Hello all – here is a brief summary of our meeting with Dr. Lambos last Tues Jan 4, 7PM. 1. Looking at the raw waves from MRI and EEG recently, it appears that Queena’s whole musculature is becoming “less rigid.” (moving her muscles better and more voluntarily)
Looking especially at the motor-cortex – which was the most damaged part of her brain – this was the part that therefore has the most opportunity for new connections.
(**note: Marcel, hairdresser, commented in December that Queena’s hair was “more difficult” to cut this time as she was pushing back with her neck more. This shows greater control of her muscles and is GOOD.)
** The NEXT thing to look for is increased emotional response. This would be the next step. The motor areas would be now trying to communicate emotion.
(** note: Vanna comments that Queena now says NO with her whole face…. a big difference from a year ago, when her face often showed no affect.)
2. Looking at the first series of brain waves, it is clear there is less see-sawing (extremes from one end to another) as compared to the start of her treatment with Dr. Lambos. The brain waves highs and lows are now more condensed in the direction of the mean. (less extremes)
For example, she now sits and allows herself to be recorded. No big waves up and down. This is good.
3. Looking at the second series, the EEG, there are also more normal limits. In other words, not so much firing of the part of the brain that is still working, to compensate for the other parts. The overall pattern is improving. In the area of cognitive functioning, the differences are taking place (fewer red and blue areas, compared to tests from Week 1).
4. Looking at the third series ( LORETA), the frontal lobes are not overheating as before (again, no red, as in the first week). She still has damage, but what IS left, she is starting to use more.
* Her “executive functioning” is now to the point where she can tell the rest of the body to do stuff. It may not react (the body), but she can now at least attempt to do this.
5. Looking at the fourth series (LENS), her brain is still very suppressed, but now reaction is exerting (or overexerting) in the sensory motor areas. “She is trying to rewire what circuitry is left.”
* Earlier – first week tests: the frontal lobe was the most inefficient. NOW it is the sensory motor areas that are the least efficient. This is an improvement, as that frontal lobe area is the Executive Functioning.
6. There is every reason to “believe she will continue to respond” to more treatments. The question is how much. This will be an issue of money – if unlimited resources, yes, she will continue to improve in small increments. If money is not unlimited, the family must decide if the cost can be justified by results, which may be small and incremental.
7. We asked about the USF initiative for BCI potential and Dr. Lambos said this is a similar procedure, but in the experimental stages, so therefore it will not have the cost. The procedure would not hurt Queena, but it is all experimental, so results would be new and unreplicated. (not tried before) He repeats it would not hurt Queena.
8. Dr. Lambos reiterated that he is willing to continue as long as the family thinks it is worth the cost and has the funding. Next steps would be to decrease thresholds so Queena has to work harder… in other words, keep pushing her to improve.
WILLIAM A. LAMBOS, PH.D., LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST, IS THE CHIEF COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENTIST AND DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AT CNS WELLNESS IN TAMPA. HE RECEIVED A DOCTORATE IN PSYCHOLOGY, A MASTER’S DEGREE IN REHABILITATION AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, AND A POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY FROM FIELDING GRADUATE UNIVERSITY. HE USES AN EEG TECHNIQUE CALLED QUANTITATIVE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY, OR QEEG, THAT TAKES A STANDARD EEG TEST OF ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY IN THE BRAIN AND RUNS IT THROUGH A COMPUTER THAT COMPARES IT HUNDREDS OF “NORMAL” EEGS. HE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH QUEENA FOR OVER TWO YEARS NOW, AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY HELPFUL THERAPY.
