Thomas F. Collura
Encyclopedia
Dr. Thomas F. Collura, Ph.D., PE (born 1952) it is the president of BrainMaster Technologies, Incorporated located in Bedford, Ohio
and is the current president of the International Society for Neurofeedback & Research (ISNR). He also has served the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) as the President of the Neurofeedback Division. He is a pioneer of creating low-cost EEG acquisition machines for neurofeedback and research purposes and for developing real-time normative database neurofeedback training utilizing z-scores as a quantitative method of regulating metrics related to power and connectivity in the EEG.
His work in z-score
based neurofeedback has revolutionized the industry by providing practitioners with a method whereby they may see instantaneous responses of the efficacy of their neurofeedback training protocol and automatically assess which values are outside of their respective normative value. In doing so, the z-score software spearheaded by Dr. Collura can immediately recognize the deviant value, and focus training on that particular metric.
At BrainMaster Technologies, he is the Chief Executive and the President of Research and Development
. He actively participates in and personally guides the development of all the various hardware and software components produced by BrainMaster Technologies.
on January 5, 1952. He graduated high school from Euclid High School
in 1969 after spending a year as an exchange student
through the American Field Service
in Shiga Prefecture
, Japan during 1968.
Dr. Collura was accepted to Brown University
after high school where he obtained his A.B. in the Philosophy of Science
with a concentration in Biological Foundations of the Mind in 1973. From Brown University, he then obtained his Sc.B. in Biology, also in 1973 with a concentration in Cellular Neurobiology and Human Information Processing.
After completing his Bachelor’s degrees from Brown University, he spent some time in the U.S. Peace Corps
as a Tuberculosis Control Worker in Suwon, Korea.
Then, from 1973 to 1974, Dr. Collura worked as an Application Engineer at the Industrial Drives Division of Eaton Corporation
, Airflex Plant in Cleveland, Ohio. While there, he focused on the design and application of clutches and brakes for stamping presses, oil well
s, winches, paper machines, and grinding mills. He also published technical reports and application notes while developing computer simulation
methods.
Dr. Collura obtained his Master’s degree
(M.S.) from Case Western University
in Cleveland, Ohio in 1977. His Master’s thesis was entitled, “Application of Analog Spectrum Analysis
to the Human EEG Photic Driving Response.”
In 1978, he was then granted his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering
from Case. His dissertation was titled, “Synchronous Brain Evoked Potential Correlates of Directed Attention in Humans.”
located in Allentown, Pennsylvania
from 1978-1980. While there, he was involved in the development of 5-micrometre and 3.5-micrometre silicon-gate MOS-LSI integrated circuit
technologies, and also in the design of process diagnostic hardware and software, including experimental silicon structures.
Shortly thereafter, Dr. Collura was then a supervisor at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Skokie, IL, He held this position from 1980 until 1986. His duties there included lead ing a five member group chartered with design of 3.5-micrometre and 2.5-micrometre silicon-gate process technologies for custom-logic integrated circuits. His work also included designing a UNIX-based system for LSI IC process monitoring, diagnostics, and simulation.
While working as a staff supervisor at AT&T Bell Labs, he was also on staff as a consultant in the Department of Behavioral Toxicology at University of Illinois Chicago
from 1984 until 1986.
Then, Dr. Collura returned to Cleveland, Ohio to work in the world famous Cleveland Clinic
Foundation. It was here where he began focused work on EEG as a Neurological Computing Scientist in the Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Neurology from 1986 until 1995. His research and engineering projects included man-machine interfaces and interactive graphic software for long-term EEG monitoring, digital EEG, integrated laboratory systems, and signal processing
and control. While there, he contributed to the commercialization effort for the Vangard product line
which included software and user-interfaces, design specification
and control. He continued to work in this department and turned towards working with epilepsy as he developed computer-based clinical neurophysiological computing systems for detection and analysis of epileptiform EEG activity.
From 1995 to 2000, Dr. Collura then became a clinical instructor in Neurophysiology in the Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Neurology. As a clinical instructor, Dr. Collura trained medical staff in the technical foundations of EEG, EEG electrophysiology, and principles and applications of neurological computing. During these same years, Dr. Collura was also a Senior Associate and Project Director of Plexar Associates and Picker X-Ray Corporation. His projects there included designing detector acquisition and processing software for X-Ray Computerized Tomography
and infrared laser-imaging CT.
During 1999 through 2000, Dr. Collura was also a consultant for InVision Technologies
, developing remote diagnostic and reporting systems for automated CT-based inspections systems.
BrainMaster Technologies, Inc.
In 1995, Dr. Collura founded BrainMaster Technologies, Inc. There, he is the President, and Director of Research and Development. BrainMaster Technologies designs and manufactures low-cost EEG machines for clinical neurofeedback and research purposes. For his inventions, Dr. Collura has received five patents and his company has an FDA 510(k) clearance.
Bedford, Ohio
Bedford is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 13,074 at the 2010 census. It is an eastern suburb of Cleveland.-Geography:Bedford is located at ....
and is the current president of the International Society for Neurofeedback & Research (ISNR). He also has served the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB) as the President of the Neurofeedback Division. He is a pioneer of creating low-cost EEG acquisition machines for neurofeedback and research purposes and for developing real-time normative database neurofeedback training utilizing z-scores as a quantitative method of regulating metrics related to power and connectivity in the EEG.
His work in z-score
Standard score
In statistics, a standard score indicates how many standard deviations an observation or datum is above or below the mean. It is a dimensionless quantity derived by subtracting the population mean from an individual raw score and then dividing the difference by the population standard deviation...
based neurofeedback has revolutionized the industry by providing practitioners with a method whereby they may see instantaneous responses of the efficacy of their neurofeedback training protocol and automatically assess which values are outside of their respective normative value. In doing so, the z-score software spearheaded by Dr. Collura can immediately recognize the deviant value, and focus training on that particular metric.
At BrainMaster Technologies, he is the Chief Executive and the President of Research and Development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
. He actively participates in and personally guides the development of all the various hardware and software components produced by BrainMaster Technologies.
Early life and college
Dr. Thomas Collura, Ph.D., QEEG-T was born in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
on January 5, 1952. He graduated high school from Euclid High School
Euclid High School
The Euclid High School is a public high school located in Euclid, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio in the northeast corner of Cuyahoga County. Originally named Euclid Senior High School, it was constructed in 1949 to replace the Euclid Central High School and Shore High School facilities...
in 1969 after spending a year as an exchange student
Student exchange program
A student exchange program generally could be defined as a program where students from secondary school or university choose to study abroad in partner institutions...
through the American Field Service
AFS Intercultural Programs
AFS Intercultural Programs was established in 1915 by A. Piatt Andrew, a onetime economics professor at Harvard University and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury...
in Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
, Japan during 1968.
Dr. Collura was accepted to Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
after high school where he obtained his A.B. in the Philosophy of Science
Philosophy of science
The philosophy of science is concerned with the assumptions, foundations, methods and implications of science. It is also concerned with the use and merit of science and sometimes overlaps metaphysics and epistemology by exploring whether scientific results are actually a study of truth...
with a concentration in Biological Foundations of the Mind in 1973. From Brown University, he then obtained his Sc.B. in Biology, also in 1973 with a concentration in Cellular Neurobiology and Human Information Processing.
After completing his Bachelor’s degrees from Brown University, he spent some time in the U.S. Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
as a Tuberculosis Control Worker in Suwon, Korea.
Then, from 1973 to 1974, Dr. Collura worked as an Application Engineer at the Industrial Drives Division of Eaton Corporation
Eaton Corporation
Eaton Corporation is a global diversified power management company with 2010 sales of $13.7 billion. The company is a leading provider of electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment;...
, Airflex Plant in Cleveland, Ohio. While there, he focused on the design and application of clutches and brakes for stamping presses, oil well
Oil well
An oil well is a general term for any boring through the earth's surface that is designed to find and acquire petroleum oil hydrocarbons. Usually some natural gas is produced along with the oil. A well that is designed to produce mainly or only gas may be termed a gas well.-History:The earliest...
s, winches, paper machines, and grinding mills. He also published technical reports and application notes while developing computer simulation
Computer simulation
A computer simulation, a computer model, or a computational model is a computer program, or network of computers, that attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular system...
methods.
Dr. Collura obtained his Master’s degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
(M.S.) from Case Western University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
in Cleveland, Ohio in 1977. His Master’s thesis was entitled, “Application of Analog Spectrum Analysis
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
to the Human EEG Photic Driving Response.”
In 1978, he was then granted his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering
Biomedical Engineering is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology. This field seeks to close the gap between engineering and medicine: It combines the design and problem solving skills of engineering with medical and biological sciences to improve...
from Case. His dissertation was titled, “Synchronous Brain Evoked Potential Correlates of Directed Attention in Humans.”
Professional life
Dr. Collura worked as a member of the technical staff at AT&T Bell LaboratoriesBell Labs
Bell Laboratories is the research and development subsidiary of the French-owned Alcatel-Lucent and previously of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company , half-owned through its Western Electric manufacturing subsidiary.Bell Laboratories operates its...
located in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
from 1978-1980. While there, he was involved in the development of 5-micrometre and 3.5-micrometre silicon-gate MOS-LSI integrated circuit
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
technologies, and also in the design of process diagnostic hardware and software, including experimental silicon structures.
Shortly thereafter, Dr. Collura was then a supervisor at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Skokie, IL, He held this position from 1980 until 1986. His duties there included lead ing a five member group chartered with design of 3.5-micrometre and 2.5-micrometre silicon-gate process technologies for custom-logic integrated circuits. His work also included designing a UNIX-based system for LSI IC process monitoring, diagnostics, and simulation.
While working as a staff supervisor at AT&T Bell Labs, he was also on staff as a consultant in the Department of Behavioral Toxicology at University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
from 1984 until 1986.
Then, Dr. Collura returned to Cleveland, Ohio to work in the world famous Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
The Cleveland Clinic is a multispecialty academic medical center located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The Cleveland Clinic is currently regarded as one of the top 4 hospitals in the United States as rated by U.S. News & World Report...
Foundation. It was here where he began focused work on EEG as a Neurological Computing Scientist in the Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Neurology from 1986 until 1995. His research and engineering projects included man-machine interfaces and interactive graphic software for long-term EEG monitoring, digital EEG, integrated laboratory systems, and signal processing
Signal processing
Signal processing is an area of systems engineering, electrical engineering and applied mathematics that deals with operations on or analysis of signals, in either discrete or continuous time...
and control. While there, he contributed to the commercialization effort for the Vangard product line
Product lining
Product lining is the marketing strategy of offering for sale several related products. Unlike product bundling, where several products are combined into one, lining involves offering several related products individually. A line can comprise related products of various sizes, types, colors,...
which included software and user-interfaces, design specification
Design specification
A design specification provides explicit information about the requirements for a product and how the product is to be put together. It is the most traditional kind of specification, having been used historically in public contracting for buildings, highways, and other public works, and represents...
and control. He continued to work in this department and turned towards working with epilepsy as he developed computer-based clinical neurophysiological computing systems for detection and analysis of epileptiform EEG activity.
From 1995 to 2000, Dr. Collura then became a clinical instructor in Neurophysiology in the Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Neurology. As a clinical instructor, Dr. Collura trained medical staff in the technical foundations of EEG, EEG electrophysiology, and principles and applications of neurological computing. During these same years, Dr. Collura was also a Senior Associate and Project Director of Plexar Associates and Picker X-Ray Corporation. His projects there included designing detector acquisition and processing software for X-Ray Computerized Tomography
Computed tomography
X-ray computed tomography or Computer tomography , is a medical imaging method employing tomography created by computer processing...
and infrared laser-imaging CT.
During 1999 through 2000, Dr. Collura was also a consultant for InVision Technologies
InVision Technologies
InVision Technologies, Inc. was a publicly traded company based in Newark, California, that manufactured and sold airport security screening devices to detect explosives in passenger baggage...
, developing remote diagnostic and reporting systems for automated CT-based inspections systems.
BrainMaster Technologies, Inc.
In 1995, Dr. Collura founded BrainMaster Technologies, Inc. There, he is the President, and Director of Research and Development. BrainMaster Technologies designs and manufactures low-cost EEG machines for clinical neurofeedback and research purposes. For his inventions, Dr. Collura has received five patents and his company has an FDA 510(k) clearance.