Brain Fog and Memory Problems After Concussion: What Brain Mapping Reveals — Dr. Bagnell | E13

April 7, 20251h 10m

NeuroscienceCognitive Function

About This Episode

Dr. Bagnell shares his 30-year journey as a "health detective" in functional neurology, revealing how he helps patients with persistent cognitive symptoms after brain injury through careful investigation and targeted interventions.

• Brain fog often stems from disrupted neurovascular coupling, where blood flow fails to properly supply active brain regions
• Dysautonomia (autonomic nervous system dysfunction) can create cognitive symptoms by limiting blood flow to the brain when needed
• QEEG brain mapping identifies specific patterns of brainwave dysfunction, showing signatures of "too much delta and too much high beta" in concussions
• The brain functions in interconnected networks rather than isolated regions, requiring comprehensive assessment
• Combining "passive" therapies (neurofeedback, audiovisual entrainment) with "active" functional neurology exercises creates optimal recovery
• Spatial awareness problems after concussion explain why patients frequently bump their heads
• Brain activation can naturally restore neurotransmitter production without medication
• Creating a personalized "brain formula" for each patient yields better results than one-size-fits-all approaches
• Dolphin-assisted therapy provides unique neurological benefits through echolocation and movement patterns

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The Neuro Collective Podcast

Topics Covered

NeuroscienceCognitive Function

Full Transcript

Dr. Michael Bagnell: 00:00 And we look at two factors in your brain map how much power in every brain wave, every bandwidth? How much power Do you have? Too much power or too little power, or a normal amount of power, normative range. And then we look at coherence, like the communicating signal. So an example of coherence would be you and I are talking, we can hear each other. We have normal coherence. If I turn off, if I mute myself and I'm talking, hypo coherence it's too low, you can't hear me. And if I turn up your volume and turn up my volume and we're yelling at each other, that's hyper coherence. So think about the brain kind of screaming at different places inside or racing thoughts. Hypo coherence is super sluggish. Another way to think about it is like too much gas and too much brake in the car. And so we're looking at these measures coherence and power. Dr. Ayla Wolf: 00:52 Welcome to Life After Impact the concussion recovery podcast. I'm Dr Ayla Wolf and I'll be hosting today's episode, where we help you navigate the often confusing, frustrating and overwhelming journey of concussion and brain injury recovery. This podcast is your go-to resource for actionable informa…

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