---
title: What is BEAM? – The Roots of QEEG
description: "BEAM or Brain Electrical Activity Mapping is a term for an older, original \"QEEG\" system developed by Frank Duffy at Harvard.  All current QEEG systems can be thought of as successors to this early system.  It predated the existence of…"
url: "https://brainmaster.com/kb-entry/id480/"
updated: "2025-08-11"
category: Research
---

# What is BEAM? – The Roots of QEEG

BEAM or Brain Electrical Activity Mapping is a term for an older, original "QEEG" system developed by Frank Duffy at Harvard.  All current QEEG systems can be thought of as successors to this early system.  It predated the existence of normative databases and emphasized topgraphic mapping, which was new in the early 1980's.  It included measure of speed, power, and asymmetry.

For information on BEAM, see:

[http://www.jstor.org/pss/1476422](http://www.jstor.org/pss/1476422)

[https://connects.catalyst.harvard.edu/profiles/profile/person/8685](https://connects.catalyst.harvard.edu/profiles/profile/person/8685)