Functional neurobehavioural profiling system

Abstract

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Description

Neurobehavioural Profiling SystemField of the invention

[0001] This invention relates to human neurobehavioural profiling.Background to the invention

[0002] The determination of a person's neurobehavioural characteristics requires an analysis, in combination, of the person's neurological and behavioural characteristics.

[0003] The difficulties inherent in such a determination arise from the nature of the characteristics being analysed. Behavioural characteristics, which include psychosocial, psychological and mental and emotional well-being characteristics, are not quantitatively measurable and rely on qualitative measurement methodologies. Healthcare practitioners use behavioural characteristics analyses and psychosocial assessment techniques such as behavioural observations, clinical interviews, clinical history information, surveys and self-reported or subject-reported questionnaires, to compile a profile of a client's psychosocial functioning. And, whilst neurological characteristics are quantitatively measurable, neurobehavioural profiling methodologies currently do not measure or analyse neurological characteristics. For purposes of neurological assessment, inferences are simply drawn from the behavioural characteristics analyses and the inferred neurological characteristics data is then combined with the behavioural characteristics data to develop diagnostic markers for potential diagnosis of a client's condition. Based on these markers, the practitioner may diagnose, refer and / or develop a treatment plan that provides therapeutic, pharmacological, and support services appropriate to the individual client.

[0004] It is generally accepted that the qualitative measurement methodologies currently in use are prone to subjectivity and greatly dependent on the degree towhich assessment results are free from personal judgment, subjectivity, and bias. Often, these assessment measures do not take into account a client's language proficiency, cultural background and / or disabilities, resulting in imprecise and misleading results.

[0005] These assessment techniques can also be difficult to apply in cases that involve special needs populations (e.g. Autism Spectrum Disorder clients), where interactions are characterised by challenges in communication, social interaction, and behaviour. Equally important is the need for assessment methods that enable more accurate diagnoses of conditions that involve complex interactions between neurological processes and behaviour, for example neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and / or certain psychiatric conditions such as depression.

[0006] The object of this invention is to address these concerns by the provision of a system that can be used to develop a neurobehavioural profile of a person that comprises a structured overview or summary of the person's unique neurological and behavioural characteristics, with a view to gaining a comprehensive understanding of the person's challenges, and how the person's neurological functioning may impact behaviour and functioning in various aspects of life and, where intervention (therapeutic / medical or pharmacological) are appropriate to the condition being treated.Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to this invention, a neurobehavioural profiling system comprises a neurological recording device, a data store and programmable logic means: the recording device being configured, in use, to record a person's brainwave activity as analogue brainwave activity data by means of a realtime electroencephalogram of the spontaneous electrical activity occurring in at least one predetermined area of the person's brain and any deviation from typical electrical brainwave activity; and the programmable logic means being programmed:to acquire and transform the analogue brainwave activity data into digital brainwave activity data; to acquire a set of qualitative subject-reported data previously recorded and organised into a standardised diagnostic framework; to compare the subject-reported data to the brainwave activity data in accordance with preprogrammed comparison criteria; and to create an output record in which subject-reported data is ranked such that subject-reported data that have greater equivalence to brainwave activity data is ranked as being more strongly corroborated by the brainwave activity data and subject-reported data that have less equivalence to brainwave activity data as less strongly corroborated data.

[0008] The system is preferably programmed to present the ranked subject- reported data to a system user, such as a healthcare practitioner, as a ranked set of subject-reported psychological or psychiatric conditions, which, in essence, are markers of possible psychological or psychiatric diagnoses derived from the standardised diagnostic framework. Since the system ranks the subject-reported data according to quantitatively measured neurological processes, the system more often than not ranks the subject-reported conditions differently to the ranking of the previously recorded, qualitative subject-reported data as acquired by the system.

[0009] The system may be programmed, further, to flag psychological or psychiatric conditions recorded in the brainwave activity data, but not recorded in the subject-reported data set and to include the flagged conditions in the output record. This will enable the healthcare practitioner to report on and if necessary investigate and treat psychological or psychiatric conditions not previously considered.

[0010] The system includes a report generator, the programmable logic means being programmed to produce, on demand, at least one pre-programmed visual representation of the data suitable for review and interpretation by a healthcarepractitioner.

[0011] The system is preferably programmed to offer, in the generated report, non- subjective, unbiased measured information about brain function anomalies as seen in irregular brainwave activity patterns and suboptimal brain interconnectivity, which assist in validating potentially subjective practitioner diagnoses, guiding regimes for treatment, and monitoring neurological and psychological conditions and supporting optimal health and wellbeing.

[0012] The invention includes a neurobehavioural profiling system comprising a neurological recording device, a data store and programmable logic means: the recording device being configured, in use, to record a person's brainwave activity as analogue brainwave activity data by means of a realtime electroencephalogram of the spontaneous electrical activity occurring in at least one predetermined area of the person's brain and any deviation from typical electrical brainwave activity; the programmable logic means being programmed: to receive and store the analogue electroencephalogram data as an analogue brainwave activity data model of the person's brainwave activity: to transform the analogue brainwave activity data of the analogue brainwave activity data model into digital brainwave activity data, including waveform data and originating brain area data, and to store the digital brainwave activity data in the data store as a digital brainwave activity data model corresponding to the analogue brainwave activity data model: to refine the digital brainwave activity data model by categorising the digital brainwave activity data in the digital brainwave activity data model into pre-programmed data categories including originating brain area data and at least one of a type of brain function or dysfunction, a neurological condition, a psychological condition:to classify the digital brainwave activity data in the digital brainwave activity data model into classes in which each data class contains the digital data of at least one or more data categories that relate to at least one of the pre-programmed data categories of the digital brainwave activity data model and to store the classified digital brainwave activity data model in the data store as a symptoms database; to acquire a set of qualitative subject-reported data previously recorded and organised into a standardised diagnostic framework, in which the subject-reported data is categorised into categories corresponding to the data categories of the digital brainwave activity data model and classified into classes corresponding to the classes of the symptoms database; to integrate the subject-reported data with the symptoms database; to store the integrated symptoms database and subject-reported data in the data store as a diagnostic database; to compare the subject-reported data stored in the diagnostic database to the brainwave activity data stored in the symptoms database in accordance with preprogrammed comparison criteria, including at least a comparison according to data category and class; and to rank subject-reported data that have greater equivalence to brainwave activity data as data more strongly corroborated by the brainwave activity data and to rank subject-reported data that have less equivalence to brainwave activity data as data less strongly corroborated by the brainwave activity data.

[0013] The programmable logic means is preferably programmed to also acquire and integrate, into the diagnostic database, a set of qualitative subject-reported data previously recorded and organised into a standardised clinical symptoms framework.

[0014] The preferred recording means is an electroencephalograph (EEG) device.

[0015] The neurobehavioural profiling system preferably includes at least one report generator, the programmable logic means being programmed to produce, on demand, at least one pre-programmed visual representation of the data suitable for review and interpretation by a healthcare practitioner.

[0016] The invention includes a neurobehavioural profiling method comprising, with the use of a recording device configured to record a person's brainwave activity as analogue brainwave activity data by means of a real-time electroencephalogram of the spontaneous electrical activity occurring in at least one predetermined area of the person's brain and any deviation from typical electrical brainwave activity, the steps of: in programmable logic means programmed: to receive and store the analogue electroencephalogram data as an analogue brainwave activity data model of the person's brainwave activity: to transform the analogue brainwave activity data of the analogue brainwave activity data model into digital brainwave activity data, including waveform data and originating brain area data, and to store the digital brainwave activity data in the data store as a digital brainwave activity data model corresponding to the analogue brainwave activity data model: to refine the digital brainwave activity data model by categorising the digital brainwave activity data in the digital brainwave activity data model into pre-programmed data categories including originating brain area data and at least one of a type of brain function or dysfunction, a neurological condition, a psychological condition or a brain disorder: to classify the digital brainwave activity data in the digital brainwave activity data model into classes in which each data class contains thedigital data of at least one or more data categories that relate to at least one of the pre-programmed data categories of the digital brainwave activity data model and to store the classified digital brainwave activity data model in the data store as a symptoms database; to acquire a set of qualitative subject-reported data previously recorded and organised into a standardised diagnostic framework, in which the subject-reported data is categorised into categories corresponding to the data categories of the digital brainwave activity data model and classified into classes corresponding to the classes of the symptoms database; to integrate the subject-reported data with the symptoms database; to store the integrated symptoms database and subject-reported data in the data store as a diagnostic database; comparing the subject-reported data stored in the diagnostic database to the brainwave activity data stored in the symptoms database in accordance with preprogrammed comparison criteria, including at least a comparison according to data category and class; and ranking subject-reported data that have greater equivalence to brainwave activity data as data more strongly corroborated by the brainwave activity data and to rank subject-reported data that have less equivalence to brainwave activity data as data less strongly corroborated by the brainwave activity data.Brief Description of the drawings

[0017] The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a block diagram that illustrates the functional blocks of the neurobehavioural profiling system and the sequence in which the functional blocks are implemented in the system.Description of embodiments of the invention

[0018] In its most basic form, the invention provides a neurobehavioural profiling system (generally indicated by the number 10 in the drawing) in which quantitative, measured brainwave activity data and qualitative subject-reported data are combined in programmable logic means (a suitable computer) that is programmed: in a first, comparison process, to apply pre-programmed comparison criteria to compare the quantitative brainwave activity data to the qualitative subject-reported data; and in a second, validation process, to apply pre-programmed validation criteria to rank the subject-reported data into data more strongly corroborated by the brainwave activity data through data less strongly corroborated by the brainwave activity data.

[0019] To enable meaningful comparison and validation of the data, the computer is programmed to categorise the data in the two data sets (brainwave activity data and subject-reported data) into comparable data structures, for example by using similar names or keys for similar data categories such as brain area, types of brain dysfunction, mental condition or disorder, components of a subject's psychological functioning and the like.

[0020] The computer is programmed to use the structured data sets to: in the comparison process, search for and flag greater or lesser equivalence occurring between the brainwave activity data and the subject-reported data: and in the validation process, rank subject-reported data that have greater equivalence to brainwave activity data as data more strongly corroborated and subject-reported data that have less equivalence to brainwave activity data as data less strongly corroborated by the brainwave activity data.

[0021] The system includes a report generator that is programmed to produce automatically generated reports as well as partly automatic and partly manually generated reports suitable for review and curation by a system administrator.

[0022] The subject-reported and brainwave activity data sets are comprised of qualitative and quantitative data, respectively.

[0023] Qualitative data is data representing feedback information about characteristics, experiences, and opinions that are not represented by numbers. The data is gathered from observation, interviews, surveys, or questionnaires. For purposes of the system of this invention, the subject-reported data is preferably derived through online behavioural questionnaires completed by either or both the caregiver and the client, with a view to identifying specific symptoms or signs of psychological and neurodevelopmental conditions.

[0024] The data generated by the recording means is quantitative — it is constituted by a continuously changing stream of analogue data corresponding to the constantly changing waveforms of the client's brainwaves, that vary within a range of values during recording of the client's brainwaves.

[0025] The recording means preferred for use in the system 10 is a scalp electroencephalograph (EEG) 12 that measures variations in the electrical potentials along the surface of the client's scalp arising from brainwave activity, by means of non-invasive EEG electrodes attached at various positions along the scalp.

[0026] The EEG 12 records an electroencephalogram of the spontaneous electrical activity originating in the areas of the brain corresponding to the location of the electrodes. The resulting electroencephalogram provides a record of deviations from typical electrical brainwave activity, which are measurable indicators of specific symptoms and conditions such as sleep disorders, attention disorders, behavioural disorders, and developmental delays. Notwithstanding concerns that EEG techniques used in research are not sufficiently standardised for clinical use, EEG, and the related study of Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) are increasingly used in neuroscience, psychophysiological research, cognitive science, cognitive psychology, neurolinguistics and in studies of the treatment of humanpsychosocial disorders.

[0027] The system 10 combines the EEG readings with self-reported or caregiver- reported data obtained through behavioural questionnaires to provide a comprehensive picture of the client's psychosocial functioning. This enables professionals from various disciplines such as general practitioners, paediatricians, neurologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists to make an informed diagnosis and to develop personalised treatment plans and refer the client to appropriate therapeutic and support services as needed.

[0028] To enable such combination of the data, the EEG recording data, which takes the form of waveform traces in an analogue, non-digital electroencephalogram, are transformed to digital data by means of an EEG data analysis engine 14.

[0029] The EEG data analysis engine 14 includes third party EEG analysis and assessment software and at least one system program.

[0030] The system 10 is programmed to invoke the EEG analysis and assessment software to acquire and convert the analogue brainwave activity data into digital brainwave activity data and to store the digital brainwave activity data as a digital brainwave activity data model 14 corresponding to the electroencephalogram.

[0031] In system 10, data is stored in a data store constituted by conventional computer memory, including temporary local (on-computer or on-network) data storage and cloud data storage.

[0032] The system 10 is programmed, further, to invoke the system program to refine the digital brainwave activity data model 14 by categorising the digital brainwave activity data in the digital brainwave activity data model 14 into pre-programmed data categories.

[0033] Third party EEG analysis and assessment software is available as off-the-shelf software products. This software operates on the basis of a comparison of the client's electroencephalogram with a normative database of the electroencephalogramsof a population of people generally accepted as normal and healthy and of an age group matching the age group of the client. The software flags statistically significant differences between the electroencephalogram of the client and those of the normative population. In addition, the software flags the areas of the brain where anomalies arise, as indicated by electrode placement, as well as anomalies in interconnectivity between brain areas.

[0034] The third-party EEG analysis and assessment software preferred for use with the system 10 is Swingle Assessment Software (supplied by BrainMaster Technologies, Inc., USA).

[0035] The system 10 is programmed to invoke the Swingle Assessment Software to produce an analysis of 23 electroencephalogram values, ratios, and totals that have been found, through clinical research, to be statistically significant neurological markers for certain symptoms, neurological conditions, and psychological disorders.

[0036] The Swingle software is inappropriate for diagnostic use, hence the system 10 is programmed to use the Swingle Assessment Software simply to digitise the electroencephalogram data. In this regard, the system 10 is programmed to use the Swingle software to process the measured analogue electroencephalogram data and to present the processed data in a digital brainwave activity model constituted by a spreadsheet format database arranged according to:EEG electrode placement position; digital values corresponding to the waveform traces of the electroencephalogram data; significant differences between the client and the normative population, expressed in the spreadsheet database, as numerical ratios; and predetermined anomalies, that are flagged by means of suitable digital flags, such as exclamation marks in the spreadsheet-format database, for example.

[0037] To facilitate further processing of the data in the digital brainwave activity data model 14, the system 10 is programmed to invoke the system program to refine the digital brainwave activity data model 14 by categorising the digital brainwave activity data into pre-programmed data categories, including areas of the brain recorded by means of the recording device.

[0038] In addition, the data in the digital brainwave activity data model 14 is preferably categorised into six categories, five of which represent recognised components that reflect aspects of the client's psychological functioning, including:Cognitive MarkersSocio-Emotional MarkersBehavioural MarkersSomatosensory Markers

[0039] The sixth marker pertains to the client's available resources, which include innovative or creative skills and / or interests, efficient brain functioning and positive brainwave reactions to grey or white noise.

[0040] The symptoms database 16 facilitates appropriate structuring of the digital data. In addition, categorisation of the data (from the digital brainwave activity data model 14 to the symptoms database 16) also facilitates subsequent report generation and presentation of the data in appropriately structured visual representations of the data, aiding in the understanding and assessment of the clients' psychological profiles and the resources at their disposal.

[0041] The system program implements, in software, a substantial body of clinical expertise and domain knowledge (knowledge of psychology, diagnostic markers, occupational therapy, neurofeedback and more) in terms of which the system program organises and arranges the clinical symptoms and conditions appearing in the digital data model 14.

[0042] In this regard, the system program is programmed to classify the symptomsand conditions appearing in the digital data model 14 by assigning multiple symptoms and / or conditions to the most appropriate category of the symptoms database 16, such that the multiplicity of symptoms and conditions appearing in the digital data model 14, are classified into no more than the four categories of the symptoms database 16. For example, both Impulsivity (symptom) and ADHD- Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation (condition) are classified under the category Behavioural Markers in the symptoms database 16.

[0043] As indicated above, the system 10 flags statistically significant differences between the electroencephalogram of the client and those of the normative population as well as areas of the brain where anomalies arise and anomalies in interconnectivity between brain areas.

[0044] In the symptoms database 16, flagged data items are selected for highlighting in subsequent report generation. This focus serves three main purposes in the interpretation of any such highlighted and flagged information:Firstly, it helps identify markers for certain symptoms / conditions that are applicable to a particular client, which are then highlighted in bold on a Symptom Table appearing in a subsequent report — the Symptom Table, in effect, is a visual reproduction of the symptoms database 16.Secondly, it aids in determining the clinical severity level of those symptoms or conditions, which are then marked, for example with one or more asterisks to indicate the severity level of the symptom or condition.Thirdly, it personalises a client's profile by providing a likely picture of how these symptoms / conditions and their interplay affect the client's daily functioning.

[0045] In a next-following processing step, the system 10 is programmed to acquire a set of subjective data on the characteristics, attitudes, and behaviours of the client which qualify as qualitative subject-reported data previously recorded. This dataset is organised into a standardised diagnostic framework, which ensures that the subject-reported data is captured in categories corresponding to the datacategories of the digital brainwave activity data model and in classes corresponding to the classes of the symptoms database. In fact, these categories and classes are derived from the standardised diagnostic framework.

[0046] The qualitative subject-reported data is acquired in a data capture process preferably involving a simple data upload. By assigning numerical values to responses, the quantification of qualitative data is allowed. So, the presented data becomes quantitative in nature in order to be analysed, to make comparisons, and identify patterns in behaviour.

[0047] The preferred diagnostic framework is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) compiled and published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). It provides a common language and standard criteria for the understanding and diagnosis of psychiatric and neurological conditions. The DSM-5 framework is programmed into the system 10.

[0048] Subject-reported data is obtained by means of completion of behavioural questionnaires by the caregiver, or client and, since the subject-reported data is structured according to the DSM-5 framework and other valid researched articles / documentation, the subject-reported data is readily integrated into the system 10, simply by data upload.

[0049] The categories and classes of the digital brainwave activity data model 14 and the symptoms database 16 are derived from the DSM-5 framework and other valid researched documentation to ensure alignment between data sets and to ensure, almost automatically, that the subject-reported data is captured in categories and classes corresponding to the data categories of the digital brainwave activity data model and symptoms database, respectively.

[0050] The system 10 is programmed to integrate the captured subject-reported data with the symptoms database 16 and to store the integrated data in memory as a diagnostic database 18.

[0051] The system 10 is programmed, further, to compare the subject-reported data stored in the diagnostic database 18 to the brainwave activity data stored inthe symptoms database 16 in accordance with preprogrammed comparison criteria that include a comparison of symptoms database diagnostic data stored in corresponding data categories and classes.

[0052] To provide a healthcare practitioner with markers of possible diagnoses, the system 10 is programmed to rank the subject-reported data (diagnostic data — diagnostic database 18) according to equivalence with EEG-measured brainwave activity data (symptom data — symptoms database 16) and to mark diagnostic data with a greater degree of equivalence to symptom data as more strongly corroborated than diagnostic data that have a lesser degree of equivalence with symptom data.

[0053] In this way, the system 10 highlights strongly corroborated diagnostic data. This will enable a healthcare practitioner, using a subsequently generated report, to consider subject-reported (qualitative) diagnostic data and criteria against corresponding EEG-measured (quantitative) symptom data and criteria on the basis of diagnostic data that are either strongly corroborated or less strongly corroborated by objective, measured symptom data. With the data presented in this manner, the healthcare practitioner is better placed to explore the interplay between various combinations of symptoms and condition diagnoses to consider how they cause or intensify one another.

[0054] It is not unusual for a client to emphasise more commonly occurring and more popularly discussed psychological or psychiatric conditions in the subject- reported data set, often without being aware of less frequently discussed, analogous conditions that might, singly or in combination, present to the client, in the client's lived experience, as the more commonly occurring condition. For example, a client may report suffering from depression as an important (highly ranked) condition, whereas the client might actually suffer from anxiety or anxiety exhaustion. To monitor for this eventuality, the system is programmed to flag psychological or psychiatric conditions recorded in the brainwave activity data, but not recorded in the subject-reported data set and to include the flagged conditions in the subsequently generated client report. This will enable the healthcare practitioner to report on and if necessary investigate and treat psychological or psychiatric conditions not previously considered.

[0055] The system 10 can be programmed to integrate any one of a number of behavioural and screening questionnaires. The applicant has developed a behavioural questionnaire based on DSM-5 symptoms nomencature and a sensory processing screening questionnaire based on the applicant's research into psychiatric and neurological conditions. The behavioural and screening questionnaires are programmatically integrated with the system 10.

[0056] The neurobehavioural profiling system 10 of the invention includes a report generator, the system 10 being programmed to produce, on demand, one or more pre-programmed reports constituted by visual representations of diagnostic criteria (subject-reported data) compared and ranked according to greater or lesser equivalence with EEG-measured symptom data (brainwave activity data). The reports may be presented in either or both report or graphic / graph formats, depending on suitability for review and interpretation by a healthcare practitioner. The reports generated by the system, which the applicant will refer to, in each case, as a “NeuroBehavioural Profile" are essentially the product of the system 10.

[0057] Apart from identifying possible diagnostic markers, the report will generate client specific recommendations that offer a roadmap to address the marked symptoms, diagnoses, and conditions by specifying and prioritising further intervention, such as pharmacological intervention, therapeutic intervention, and the like.

[0058] It will be appreciated that diagnoses suggested in the system reports will have to be confirmed by suitably qualified health care practitioners, which could include paediatricians (including developmental or neurodevelopmental paediatricians), general practitioners, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, and behavioural optometrists. Pharmacological intervention, if required, can be provided by any one or more of the following professions including paediatricians, psychiatrists, general practitioners, functional practitioners, and homeopaths. Therapeutic interventions can be provided by any one or more of speech-language therapists, audiologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, play therapists, counsellors, child kineticists, biokineticists, neuro / biofeedback practitioners, behavioural optometrists, and physiotherapists. All these healthcare practitioners would find it useful to have their potentially subjectivediagnoses and interventions corroborated by means of the quantitative validation provided by the system 10.

[0059] The system 10 preferably includes a portable EEG device that will enable the health care practitioner to record and acquire client EEG data in their rooms or offices. And, in a preferred implementation of the system 10 of the invention, the system 10 will be configured to acquire such client EEG data by way of an online data upload to a central, online server programmed to implement the system 10 and to generate the appropriate reports for online download by the healthcare practitioner.

[0060] The system 10 can also be configured to expand into the medical field, whereby neurological markers may be linked to physical symptoms and / or medical conditions. This may become another useful service that could be provided in the future. This will expand the neurobehavioural profiling system to become a psychoneurophysiology profiling system.

[0061] The system 10 will also find application in the health and wellness industry such as to support optimal functioning in the workplace and to act as a preventative method to deterrents of optimal functioning which might be applicable particularly to high performers and executives.

[0062] The system 10 as described above does not require that all the system programs be invoked automatically and the system 10 could be configured for certain of the programs to require human intervention to invoke or run a particular program.

[0063] In conclusion, the system 10 offers non-subjective, unbiased measured information about brain function anomalies as seen in irregular brainwave activity patterns and suboptimal brain interconnectivity, which assist in validating potentially subjective practitioner diagnoses, guiding regimes for treatment, and monitoring neurological and psychological conditions and supporting optimal health and wellbeing.

Claims

Claims1 . A neurobehavioural profiling system comprising a neurological recording device, a data store and programmable logic means: the recording device being configured, in use, to record a person's brainwave activity as analogue brainwave activity data by means of a real-time electroencephalogram of the spontaneous electrical activity occurring in at least one predetermined area of the person's brain and any deviation from typical electrical brainwave activity; and the programmable logic means being programmed: to acquire and transform the analogue brainwave activity data into digital brainwave activity data: to acquire a set of qualitative subject-reported data previously recorded and organised into a standardised diagnostic framework: to compare the subject-reported data to the brainwave activity data in accordance with preprogrammed comparison criteria: and to create an output record in which subject-reported data is ranked such that subject-reported data that have greater equivalence to brainwave activity data is ranked as being more strongly corroborated by the brainwave activity data and subject-reported data that have less equivalence to brainwave activity data as less strongly corroborated data.

2. The neurobehavioural profiling system of claim 1 in which the programmable logic means is programmed to flag psychological or psychiatric conditions recorded in the brainwave activity data, but not recorded in the subject-reported data set and to include the flagged conditions in the output record.

3. The neurobehavioural profiling system of claim 2 in which: the recording device is configured, in use, to record a person's brainwave activity as analogue brainwave activity data by means of a real-time electroencephalogram of the spontaneous electrical activity occurring in at least one predetermined area of the person's brain and any deviation from typical electrical brainwave activity; and the programmable logic means is programmed: to receive and store the analogue electroencephalogram data as an analogue brainwave activity data model of the person's brainwave activity: to transform the analogue brainwave activity data of the analogue brainwave activity data model into digital brainwave activity data, including waveform data and originating brain area data, and to store the digital brainwave activity data in the data store as a digital brainwave activity data model corresponding to the analogue brainwave activity data model: to refine the digital brainwave activity data model by categorising the digital brainwave activity data in the digital brainwave activity data model into pre-programmed data categories including originating brain area data and at least one of a type of brain function or dysfunction, a neurological condition, a psychological condition: to classify the digital brainwave activity data in the digital brainwave activity data model into classes in which each data class contains the digital data of at least one or more data categories that relate to at least one of the pre-programmed data categories of the digital brainwave activity data model and to store the classified digital brainwave activity data model in the data store as a symptomsdatabase; to acquire a set of qualitative subject-reported data previously recorded and organised into a standardised diagnostic framework, in which the subject-reported data is categorised into categories corresponding to the data categories of the digital brainwave activity data model and classified into classes corresponding to the classes of the symptoms database; to integrate the subject-reported data with the symptoms database; to store the integrated symptoms database and subject-reported data in the data store as a diagnostic database; to compare the subject-reported data stored in the diagnostic database to the brainwave activity data stored in the symptoms database in accordance with preprogrammed comparison criteria, including at least a comparison according to data category and class; and to create an output record in which subject-reported data is ranked such that subject-reported data that have greater equivalence to brainwave activity data is ranked as being more strongly corroborated by the brainwave activity data and subject-reported data that have less equivalence to brainwave activity data as less strongly corroborated data.

4. The neurobehavioural profiling system of claim 3, in which the programmable logic means is programmed to acquire and integrate, into the diagnostic database, qualitative subject-reported data previously recorded and organised into a standardised clinical symptoms framework.

5. The neurobehavioural profiling system of claim 4 in which the recording device is an electroencephalograph (EEG) device.

6. The neurobehavioural profiling system of any one of the previous claims, including a report generator, the programmable logic means being programmed to produce, on demand, at least one pre-programmed visual representation of the data suitable for review and interpretation by a healthcare practitioner.

7. A neurobehavioural profiling method comprising, with the use of a recording device configured to record a person's brainwave activity as analogue brainwave activity data by means of a real-time electroencephalogram of the spontaneous electrical activity occurring in at least one predetermined area of the person's brain and any deviation from typical electrical brainwave activity, the steps of: in programmable logic means programmed: to receive and store the analogue electroencephalogram data as an analogue brainwave activity data model of the person's brainwave activity: to transform the analogue brainwave activity data of the analogue brainwave activity data model into digital brainwave activity data, including waveform data and originating brain area data, and to store the digital brainwave activity data in the data store as a digital brainwave activity data model corresponding to the analogue brainwave activity data model: to refine the digital brainwave activity data model by categorising the digital brainwave activity data in the digital brainwave activity data model into pre-programmed data categories including originating brain area data and at least one of a type of brain function or dysfunction, a neurological condition, a psychological condition: to classify the digital brainwave activity data in the digital brainwave activity data model into classes in which each data class contains the digital data of at least one or more data categories that relateto at least one of the pre-programmed data categories of the digital brainwave activity data model and to store the classified digital brainwave activity data model in the data store as a symptoms database; to acquire a set of qualitative subject-reported data previously recorded and organised into a standardised diagnostic framework, in which the subject-reported data is categorised into categories corresponding to the data categories of the digital brainwave activity data model and classified into classes corresponding to the classes of the symptoms database; to integrate the subject-reported data with the symptoms database; to store the integrated symptoms database and subject-reported data in the data store as a diagnostic database; comparing the subject-reported data stored in the diagnostic database to the brainwave activity data stored in the symptoms database in accordance with preprogrammed comparison criteria, including at least a comparison according to data category and class; and ranking subject-reported data that have greater equivalence to brainwave activity data as data more strongly corroborated by the brainwave activity data and to rank subject-reported data that have less equivalence to brainwave activity data as data less strongly corroborated by the brainwave activity data.