Mind Matters
If you’ve ever heard someone say, “That’s not how I’m wired.” You may be surprised to learn that there’s a way to find that out. And more importantly, what can happen once you know just how exactly your brain connects with the rest of your body.
How a person’s brain “is wired” can be easily mapped, according to Dr. Jason Keifer of Brain Health Hawaii. Dr. Keifer specializes in brain health and development, and in recent years, has homed in on creating a hyper-personalized approach to brain health via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
“In the last decade, advancements in technology and neuroscientific understanding of brain connection and communication have made it possible for us to map the unique wiring of a person’s brain and use this information to optimize neurophysiological connection,” he says.
In short, when one can see the movements of the brain — its rhythm, so to speak — then it’s possible to pinpoint what needs stimulation. Keifer likens the brain to an orchestra in that when the instruments play in harmony, it’s a symphony. However, if the instruments are out of sync, it’s a cacophony. Taking the analogy further, what Brain Health Hawaii attempts to do is act as the conductor to make sure that the brain can be as synchronized as possible. It’s this synchronicity that leads to a bevy of benefits — vast improvements in sleep quality, concentration and focus, as well as reduced anxiety and improved physical performance.
His client list encompasses a wide range of people, from children diagnosed with ADHD to those with memory problems and sleep disorders. More than a handful of CEOs currently see Dr. Keifer to improve their mental agility, while athletes like pro surfers Mikey O’Shaughnessy (pictured above with Dr. Keifer) and Carissa Moore are also regular clients. Moore has said this about her experience with the treatment, having reaped its benefits firsthand: “Our brain is the motherboard for everything else ... Brain Health Hawaii has helped me improve the quality of my sleep and fine tune what’s between the ears so I can be the best version of my- self in and out of the water...”
Keifer gave us a quick walk through the process of getting treatment. It all starts with a Functional Brain Assessment (FBA), wherein clients are fitted with headwear which is used to map out the brain (the chart pictured first shows a disrupted brainwave pattern indicating an inefficient/noisy neural network, followed by an ideal brainwave pattern indicating neural network efficiency). After an assessment, a course of treatment — which is safe, painless and non-invasive — will be established. Sessions typically take 25-35 minutes per session, Monday through Friday, for 6-8 weeks. Each treatment is individualized according to need and desired outcome.
Keifer says, “The brain is the final frontier — the control and command center for your body. Enhancing brain connection leads to improvements in sleep, overall heath, mental stamina and athletic performance.”
brainhealthhawaii.com