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Neurofeedback

What is Neurofeedback?

You may be familiar with the term biofeedback. Biofeedback is a technique used to teach the body to control involuntary functions. For example, relaxation skills teach you how to control your breathing. Often, through visual or auditory feedback, your mind and body learn how to work together to control automatic functions. Another example of biofeedback includes mood rings. The stone changes colors depending on your mood or body temperature.

Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback that works with your brainwaves. The goal of neurofeedback is to teach your brain, specifically your brainwaves, the best and most efficient way to function. As a result, the height and width of your brainwaves adjust accordingly. Those who undergo sessions may see improvement in their cognitive functioning and sleep patterns.

Neurofeedback monitors the activity of your brainwaves through sensors (EEG). EEG sensors are put on various parts of your scalp, depending upon your symptoms. It’s non-evasive, and the wires simply monitor your brainwave activity and provide useful feedback.

PTSD, ADD, ADHD, and anxiety each affect the brain in one way or another. As a result, your brainwaves may be reacting in response to your ADD or anxiety. Through neurofeedback, the activity in your brain can become more regulated. Thus, alleviating the symptoms, you may be experiencing.

Neurofeedback does not provide a quick fix. Likewise, it’s not a cure for ADD or anxiety. Instead, it’s a tool used to help alleviate your symptoms.

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What Happens During a Neurofeedback Session?

Unlike other therapeutic approaches, neurofeedback doesn’t require you to interact with a therapist. Instead, you’ll attend a session and watch a movie or play a video game.

When you arrive, you’ll sit in a chair that typically reclines and is comfortable. Then, your therapist or a technician will attach EEG sensors to different parts of your scalp. The wires are placed according to your unique symptoms and target areas. This is a painless and simple process. From here, you get to relax and watch what’s going on on the screen in front of you.

While you watch your show, when brainwave activity needs correcting, the audio or visual portion of your movie will stop. Instead, the screen may go white, silent, or both. However, your brain will course correct and regulate your brainwaves. As it does, the visual and auditory feedback resumes. All of this is involuntary, meaning you lay there, and your brain will learn what it needs to do. Over time, your brain learns wavelength patterns that affect efficiency and reactivity. As a result, neuro can begin to help improve your functionality and reduce your symptoms.

FAQ

What is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is brain exercise. We observe your brain in action from moment to moment by monitoring your brainwaves. We show you your brain activity and we help you change it by rewarding shifts toward a more functional and stable brain state. It is a gradual learning process.

Neurofeedback is also referred to as EEG Biofeedback or Neurotherapy. The electroencephalogram (EEG) is another name for the brain wave recordings and, in this context, biofeedback refers to the process by which you learn to change your brainwaves and hence change your control of brain states.

How Can Neurofeedback Help?
Neurofeedback training improves attention, cognitive abilities, and emotional regulation. Neurofeedback can help reduce or eliminate several common symptoms such as anxiety, stress reactions, depression, sleep problems, headaches, migraines, and emotional distress. Neurofeedback can also help relieve various conditions such as mood swings, PMS, and organic brain disorders, including seizures, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.

Neurofeedback is training in self-regulation. Good self-regulation is necessary for optimal brain function. Self-regulation training enhances the function of the central nervous system and thereby improves mental performance, emotional control, and physiological stability.

Does Neurofeedback Cure Symptoms or Conditions
Inorganic brain disorders are just a matter of getting the brain to function better rather than curing the condition. In the case of dysregulation, there really is no disease to be cured. Where dysregulation is the primary issue, self-regulation is likely the remedy. But the term cure again would not apply.
Who Can Benefit From Neurofeedback
Individuals of any age can benefit from EEG training. Neurofeedback can help various childhood problems, including bedwetting, nightmares, attention deficits, and other forms of disrupting and disturbing behaviors. Neurofeedback can assist adolescents who might struggle with anxiety and depression or drug and alcohol use. Neurofeedback can help maintain good brain function as we age. And peak performers use EEG training to enhance their abilities in sports, business, and the arts.
How is Neurofeedback done?
Sensors are attached to the scalp with EEG paste to record your brainwaves. It is painless and does not involve applying any voltage or current to your brain, so it is entirely non-invasive.

A computer processes the brain waves and extracts certain information from them. The ebb and flow of your brain waves and the specific information obtained from them are shown back to you in the form of a video game. You are instructed how to play the video game using only your brainwaves. (Everyone can do it.) The specific brain wave frequencies we reinforce and the sensor locations on the scalp are unique to each individual.

What Happens if Neurofeedback clients are taking medications?
With successful neurofeedback training, if you use medications targeting brain function, it may no longer be needed, or they may be needed at lower dosages, as the brain takes over the role of regulating itself. Clients need to communicate with their prescribing physician regarding neurofeedback and medications.
If Neurofeedback can do so much, why haven't I heard about it before?
Neurofeedback is not yet taught in most medical schools or psychology graduate programs. Many professionals are therefore unaware of the power of this technique. The field is growing rapidly, and as it does, more professionals will be informed and educated in neurofeedback.

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