlation of electrical brain function potentials
QEEG Correlates of Effective Cognitive Functioning (memory and problem solving) in Diverse Clinical Conditions
The Improvement/Rehabilitation of Memory Functioning with Electrophysiological Interventions
QEEG of face name memory
Abstract The quantitative EEG (QEEG) has proven to be an important methodology in the understandi... more Abstract The quantitative EEG (QEEG) has proven to be an important methodology in the understanding of brain functioning. The Coordinated Allocation of Resource (CAR) model maintains that cognitive effectiveness depends on the employment of a specific set of resources for specific cognitive tasks, which overlap in some situations. The model employs the flashlight metaphor in understanding the coherence and phase relations between locations. The metaphor asserts that each location can function as a flashlight that sends out a ―beam‖ to the other locations within a frequency. The ―beam‖ can involve all the other locations or be a mini-flashlight that involves only selected locations. The task of recalling names of faces was examined in the context of the CAR model. The developmental changes that occur during the encoding of names of faces include increases in diffusely located communication connections involving theta (4-8 Hz) and alpha (8-13 Hz), increases in the relative power value...
The Anatomy of the Lie
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 1995
The use of the QEEG (Quantitative Electroencephalography) in the detection of lies was explored e... more The use of the QEEG (Quantitative Electroencephalography) in the detection of lies was explored employing a special electrode cap and specialized video recording and audio equipment. Four subjects were employed in this preliminary research. The methodology resulted in correct classification of 73% of both "true" and "false" events. For four events he results were too ambiguous to make a reliable prediction but none of the events was incorrectly classified. Thus the method offers the ability to decide when it can predict accurately and, when it can, it is 100% accurate if the criteria are met. Fwther research is needed with different subjects and expansion of methodological refinements to further validate this approach.
Journal of Neurotherapy, 2006
Previous attempts by the author to discern if the qEEG could be an effective instrument in the de... more Previous attempts by the author to discern if the qEEG could be an effective instrument in the detection of a lie resulted in positive results (100% effective, 73% of the time; Thornton, 1995). The procedure failed to make a decision in 4 of the 15 events being examined. A new design was created which requires no verbal response of the participant. The participant in the present study was presented with four instructions: (a) allow yourself to be anxious, (b) listen to stories of events of which you have no direct experience or knowledge, (c) listen to stories of self-reported true (real crimes) events which you participated in and feel guilty about your participation, and (d) block the real crime stories (events provided by participant) as they are read to you. The participant's eyes were closed during the entire collection of data and no verbal response was elicited. Analysis of the different cognitive/emotional states with qEEG measures revealed an intriguing predominant pattern of left hemisphere/posterior (dorsal) activation for the experience of anxiety, right hemisphere (right temporal, in particular) activation for the experiencing of guilt and more centrally located activations when the participant attempted to block the real stories.
Journal of Neurotherapy, 1995
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 2003
The effect of a brain injury on the quantitative EEG (QEEG) variables during an auditory memory a... more The effect of a brain injury on the quantitative EEG (QEEG) variables during an auditory memory activation condition was examined with 56 normal subjects and 85 mild traumatic brain-injured (MTBI) subjects. An analysis was conducted on the different response patterns of the two groups, the variables which were correlated with memory performance in the brain-injured group, and the variables which predicted the memory score for the combined two groups (normal and brain injured). The three conditions included the input task, the immediate recall, and the delayed recall task. The consistent effect of a brain injury was a lowering of the connectivity patterns in the beta1 and beta2 frequencies (phase and coherences) and increases predominantly in the relative power of beta1 (13-32 Hz), which were correlated with the differences in recall. There is a subtle shift to right hemisphere/right temporal functioning and employment of the higher beta1 and beta2 frequencies (phase and coherence) in the response pattern of the MTBI subject. Memory functioning is predominantly positively correlated with connection activity (phase and coherence) and negatively correlated with beta activation at specific locations.
Subtype Analysis of Learning Disability by Quantitative Electroencephalography Patterns
aapb.org
... Psychological Bulletin, 101, 192-212. Watts, R., Liston, C., Niogi, S., & Ulug, AM (2003)... more ... Psychological Bulletin, 101, 192-212. Watts, R., Liston, C., Niogi, S., & Ulug, AM (2003). ... Correspondence: Kirtley Thornton, Suite 2a, 2509 Park Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080, email: ket@chp-neurotherapy.com. Kirtley Thornton Thornton
Journal of Neurotherapy, 1996
Quantitative electroencephalography in the assessment and rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury
This chapter has two goals: to provide the reader with a general awareness of traumatic brain inj... more This chapter has two goals: to provide the reader with a general awareness of traumatic brain injury (TBI), mild in particular, and the multiple complex issues involved in this area, and to offer a detailed understanding of the role of quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) in the assessment and treatment of the cognitive defi cits of the TBI patient. Sections I–IV address the fi rst goal. Section I discusses defi nitions, sports, vulnerable groups, the concept of spontaneous cure, and roles of loss of consciousness and post-traumatic amnesia criteria. Section II addresses the biomechanics of a TBI. Section III discusses the physical damage to the brain caused by the TBI as measured by modern medical imaging. Section IV reviews the neuropsychological and emotional results of a TBI that may be clinically manifested in a patient. The second goal is addressed in section V, which discusses the scientifi c basics of qEEG technology, development of the technology over the past two dec...
Uploads
Papers by kirtley thornton