A QEEG brain map shows how your brain is actually firing, so treatment for ADHD, autism, brain injury, anxiety and depression that hasn't responded to medication is aimed at your data instead of a guess. Mapping, neurofeedback and neurostimulation are provided by Peak Neuroscience, Dr. Jason Mishalanie's neurotherapy practice, at its location inside Taproot Therapy Collective in Hoover, off I-65 at the Riverchase exit and about fifteen minutes from downtown Birmingham. Every map is analyzed by EEG analyst Diana Pizarro.
What is QEEG brain mapping?
A cap of electrodes records your brain's electrical activity at rest, with eyes open and eyes closed. The recording is cleaned of artifacts and compared with a database of people your age, and the differences are displayed as a map: which regions are over-aroused, which are under-powered, and which aren't communicating well with each other. We don't choose a neurofeedback or neurostimulation protocol until we have that map. Dr. Mishalanie is board certified in neurofeedback by the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance, and the International Society for Neuroregulation and Research is the field's main professional and research body.
Who is brain mapping and neurofeedback for?
People most often come to us for ADHD, autism in children and adults, concussion and other brain injuries, depression that two or three medications haven't touched, anxiety that runs in the body whatever you tell yourself, PTSD alongside trauma therapy, and stuttering. Many adults also bring a simpler question: is this ADHD, autism, trauma, or some mix of all three?
The strongest research is in ADHD. A 2009 meta-analysis by Arns and colleagues found large improvements in inattention and impulsivity and moderate improvements in hyperactivity. Later trials with stricter blinding have produced more mixed results, which is one reason we map first, re-map partway through, and set expectations at the start rather than promising outcomes.
How it works
- Free 15-minute intake call
Our coordinator books your clinical interview with Dr. Mishalanie and quotes the package.
- The map
About an hour in the office: a cap of electrodes, eyes open, then eyes closed. Nothing is sent into the brain during mapping.
- Analysis and review
Diana Pizarro cleans and analyzes the recording, then you sit down with Dr. Mishalanie to go over your map and agree on a plan.
- Training sessions
Neurofeedback, LENS or neurostimulation in the office, with a re-map partway through to check that the brain is changing.
The neurotherapy tools, compared
| Feature | Clinical EEG | QEEG brain map | Neurofeedback | LENS | Neurostimulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Looks for seizures and gross abnormalities | Compares your activity with an age-matched database | Rewards the brainwave patterns you want more of | Low-energy feedback that needs no effort from you | Low-intensity stimulation aimed at a specific region |
| Who runs it | A neurologist | Dr. Mishalanie, with analysis by Diana Pizarro | Dr. Mishalanie | Dr. Mishalanie | Dr. Mishalanie |
| Effort from you | None | Sit still for about an hour | Attention during sessions | Almost none | None |
| Where | Hospital or neurology clinic | Hoover office | Hoover office | Hoover office | Hoover office |
Is a brain map right for me? A 30-second check
The neuroscience team
Licensed psychologist and founder of Peak Neuroscience. PhD in physiological psychology from Texas Christian University, Board Certified in Neurofeedback, more than twenty years in neurotherapy, and formerly Chief Psychologist of the Developmental Disabilities division at Metrocare Services in Dallas.
Electrical engineer and EEG analyst. Spent six years in UAB's Department of Neurology epilepsy lab, where she was first author on published research on automated seizure detection. She analyzes every brain map.
Cost and insurance
Brain mapping, neurofeedback and neurostimulation are billed separately from psychotherapy, and our intake coordinator quotes the current package on your free 15-minute call. Psychotherapy alongside it is covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama for most of our clinicians, with private-pay and sliding-scale options. If you're paying out of pocket, you have the right to a written Good Faith Estimate before your first session.
Frequently asked questions
Is a QEEG the same as the EEG a neurologist orders?
A clinical EEG looks for seizures and gross abnormalities. A QEEG starts from the same kind of recording, then quantifies it and compares your brain's activity with a database of people your age. That comparison is what makes it useful for attention, mood and brain-injury questions rather than epilepsy. If you're worried about seizures, see a neurologist.
Can a brain map tell whether it's ADHD, autism or trauma?
It can show which patterns your brain is running, which often helps when symptoms overlap. It doesn't diagnose on its own or replace a clinical evaluation, and Dr. Mishalanie interprets every map alongside your history.
How many neurofeedback sessions does it take?
It depends on the map and the goal. Dr. Mishalanie gives you a realistic range at the map review rather than a fixed number, and re-maps partway through to check that the brain is changing.
Does it hurt, and are there side effects?
Mapping is painless; the cap only records. During training, some people notice temporary tiredness, a mild headache or feeling wired after a session. Tell Dr. Mishalanie about anything you notice so he can adjust the protocol.
Can I keep taking my medication?
Yes. Don't change or stop any medication on your own. Keep working with your prescriber, and let us know what you take, since some medications change how a map looks.
Can any of this be done online?
No. Brain mapping, neurofeedback and neurostimulation require the equipment at our Hoover office. Psychotherapy alongside it can be in person or by video anywhere in Alabama.
Book a brain map in Hoover
Your first call is a free 15-minute conversation with our intake coordinator. The office is off I-65 at the Riverchase exit in Hoover, with free parking at the door.
Book onlineCall (205) 598-6471Clinically reviewed by Dr. Jason Mishalanie, PhD, BCN, September 2026. This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you're in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.