Archive for the ‘Software Related’ Category

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Symptom Tracking on EEG Expert

Wednesday, March 15th, 2006

With the new year I have reorganized my new client evaluations to include both the Qik CPT (replacing the TOVA) and Symptom Tracking on EEG Expert. The idea of tracking relevant symptoms every session or every few sessions is an attractive one. But implementing this change takes some thought and preparation. EEG Expert makes the data collection and display easy. I needed to think about exactly how to fold this into the evaluation and into subsequent sessions.

I now find that the Symptom Tracking setup works well for me near the end of the evaluation. I start with the interview, then the Qik CPT, then the neurofeedback session. After the session, we discuss the CPT results and training results. Then, before a discussion of how to proceed with neurofeedback, I suggest that it would be helpful to choose five to ten primary symptoms that we can track every five sessions as we proceed with training. I have by then reviewed my interview notes and summarized reported symptoms during the CPT. I also have a print-out of all the available symptoms from EEG Expert, on which I have highlighted what I think might be useful symptoms to track. (more…)

Posted in Clinical Methods, Software Related | No Comments »

A Commons Without Tragedy

Thursday, September 29th, 2005

It was back in 1968 that Garrett Hardin published his famous piece, “The Tragedy of the Commons,” in Science (162, pp 1243-1248, Dec. 13, 1968, American Association for the Advancement of Science). The example of over-grazing of lands held in common was given as an exemplar of a universal truth, namely that assets held in common by a large population inevitably end up over-exploited. This follows from the ineluctable workings of Adam Smith’s Invisible Hand, in which each individual acts in his own interest. He derives the whole benefit from his own exploitation of the commons, whereas the costs are distributed among all, so he bears only a fraction. As the population grows, the ratio of concentrated benefits to distributed costs only grows, and the incentive to exploit only escalates with it.

The sense in which Hardin uses the word tragedy is that of Alfred North Whitehead: “The essence of dramatic tragedy is not unhappiness. It resides in the solemnity of the remorseless working of things.” Of course such workings out of irresistible trends results in unhappiness, and we require unhappiness to give the futility of escape dramatic poignancy. Says Hardin, “Ruin is the destination toward which all men rush, each pursuing his own best interest in a society that believes in the freedom of the commons. Freedom in a commons brings ruin to all.” So, unhappiness portends–and not only unhappiness, but ruin as well. It would be best to take notice. (more…)

Posted in Application of Neurofeedback, Professional Issues, Software Related | No Comments »

Waiting for EEG Expert to Print

Wednesday, May 28th, 2003

I have for some time used the TOVA as a central part of my assessment. Before EEG Expert I had developed a routine of administering the TOVA and printing out a report after the interview and before the evaluation neurofeedback session. This gave me a chance to take a quick look at the results before training. But I would go over the report in detail with the client after the training session. I got pretty good at reading upside down as I looked at the report from the other side of the desk. I didn’t usually send these reports home with people because they were not self-explanatory. So one copy of the report for the file was sufficient.

When I started using the EEG Expert report on TOVA, I was faced with some new opportunities and some challenges for my normal routine. By attaching an inexpensive color printer to my TOVA computer I could now generate beautiful color reports. The challenge was waiting for the printer to finish printing so I could get started with the neurofeedback session. The TOVA is on my game computer, which has internet access. This is convenient until I need to wait for it to print. To make matters worse, I really want two copies of the report. The EEG Expert report on TOVA contains a clear description of the test and all the variables. It presents the data graphically and makes interpretive statements regarding the client’s performance. I find this an excellent report to send home with clients, which can then be shown to other family members. They get to take home a measure of where they are starting. And I would rather they look forward to an improved TOVA report than improved brain waves. I find TOVA performance a much more reliable measure of progress. But it takes a really long time to print two copies, so I have a problem. (more…)

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