Mark Tommerdahl - corticalmetrics insights

Brain Gauge - new feature and case studies!

March 18, 2025

One new feature of the Brain Gauge analysis app is to take a closer look at the raw scores. Raw scores simply are not normalized. This means that if data is outside the range of normative values, you might not see the degree of improvement that has occurred with treatments and/or brain training. The graphs below demonstrate the new feature as well as a sample case study of an individual receiving hyperbaric treatment. Note the position of the "Raw" switch in the image: the top graph shows

Navigating the Maze of Brain Health Interventions

March 18, 2025

"Will the Brain Gauge show that my supplements are helping my customers? Answer: "Only if they are helping!"

The above exchange happened when we first started distributing the Brain Gauge. The person asking the question about supplements was a salesman - he wanted to show that the supplements he was selling would help. After I responded that the Brain Gauge would only show positive results if the supplements actually worked, the salesman abruptly ended the conversation and hung up.

There are many products that claim enhancement of

The Brain Gauge Workshop

March 07, 2025

We've been hosting the Brain Gauge workshop for about a year now. These day long seminars are available once a month, and they are either in-person or virtual (you get to choose). By the way, attendees receive a free Brain Gauge Home (this is the absolute best deal for one of these!). In-person attendees also receive lunch!

The question that is most often asked: "How long does the workshop last?". I never quit as long as someone is asking questions. While most workshops are in the 4 hour

The Grumpy Science Origin Story: Why We Do What We Do

February 21, 2025

A few years after launching Grumpy Science, we figured it was time to resurrect it. Why? Because we’re a couple of curmudgeonly old guys who do what we want, when we want. Simple as that.

So, what exactly is Grumpy Science? It’s a videocast co-hosted by Bob Dennis and yours truly. It all started with our Friday afternoon impromptu meetings—sessions we refused to call "Happy Hour" because, well, that would have been inaccurate. Instead, they turned into “Grumpy Hour,” where we vented about all the

No magic bullet for better brain health

February 17, 2025

Let’s be honest—most people treat their brain health like an old, neglected car. They assume it’s running fine because, hey, it hasn’t completely broken down yet! The reality? Cognitive decline is a sneaky little thing, creeping up on you while you continue to assume you’re as sharp as ever.

The Boiling Frog Syndrome: Your Brain on Autopilot
Too many people suffer from what’s known as the boiling frog syndrome—the idea that if a problem worsens gradually, you won’t notice it until it’

Lion's Mane - another way to improve cognition?

February 15, 2025

Lion's Mane Mushroom: A Natural Ally for Cognitive Enhancement
In recent years, the use of natural supplements for cognitive enhancement has gained significant traction. One of the most notable and widely researched options is Lion's Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus). This unique, shaggy-looking fungus has been traditionally used in Eastern medicine for centuries and is now gaining recognition for its potential to support brain health and cognitive function. Of course, as always, it helps some individuals more than others and the only way to know whether or not it is working

What is cognitive reserve and how is it related to overall brain health?

December 18, 2024

There are many parallels between physical fitness and brain fitness. A good understanding of these parallels can help you achieve and maintain better brain function.

Physical reserve and cognitive reserve are two distinct but interrelated concepts that play important roles in overall health and well-being. Here's a comparison of the two:

Nature and Focus:

Physical Reserve: Physical reserve refers to the body's ability to withstand and recover from physical stressors and challenges. It encompasses factors like physical fitness, strength, endurance, and overall health.

Cognitive Reserve: Cognitive reserve, on the other

Benefits of brain training for first responders

December 04, 2023

Recently we have been working with groups of first responders and helping them set up programs for improving cognitive reserve. While most of these groups have programs for maintaining physical fitness, it has only been recently that they have determined the need for maintaining brain fitness. Stressful situations, long periods without sleep and exposure to traumatic events on a routine basis can work overtime to deplete cognitive reserves. Similar to physical training for keeping in shape during down times, many first responders are implementing brain training into their fitness regimen.

Building blocks of the CNS

October 18, 2023

The Brain Gauge is effective at tracking brain health because it measures the building blocks of information processing. So what do we mean by this? Essentially, the Brain Gauge measures target, at a systems level, ingredients for higher order processing. For example, information processing speed is critical for all types of processing. Mechanisms such as lateral inhibition and plasticity are key components or building blocks for memories (i.e, the Brain Gauge measures lateral inhibition and plasticity, but not memory). In other words, the design of the Brain Gauge system

Boiling frogs and old people

October 02, 2023

How many times do we need to hear people say "I'm fine" and have that be the primary method for evaluating mental health? That really doesn't make any reasonable standard. Using degenerative and failing brain health to evaluate whether or not that very brain is still capable of working simply does not work.

The "boiling frog syndrome" is a metaphorical anecdote often used to illustrate the concept of gradual change or a slow decline that goes unnoticed until it's too late. The story goes that if