The Process
Neurofeedback involves principles of operant conditioning, which is a form of learning via the association of behavior with a reward. It enables people to self-regulate their brain waves. This learning occurs by using personalized training based on observation of the client and/or the practitioner/therapist. For example, we notice abnormalities of an individual’s brain function related to a specific behavior ( e.g., poor concentration) or set of behaviors (e.g., impaired executive functions). Then, we address those discovered abnormalities through talk therapy.
The client receives a reward in the form of feedback when the activity in or among abnormally functioning brain regions becomes more regulated.
In most cases, this process improves day-to-day functioning, which persists even after training is complete. Neurofeedback involves real-time recordings of brainwaves. The live recording process permits both the person being recorded and any therapist/practitioner present to be aware of the different aspects of brain electrical activity and changes in said activity.
What Neurofeedback is NOT!
- Neurofeedback is not some “magic” that is imposed on a client.
- Each client is actively involved in his or her training
- Neurofeedback does not happen in a vacuum. That is, progress can be inhibited, or facilitated, by various social, psychological and physiological factors
- Neurofeedback does not involve any form of electro-shock or artificial stimulation to the brain
- Neurofeedback does not allow the neurotherapist to read people's thoughts
everyone can benefit from neurofeedback
SLEEP AND FATIGUE
- During sleep, the brain has a chance to sort, prioritize and file all the information taken in during the day. As a result, mental functioning decreases nearly twice as rapidly as physical performance with reduced sleep. The reasons for sleep difficulties are varied. It may be due to stress, anxiety, burnout, trauma, or habitual loop thinking. Whatever the cause, the brain has lost the ability to shift into the correct state for sleep.
- Neurofeedback helps you to restore your natural sleep rhythms. By training brain control and flexibility, the smooth transition of the central nervous system from activation to rest can happen naturally.
- In the case of chronic fatigue-related disorders, it can be a long process to rebalance and re-strengthen the system. In this case, proper nutrition is crucial as a supportive therapy, as is a willingness to take it gently to give the system a chance to rebuild and recover.
ATTENTION TRAINING
- A clear and focused mind is crucial to learning and life skills. Neurofeedback helps your brain learn to focus and concentrate at will.
- Being able to pay attention means better organization and accuracy, fewer distractions, improving social skills by listening attentively to others, and mastering new tasks and material more rapidly.
- Many aspects of brain function are involved in concentration and focus. Therefore, the optimum state needed for hours of classes and meetings is a moderate level of alertness, which conserves mental energy.
- A common difficulty in concentration is slipping into ‘idle’ or dreaminess when trying to concentrate. Another problem may be the duration of attention is short - it may be fine for a limited time, but then it slides. In addition, attention becomes harder to control when anxious or emotional, making it difficult to narrow in on the task at hand. Finally, the degree of single-pointed concentration can be another problem; a broad focus can lead to distractions and wandering attention.
MINDFULNESS, MEDITATION, AND NEUROFEEDBACK
- Through mindfulness and meditation research, neuroscientists have recognized the emotional and health benefits of a clear, balanced, and centered mind.
- The more subtle and complex thoughts come into awareness by training a quiet and clear mind. As a result, we become more resilient, connected, and ourselves, allowing intuition and inspiration to flow. These fundamental principles underlie our approach to neurofeedback.
- Happiness is all about how we perceive and react to life’s events. Neurofeedback helps clear negative inner dialogue and widens perspective, allowing our intrinsic personality to emerge. In addition, smooth brain communication promotes focus and emotional balance, helping us reach our full personal potential.
- After training with neurofeedback, the most common benefits people report are a new vitality, a familiar but forgotten sense of being more their natural self.
- Streamlining your mind is simple mental hygiene, an essential component of optimal health.
STRESS AND ANXIETY
- Stress, when managed properly, can be a real asset to performance.
- However, prolonged exposure to stress strengthens that pattern within the brain. Just like with muscles, brain patterns grow stronger with use. Given enough reinforcement, these patterns can become 'locked' into place, making it more and more challenging to return to a neutral, unstressed state. Stressed becomes the new normal.
- When we are chronically stressed, we underperform at almost everything. It affects the tone of the central nervous system, affecting hormonal balance, suppressing the immune system, impairing mental processing and emotional control. Anxious thoughts damage the physiological system and can present physically in many ways. Migraines, fears, phobias, sleep trouble, irritable bowel, digestive difficulty, anger issues, adrenal fatigue, burnout; almost everyone's body systems suffer from prolonged stress.
- Neurofeedback is a targeted and direct method to show your brain how to return to a natural, unstressed position.