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Microcurrent Neurofeedback vs Brain Mapping: What Each Actually Involves
The short answer, then a plain look at both.
Brain mapping, usually called a qEEG, is a recording. Sensors read your brain's electrical activity for a set period and software compares it with a reference database. Microcurrent neurofeedback is a session. Sensors read the same kind of activity, and a very low signal is briefly returned through them while you sit still.
At Momentous Neurofeedback in Arvada and Broomfield, we offer microcurrent sessions and do not require a brain map before you start. Many clinics in the Denver area lead with a map. Neither choice is a promise of results, and this page describes what each one involves so you can compare.
If you are weighing a clinic that starts with a brain map against one that does not, a free consultation is the easiest place to ask.
What Does a qEEG Brain Map Involve?
A brain map usually means wearing a fitted cap with many sensors, often around nineteen, with gel at each site. You sit with eyes open and then eyes closed for several minutes each while the activity is recorded. The appointment commonly runs about an hour including setup and cleanup.
The recording is then processed and compared with a database of other recordings, and a provider reviews the report with you, often at a separate visit. Clinics that use mapping typically use it to plan a course of traditional neurofeedback training.
Does a brain map tell you what is wrong?
No. A qEEG is a recording compared with a reference database. It does not identify any condition, and a responsible provider will tell you that plainly.
What Does a Microcurrent Session Involve?
A microcurrent session at our studios is 30 minutes. A few sensors rest on the scalp and behind the ears with a light conductive paste. The active signal runs for only a short part of the appointment, at a level most people do not feel. The rest is quiet sitting, and paste is cleaned off afterward.
There is no screen to watch and no task to perform. This is a passive approach, which differs from traditional neurofeedback, where you watch or listen to feedback for a longer session.
Do I need a brain map before a microcurrent session?
Not with us. We do not require a traditional qEEG brain map before starting. If you want a measurable baseline, we offer Brain Gauge testing as an optional $50 add-on.
How Do They Compare Side by Side?
The two are different kinds of appointment. One is an assessment recording and the other is a session. Here is how the practical details usually line up.
- Purpose: a brain map records and reports; a microcurrent session is the visit itself.
- Sensors: a map uses a full cap of many sensors; a microcurrent session uses a few.
- Your role: a map asks you to sit eyes open and eyes closed; a microcurrent session asks you only to sit still.
- Time: a map often runs about an hour plus a review visit; our microcurrent session is 30 minutes.
- Cost: mapping is often priced separately at other clinics; our follow-up session is $100, with packages on request.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you want a detailed recording of your brain activity compared with a database, a clinic that offers qEEG mapping is the right call, and we will say so. If you want a short, passive session without a mapping step first, microcurrent neurofeedback may suit you better.
Either way, speak with your own clinician first if you are managing an ongoing health matter. We also decline sessions in some situations, which our safety page lists in full.
Quick Answers
The short version, in case you scrolled
From the Journal
Related notes on signal and equipment
Longer writing that expands on this page, from the people who run the sessions.
- What Microcurrent Really MeansThe phrase covers several unrelated services that share only the size of the current. Here are the questions that tell them apart.2 minute read
- The 10-20 System, ExplainedThe 10-20 system is a naming convention for scalp positions. Here is how it works and why placement gets written down every visit.4 minute read
- Night Shifts and Wind-DownA wind-down routine assumes darkness and a quiet house. Night shift work removes both. What changes, and what still works.5 minute read
Your Care and Comfort Matter
Momentous Neurofeedback is a wellness practice using advanced neurofeedback technology to support relaxation and nervous system regulation.
The IASIS i2 Relaxation Neurofeedback System is an FDA-cleared biofeedback device indicated for relaxation training and muscle reeducation.
Our services are not a substitute for medical care, we do not provide medical care, and we do not assess or identify health conditions. Individual experiences vary. If you have questions about your health or whether neurofeedback is appropriate for you, please speak with your licensed healthcare provider.
We are always happy to answer questions about what we do and what you can expect before your first visit.
Not Sure Which Approach Fits You?
Book a free consultation at our Arvada or Broomfield studio and ask us directly. If brain mapping is a better fit for what you want, we will tell you.