Marvin Sams

Neuroscience has taught us that performance (attention, focus, and learning), mood, memory, and behavior are all created by specialized performance centers in our brain. What this means, of course, is that the symptoms of Autism and Asperger's (limited social interactions, impaired communication, narrow interests, and repetitive behaviors) represent the neurological effects of multiple but intertwining areas of brain dysfunction.

The Quantitative EEG (computerized brain wave analysis) allows the source of these symptoms to be defined; NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training™ offers the means to remediate what is found.

EEG (Brain wave) patterns of Autism

The Quantitative EEG of those with the symptoms of Autism and Asperger's typically reveals multiple neurological issues:

"Mirror Neuron" system dysfunction
Right hemisphere dysfunction
Frontal lobe issues
Connectivity problems
If there are language issues, the left side of the brain will be involved as well.

Mirror Neuron System

Your warm feelings about Aunt Tilly and friendly relations with the neighbors are not something you were born with. Empathy, our ability to understand someone else's emotions and feelings and to share our feelings with others, is a process our brain learns from its early experiences. It all begins with our mother. When we were a baby and looked up into our mother's eyes as she changed our diaper, for example, she leaned forward and smiled. We then lifted our head a bit and smiled back, a perfect reflection of her behavior. Our mirroring of the actions of others continues throughout life. As adults, for example, when someone in the room yawns, we also tend to yawn. And to show the complexity of our connection with others, brain imaging studies show that as we watch someone run down a football field, for example, our brain shows the same motor activation as the player doing the actual running.

Until recently, how our brain learns empathy and socialization skills was a mystery. The break though in understanding came as Neuroscientists recorded the neuronal activity (nerve cell firing) that activated when a monkey engaged in a motor movement.

The discovery came serendipitously when a human researcher reached for a monkey's peanut and the same nerve cells fired as when the monkey reached for a peanut! Initially called "monkey see-monkey do cells," the responsible brain system later became known as the Mirror Neuron System.

In the EEG (brain wave recording), we see the expression of this Mirror Neuron System as Mu rhythms. Mu rhythms are rhythmic oscillations that occur intermittently over the central sulcus or sensory-motor strip. Our brain uses this area to receive incoming sensory (sensation) and motor (movement) signals and to transfer the information so specific brain areas are activated. When this area is working and actively engaging different brain regions, low voltage fast Beta waves are seen. The presence of Mu rhythms is a sign that the brain is "idling" and not sensing a need to respond to incoming information.

For those of us with normal brain functioning, seeing and reaching for an apple, thinking about reaching for it, or even watching someone else pick up the apple causes the Mu rhythms in our brain to inhibit or block. This natural suppression of the Mu Rhythm allows the transfer of information to areas responsible for conscious awareness, vision, sensation and movement. Mu rhythm inhibition with a task then can be likened to the opening of a gate: Information is allowed to flow through and engage appropriate brain areas.

In those with Autism and Asperger's symptoms, this system is typically defective. That is, the Mu rhythms don't inhibit while watching someone perform a task. This can be thought of as the "gate" staying closed so incoming information is not efficiently allocated and processed. As a result, the early mirroring of the behaviors of others does not occur so empathy and social engagements and behaviors are not learned.

For more information on Mu Rhythms, Google "motor neurons+Mu rhythms+Autism." Major contributions about this phenomenon have also appeared in recent issues of Scientific American and Scientific American MIND magazine.

Right Hemisphere Dysfunction

Information coming into the brain system from the "outside world" is first processed in the right hemisphere. The result of this initial processing is "fuzzy" and indistinct, with no assigned value or meaning. The processed information is then rapidly transferred to the left hemisphere, where it is "sharpened up" and we are made consciously aware of what is going on in our world.

When the right hemisphere is dysfunctional, the information transferred to the left hemisphere is distorted and therefore not a true representation of what is going on in the environment. Because the left hemisphere always assumes the incoming information is valid, it processes the erroneous information as if it were accurate and true. When this happens, the child or adult makes the assumption that what he or she perceives is "real." In those with the symptoms of Autism and Asperger's, this is thought to lead to the inappropriate behaviors and social skills issues.

For more information on right brain function and dysfunction, the following links will prove helpful:

http://player2000gi.host-ed.net/hemispheric_specialization.htm
http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/node/4780

Also, the book The Right Mind: Making sense of the hemispheres by Robert Ornstein is highly recommended.

Frontal Lobe Dysfunction

Our frontal lobes make us aware of what is going on in our environment and helps us consciously create and act with a purposeful plan of action. Those with Autism and Asperger's symptoms tend to show excessive slow waves in the frontal regions, which blunt efficient function. As a result, the frontal lobes cannot fully engage for effective self awareness and interplay with what is going on in the world.

Left Hemisphere Dysfunction

If there are language deficits, as is often the case in those with Autism, there is typically dysfunction of the left hemisphere as well. Communication is hampered because it is our left hemisphere that is responsible for the "mechanics" of language.

Connectivity issues

Our brain talks to itself to understand the complexity of the world and to make and execute decisions on how to best function in it. To carry out a particular task, for example, the brain, with lightning speed, links multiple performance centers, then, just as rapidly, releases to connect to other task specific areas. If this highly dynamic connect/disconnect method is compromised, focus, attention, memory, mood, or learning will be negatively impacted.

Connectivity, called Coherence in EEG terminology, is the Quantitative EEG measure of how efficiently the brain is able to perform this essential function. Excessive Coherence is a sign that performance areas are too tightly coupled. Energy transfer is therefore restricted. This can be thought of as a traffic jam in the brain where movement from point A to point B is slowed to a crawl so performance suffers. Deficient Coherence values are an indication that specific performance areas are too loosely coupled. There are not enough of the right kinds of cells available to efficiently bridge performance areas.

Those with Autism and Asperger's symptoms typically show mixed excessive and deficient Coherence characteristics. A primary objective of NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency training is to teach the brain to decouple areas too tightly bound and to strengthen the coupling between those needing stronger connections. Accomplished, communication, focus, attention, and learning become more efficient.

This understanding of brain performance helps us greatly in understanding the social and communication problems in those with Autism and Asperger's: Brain dysfunctions create a restricted and confusing view of people and the world. Fortunately, something can be done to help correct the neurological problems.

NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training™

NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency training™ offers the greatest opportunity of remediating the brain dysfunctions producing the symptoms of Asperger's and Autism. The Quantitative EEG (computerized brain wave analysis) detects, and, in a highly specific and detailed way, defines where and in what way the brain is inefficient and producing the symptoms. NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training™ then specifically addresses the dysfunctions to remediate and optimize brain function.

Based on 20 years of research, sessions include:

Proprietary, clinically proven Neurofeedback (brain wave training) protocols created and developed by Marvin Sams , a medical professional with almost five decades of clinical and research experience.
Exclusive Audio-Visual Entrainment (flashing light and pulsing sound) programs developed by Marvin Sams help "pull" or "nudge" the brain out of "stuck" brain patterns.
Transcranial DC Modulation remediates brain function with a gentle DC current across the scalp. Over 60 scientific studies document its ability to modulate and stabilize brain function.

At The Sams Center, a Quantitative EEG is done each training session (cooperation considered) and progress measured with statistical comparisons to the initial QEEG evaluation and the previous session. Normative Reference Database reports are also frequently done to evaluate changes in Amplitude patterning, Coherence and Phase measurements. This attention to detail allows session to session determination of how much progress is being made. This important benefit is offered only at The Sams Center.

Symptoms are typically reduced as training progresses, usually starting around sessions 10 to 12. Importantly, as the brain gains experiences by interacting and communicating with people and the environment, it is further expected that improvements will continue over the next several months after training is complete.

Training Schedule

If you live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, we schedule to your convenience. At least two to four sessions a week are recommended.

For those coming from outside the Dallas/Fort Worth area, a typical stay is two weeks. We do two sessions a day, working six days a week.

Many complete NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training in 24-30 sessions. Those with a traumatic brain injury, complicated symptoms, or a long history of drug use may take a few more sessions. Should this prove to be the case, training can be completed on a brief return visit in a few months or weeks, or with a special at-home trainer.

Fees

E-mail us from our Contact Page or call 972.733.3009 or 972.612.0160 for our current fee schedule.

To schedule an evaluation

Just call 972.733.3009 to arrange a convenient time for you or your family member to start.

For more information

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