BCIA Continuing Education Posts

Triphasic waves are among the most recognizable and clinically meaningful non-epileptiform EEG patterns encountered in patients with altered mental status.

This study makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the effects of neurofeedback on ADHD-related brain activity.

A growing body of research and clinical innovation has underscored the need to integrate multiple therapeutic modalities like neurofeedback and biofeedback when working with clients who present with complex psychological and physiological concerns.

Using a large nationally representative dataset, the researchers found that people hospitalized for TBI were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic conditions than similar individuals without TBI.

Frontal intermittent rhythmic delta activity (FIRDA) is not a diagnosis—it’s a clue.

Ben's case exemplifies the core insight of Dr. Swatzyna’s clinician detective model: that not all psychiatric symptoms are psychiatric in origin, and that functional abnormalities in brain activity—detectable on EEG—can signal the presence of invisible, systemic pathology.

All montages compare EEG activity between one or more pairs of electrode sites.

The most pressing clinical issue surrounding fast alpha is its frequent misclassification, particularly when spectral peaks in the 18–19 Hz range are erroneously interpreted as beta spindling, pathological fast activity, or early signs of drug effects.

We wish clinicians knew that OIRDA is not an epileptiform discharge. It does not reflect hyperexcitability or paroxysmal depolarization, and in isolation, it is not a seizure pattern.

Before a diagnosis of a mental disorder can be made, the clinician must rule out that the symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition.

Benzodiazepines vary widely in EEG and clinical effects—Subtypes differ by half-life and receptor affinity, influencing sedation, rebound symptoms, and cortical modulation.

Antidepressants, particularly those that are highly activating or serotonergically potent, may be the worst choice in patients with SEB, IEDs, or focal abnormalities.

Reduced alpha rhythms in PTSD are thought to be involved in poor excitatory/inhibitory balance in the brain.

Used responsibly, the qEEG enhances interpretation; used in isolation, it risks misrepresentation.

Small-N designs are particularly powerful when the treatment effect is large and immediate, allowing researchers to infer causality with confidence.

The goal of this post is to help you think like a scientist when it comes to evaluating questionable claims.

To support a causal claim, a study must meet three essential criteria: covariance, temporal precedence, and internal validity.

Interrogating association claims means asking three core questions: Were the variables measured well (construct validity)? Can the results be generalized to other populations (external validity)? And is the association statistically strong, significant, and precise (statistical validity)?

The four big validities offer a comprehensive toolkit for evaluating psychological research. Construct validity ensures that variables are accurately measured or manipulated. External validity tells us whether the results generalize. Statistical validity ensures the numbers are trustworthy. Internal validity confirms that cause-and-effect relationships are legitimate.

Association claims are foundational to psychological research because they help us identify variables that are connected and warrant further investigation. While they cannot prove causality, they provide essential groundwork for asking deeper questions.