The Value of EEG-Based Electromagnetic Tomographic Analysis in Human Performance and Mental Health
Most work done in areas such as counseling, therapy, leadership, and coaching involves some aspect of decision making. New electroencephalographic (EEG) electromagnetic tomographic analysis (ETA) imaging techniques provide a mechanism for exploring decisions, while the individual is directly engaged in everyday choice making, by exposing our precognitive emotional responses to identified thoughts, feelings, and actions. This article discusses gamma wave activity research, at the precognitive level, and its use for describing approach-avoidance decision making. Armed with these new insights, an individual can better understand the emotional triggers that affect our daily decisions.
A typical display of an electroencephalographic recording from the scalp, along with markings that show the exact time interval that will be analyzed and imaged.
A typical standardized low-resolution electromagnetic tomography three-dimensional image of brain activation, showing the regions involved.
Example of frontal lobe gamma asymmetry with positive, neutral, and negative responses. The orientation of the brain is facing forward such that the right hemisphere is on the left side of the image (to view a color image of this and other figures, visit: http://www.ttisi.com/research/eeg/). Red colors indicate an increase in gamma activity, blue colors indicate a decrease in gamma activity, and green colors are little or no activation. In gray scales, darker shading in the left hemisphere indicates a positive response and darker shading in the right hemisphere indicates a negative response.
Emotional reactions to the stimulus word enthusiastic presented in different languages. The orientation of the brain is facing forward such that the right hemisphere is on the left side of the image. Yellow and red colors indicate an increase in gamma activity, blue colors indicate a decrease in gamma activity, and green colors are little or no activation (to view a color image of this and other figures, visit: http://www.ttisi.com/research/eeg/).
Event-related responses to words presented to a subject under investigation for a crime. The probe words show different sequences of emotional activity, across time. The orientation of the brain is facing forward such that the right hemisphere is on the left side of the image. Yellow and red colors indicate an increase in gamma activity, blue colors indicate a decrease in gamma activity, and green colors are little or no activation (to view a color image of this and other figures, visit: http://www.ttisi.com/research/eeg/). The speed of these images is at a rate of six frames per second, which is directed by the image processing ability of BrainAvatar® (Brainmaster Technologies Inc., Bedford, OH) at present.
The image of the nonsmoker reflects strong avoidance response to the term smoking. The image of the smoker indicates an approach response to the term smoking.
Thomas F. Collura
Nancy L. Wigton
Carlos Zalaquett
SeriaShia Chatters-Smith
Ronald J. Bonnstetter
Contributor Notes