The 2025 Suisun Neuroscience Summit

My presentation will be focused on the cutting-edge research and clinical results demonstrating neurofeedback’s powerful role in managing Parkinson’s symptoms. As a clinician dedicated to advancing solutions for Parkinson’s, it is inspiring to share practical insights and highlight the decades of research supporting this innovative approach.

I will have the privilege of discussing: (1) Strategies to address freezing of gait and improve balance, (2) Research-backed techniques for reducing cognitive decline, apathy and other non-motor symptoms, and (3) How biofeedback empowers individuals to regain control over
their daily lives.

The International QEEG Certification Board (IQCB) certifies individuals who meet education and training standards in quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) and electrophysiology and progressively re-certifies those who advance their knowledge through continuing education.

The IQCB was created in 1995 with the mission of providing formal certification standards in qEEG analysis. We now have Certificants in many countries around the world.

Board certification is the “Mark of Distinction” for providers of brain imaging and analysis services. Learn how you can become part of this elite group of professionals!

Neuroinflammation is a critical yet often overlooked factor in brain health and mental well-being. Emerging research reveals its profound impact on cognitive function, emotional regulation, and the development of mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases. This presentation explores the mechanisms of neuroinflammation, its triggers—including stress, lifestyle, and environmental factors—and cutting-edge interventions to mitigate its effects. From brain mapping and neurofeedback to lifestyle modifications and novel therapeutic approaches, we will discuss strategies to optimize brain health and enhance mental resilience. Join us for an insightful discussion on harnessing neuroscience to foster a healthier mind.

Concussions are a major source of disability and mental illness and often go undiagnosed. Biofeedback providers are well suited to help these individuals and to think holistically about how to assess and treat people with a history of brain injury. In this lecture, Dr. Chapek will cover how to think about concussions and traumatic brain injury assessment and treatment. He will help you construct more effective treatment plans for your patients who have been struggling with a concussion as well as provide information on a DIY Concussion First Aid kit which can be administered after a blow to the head with the goal of minimizing the resulting brain injury and maximizing recovery. Dr. Gattis will share some salient aspects of integrating this into biofeedback/neurofeedback treatment.

This session will introduce clinicians to the practical, research-driven ways artificial intelligence is enhancing neurofeedback practice. Drawing on real-world clinical examples, I’ll demonstrate how AI tools can support literature reviews, personalize protocol development, and interpret QEEG reports, particularly when guided by well-structured prompts and clinician expertise.

We’ll explore how I utilize GPT-based systems to process complex EEG data (e.g., ICA, PAC summaries), integrate symptom profiles, and enhance workflow efficiency without compromising clinical judgment. I’ll also discuss the current limitations of AI and where the research is heading in utilizing machine learning for EEG-based diagnosis and treatment modeling in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

*Bonus for attendees: AI Prompt Cheat Sheet for Neurofeedback & QEEG Clinicians

This presentation explores the clinical application of QEEG-driven neurofeedback in a complex pediatric case involving multiple concussions, Autism, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Lyme disease and chronic immune-metabolic dysfunction. QEEG revealed a low voltage EEG with bifurcated alpha, spindling beta, and intermittent temporal sharp waves, guiding targeted neurofeedback protocols focused on SMR training at Cz and Fz. Layered within a functional medicine framework in collaboration with Dr. Michael Pierce, additional recommended interventions addressed metabolic instability through dietary modulation, micronutrient support, and lymphatic drainage. This case illustrates how precision QEEG analysis and neurofeedback can be potentiated by simultaneously addressing systemic physiological contributors, highlighting a synergistic model for treating neurocognitive and affective dysregulation in complex pediatric populations.

Epilepsy, a prevalent and complex neurological disorder, presents significant challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and adaptation for both individuals and their families. This presentation explores an assessment approach incorporating physiological, objective, subjective, and relational indexes. Data are collected through observation, qEEG, standardized psychometric questionnaires, seizure diaries, and evaluations of family dynamics and communication, providing both qualitative and quantitative insights. The integration of neurofeedback with CBT psychotherapy offers a multifaceted approach to addressing the emotional and social impact of epilepsy on families, addressing the side effects and the maintaining factors of symptoms from the patient and the family perspective.

This case report documents the treatment of a female patient with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy with secondary generalization. At the age of 13, the patient was hospitalized with ~120 seizures in a day, some of which were life-threatening. After hospital discharge, despite a regimen of multiple antiseizure medications, the patient still experienced ~90 seizures per day. After the interventions described in this work, over 500 neurofeedback sessions guided by EEG or qEEG data and adjunctive treatments including mental skills coaching, the patient became seizure- and medication-free, progressing from poor academic performance and inability to carry out normal daily life to attending university as a student athlete playing an NCAA Division I sport. This case will be personally narrated by the patient, and Jay gunkelman. The long journey emphasizes that, with professional guidance and supervision, it is possible for people with epilepsy or their caregivers to provide the extensive, long-term neurofeedback and adjunctive training necessary for reduction and control of intractable seizures.

This case study presents the successful multimodal management of a 5-year-old boy with drug-resistant epilepsy, utilizing quantitative EEG (qEEG)-guided interventions in conjunction with functional medicine and environmental remediation. Comprehensive diagnostic testing included genetic analysis for toxin susceptibility, toxicology screening, nutritional assessment, and detailed environmental home evaluations. qEEG was instrumental in confirming seizure activity, evaluating medication effects, and guiding individualized neurofeedback protocols124. Functional medicine interventions addressed nutritional needs and no genetic vulnerabilities were identified. Toxicology screening and environmental assessment revealed significant exposures, and targeted remediation was a key factor in the patient’s clinical improvement. This integrative approach led to a marked reduction and eventual resolution of seizures, highlighting the value of combining advanced neurophysiological monitoring with personalized metabolic and environmental strategies in pediatric epilepsy management.

Non-epileptiform discharges (NEDs) in EEG studies of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) represent a significant area of research, appearing in approximately 30-60% of children with ASD and highlighting atypical neural activity without overt seizures. These discharges, including slow waves and asymmetries in background rhythms, are often associated with altered neural connectivity and may correlate with the severity of ASD symptoms. NEDs are more prevalent during sleep EEG recordings and are linked to cognitive and behavioral challenges, such as language impairments and hyperactivity. While their clinical implications remain debated, NEDs may serve as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and intervention, emphasizing the importance of prognosis prediction and further investigation into their role in ASD.

Consciousness can be modeled with EEG to predict depth of consciousness, but not by a single frequency descriptor. Cross Frequency Coupling (CFC) seen as a Phase-Amplitude coupling, forms the basis of the BIspectral index (Aspect Medical), an FDA registered device for anesthesiologists to measure depth of consciousness. CFC is also seen in interpersonal connections with healers. A descriptive model will be presented which is based on ERP and EEG data and forms the basis of an understanding of mind/brain/consciousness.

This presentation explores the strategic use of white matter pathways in enhancing neurostimulation techniques such as tDCS, pink noise stimulation, brown noise stimulation and tACS. It begins by defining white matter and its crucial role in connecting brain regions through myelinated axons, followed by an overview of its development from prenatal stages through adolescence. The discussion highlights white matter’s role in efficient electrical signal transmission and its influence on the efficacy of external stimulation. Key white matter tracts, including the arcuate fasciculus, corpus callosum, cingulum bundle, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, are detailed for their functional significance. Finally, the presentation outlines how targeted neurostimulation, aligned with white matter tracts, can optimize clinical and cognitive outcomes, offering promising directions for personalized therapeutic interventions.

Phase is one important dynamic of coupled oscillatory phenomena. In phase amplitude coupling (PAC), a second key variable is amplitude, also known as power. Phase and amplitude can be meaningfully correlated and functionally relevant to the workings of the brain and consciousness. PAC usually refers to a correlation between the amplitude of faster rhythms (high gamma range) and the phase of slower rhythms (2-12Hz range). Gamma oscillations emerge at particular phases of the theta cycle and thereby recruit cell assemblies involved in processing. This talk will examine how this type of coupling, thought of as an “integration mechanism” between rate and temporal coding, can be used in neurodiagnostic and neuromodulation to restore functionality in memory-impaired clients.

This presentation highlights the power of integrating multiple modalities in the treatment of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions. While many practitioners utilize neurofeedback, QEEG/ERP brain mapping, photobiomodulation, psychotherapy, tDCS, and nutrigenomics individually, combining these modalities into a structured clinical model significantly enhances patient outcomes. Through case studies that incorporate both symptom-based protocols and QEEG/ERP-driven protocols, we will explore how layering these interventions optimizes recovery. Additionally, this presentation will introduce a new foundation dedicated to supporting families affected by TBI from gun violence, advocating for improved concussion protocols in contact sports in underprivileged schools in California, and applying this model to assist victims of the California wildfires.

Leigh Steinberg, premier sports agent, entrepreneur, and Chairman and founder of Steinberg Sports and Entertainment, is best known for his work building athletes into stand-alone brands. Often credited as the real-life inspiration for the Oscar winning film Jerry Maguire, Leigh has represented some of the most successful athletes and coaches across football, basketball, baseball, hockey, boxing, golf, and more.

Leigh’s passion for improving athlete health and safety has led him to host annual Brain Health Summits, uniting athletes, medical experts, and researchers to address traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Leigh will expand his knowledge and expertise of sports health and safety by sharing his personal journey with us along clinical lines.