What is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback training noninvasively analyzes EEG (electrical activity), retraining, and optimizing brain health and wellness.
Our brain is composed of 100 billion cells called neurons. These neurons communicate with each other through electrical and chemical signalling to help us think, feel, and read the words on this page. Neurofeedback uses Electroencephalography (EEG) to measure electrical activity in the brain and the voltage of our brain waves.
During the procedure, small electrodes are placed on a patient's scalp that can record brainwave activity. The brainwave signals are then amplified and can be displayed for observation and interpretation by specially-trained clinicians. An EEG is a safe non-invasive procedure, nothing is being directed into the brain, this is purely a measurement technique, much the same as an electrocardiogram. Neurofeedback training uses the EEG information to control another computer program that interprets the signals according to a protocol designed by the neurotherapist that provides feedback or ‘rewards’ when specific patterns of brain activity are inhibited or increased.
Neurofeedback has been shown to positively affect cognitive, motor and behavioral challenges affecting children and adults.
During the procedure, small electrodes are placed on a patient's scalp that can record brainwave activity. The brainwave signals are then amplified and can be displayed for observation and interpretation by specially-trained clinicians. An EEG is a safe non-invasive procedure, nothing is being directed into the brain, this is purely a measurement technique, much the same as an electrocardiogram. Neurofeedback training uses the EEG information to control another computer program that interprets the signals according to a protocol designed by the neurotherapist that provides feedback or ‘rewards’ when specific patterns of brain activity are inhibited or increased.
Neurofeedback has been shown to positively affect cognitive, motor and behavioral challenges affecting children and adults.
History of Neurofeedback?
Dr. Joe Kamiya |
Dr. Barry Sterman |
Neurofeedback has gained considerable media attention in recent years. However, it actually dates back over five decades. In 1968, Joe Kamiya, PhD, at the University of Chicago, reported that study participants could learn to control their brainwaves through a reward-based feedback process. He trained patients to maintain an Alpha brainwave state by rewarding them with the sound of a bell.
Around that same time in 1972, Berry Sterman, PhD, at UCLA, discovered that people with epilepsy could reduce their symptoms from 20% to 100% by using neurofeedback to train their brainwaves to reach a specific frequency at a particular location on the scalp. Since then, over 2,000 controlled studies have expanded on their findings and established the efficacy of neurofeedback and EEG monitoring for a wide range of cognitive and neurological impairments.
Around that same time in 1972, Berry Sterman, PhD, at UCLA, discovered that people with epilepsy could reduce their symptoms from 20% to 100% by using neurofeedback to train their brainwaves to reach a specific frequency at a particular location on the scalp. Since then, over 2,000 controlled studies have expanded on their findings and established the efficacy of neurofeedback and EEG monitoring for a wide range of cognitive and neurological impairments.
Neurofeedback and Brain Waves
Neurofeedback training helps people shift the way their brain produces and distributes electrical energy. There are five types of electrical activity in our brain, ranging from most active to the least active:
Understanding brainwave activity patterns or networks is crucial for a complete conception of how neurofeedback works. Brainwaves do not always function properly, and this dysfunction can lead to cognitive problems, such as Attention-Deficit-Disorder (ADD). Traumatic brain injuries can also cause brain waves to function improperly, e.g., early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Fortunately, the brain has the capacity to be its own mechanic: to use repeated practice to retrain and repair itself. Neurofeedback therapy leverages this capacity, known as neuroplasticity, to retrain a patient's brain waves and restore them to healthy functioning.
For example, a person with ADD struggles with maintaining attention, distractibility, and impulsivity, which results from an increased presence of Delta and Theta waves and a shortage of Beta waves. Through a series of neurofeedback training sessions, a client trains their brain to increase the ratio of Beta waves, resulting in a lasting improvement of their ADD symptoms.
- Gamma waves: Gamma brainwaves are the fastest of the five brainwaves. These waves quickly and quietly pass information to different brain regions. The Gamma state is associated with large-scale brain network activity, such as attention and working memory.
- Beta waves: When the brain is alert, concentrated, and engaged, it generates Beta waves. Beta waves are essential to our ability to engage in everyday cognitive tasks such as problem-solving, judgment, decision-making, and focused mental activity.
- Alpha waves: Alpha brain waves are considered our brain’s resting state. They help with mental coordination, calmness, alertness, and mind/body integration. When you are in a state of relaxation, such as taking a stroll, painting a picture, or watching a sunset, you are generating Alpha brain waves.
- Theta Waves: This state is essential to our memory formation, learning, and intuition. This is because in Theta, our brain is focused on internal signaling. When you're drifting off to sleep or in a deep state of meditation, you're experiencing Theta.
Understanding brainwave activity patterns or networks is crucial for a complete conception of how neurofeedback works. Brainwaves do not always function properly, and this dysfunction can lead to cognitive problems, such as Attention-Deficit-Disorder (ADD). Traumatic brain injuries can also cause brain waves to function improperly, e.g., early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Fortunately, the brain has the capacity to be its own mechanic: to use repeated practice to retrain and repair itself. Neurofeedback therapy leverages this capacity, known as neuroplasticity, to retrain a patient's brain waves and restore them to healthy functioning.
For example, a person with ADD struggles with maintaining attention, distractibility, and impulsivity, which results from an increased presence of Delta and Theta waves and a shortage of Beta waves. Through a series of neurofeedback training sessions, a client trains their brain to increase the ratio of Beta waves, resulting in a lasting improvement of their ADD symptoms.
Neurofeedback & Fighting Memory Loss
If you are experiencing cognitive “fogginess,” forgetfulness, forgetting common words, taking longer to complete familiar tasks, frequently misplacing items, and asking the same questions repeatedly, these are common symptoms of dementia or memory loss. Recent studies have shown that neurofeedback can be an exceptionally good therapy for improving symptoms of memory loss.
Problems with memory are often associated with an improper balance of slower (Delta & Theta) and faster (Beta) brainwaves. Through a series of neurofeedback sessions, a client would help restore their memory by training the brain to more efficiently manage the production and distribution of brain electrical activity.
Problems with memory are often associated with an improper balance of slower (Delta & Theta) and faster (Beta) brainwaves. Through a series of neurofeedback sessions, a client would help restore their memory by training the brain to more efficiently manage the production and distribution of brain electrical activity.
How does neurofeedback help with memory loss?
Some people find the headgear, wires, and computer-related machinery of a neurofeedback session uncomfortable and daunting; in fact, the process is rather simple and completely safe.
To begin using neurofeedback, a client will complete a baseline assessment. Patients will rest their eyes closed for 5 minutes and then keep their eyes open for five minutes while staring at a single point on a wall, while wearing a device that measures their brain activity. Patients will wear a cloth or rubber tubing 'hat' with up to 19 sensors that monitors their brain's activity. This baseline assessment provides the patient and clinician with a brain map that visually represents the patients current brain wave activity as compared to normative data based on age, gender, and handedness.
To begin using neurofeedback, a client will complete a baseline assessment. Patients will rest their eyes closed for 5 minutes and then keep their eyes open for five minutes while staring at a single point on a wall, while wearing a device that measures their brain activity. Patients will wear a cloth or rubber tubing 'hat' with up to 19 sensors that monitors their brain's activity. This baseline assessment provides the patient and clinician with a brain map that visually represents the patients current brain wave activity as compared to normative data based on age, gender, and handedness.
Brain Map
The brain map is quite helpful because it provides a quantifiable measure of how a person's brain is functioning relative to that of normally functioning peers. This brain map also helps indicate which brain areas and/or networks to target for training.
In the brain map above, we see the various brain waves both before and after neurofeedback treatment. We see that before treatment, the patient had abnormally high levels of Beta and High Beta. Neurofeedback sessions successfully trained the patient to improve their brain wave function.
During a Neurofeedback training session, a patient sits comfortably in front of a video or computer screen, with several sensors on their head and ears to detect brain wave activity, which the clinician then monitors. This brain activity is then displayed as a bar or other graphic to show whether the person is improving their functioning. Note: Quietmind uses a method to control the computer's brightness and sound volume, so users can watch/listen to whatever they want as a source of feedback.
Ultimately, the client’s goal is to control images or other activity on the screen by altering their brainwave activity. The observation of how their brain can control the audio-visual feedback helps the brain learn how to modify its functioning, there’s no ‘trick’ or ‘gimmick’ involved, just the repeated rewarding of desired behavior. . Neurofeedback is so effective because it helps the brain unlearn and relearn more efficient neural connections that result in optimal brain functioning.
In the brain map above, we see the various brain waves both before and after neurofeedback treatment. We see that before treatment, the patient had abnormally high levels of Beta and High Beta. Neurofeedback sessions successfully trained the patient to improve their brain wave function.
During a Neurofeedback training session, a patient sits comfortably in front of a video or computer screen, with several sensors on their head and ears to detect brain wave activity, which the clinician then monitors. This brain activity is then displayed as a bar or other graphic to show whether the person is improving their functioning. Note: Quietmind uses a method to control the computer's brightness and sound volume, so users can watch/listen to whatever they want as a source of feedback.
Ultimately, the client’s goal is to control images or other activity on the screen by altering their brainwave activity. The observation of how their brain can control the audio-visual feedback helps the brain learn how to modify its functioning, there’s no ‘trick’ or ‘gimmick’ involved, just the repeated rewarding of desired behavior. . Neurofeedback is so effective because it helps the brain unlearn and relearn more efficient neural connections that result in optimal brain functioning.
Neurofeedback and pharmaceutical drug interventions for memory loss
Neurofeedback training may be a viable alternative to medication for memory loss in some cases. Neurofeedback works by leveraging neuroplasticity. The brain has a remarkable ability to learn by forming neural connections between different areas. The type of learning that the neurofeedback capitalizes upon is operant conditioning.
According to Simply Psychology, operant conditioning is a learning strategy in which reinforcement (reward) is likely to be repeated, and behavior that is not reinforced occurs less frequently. Neurofeedback reinforces our brain wave activity toward a more optimal state of balance and efficiency. For example, the television show, video game, or sound that we are watching or listening to during a session will fade in when we are engaging the proper brain waves (reward) and fade out if we are not.
Unlike pharmaceutical drug interventions, learning through neurofeedback is self-reinforcing and therefore permanent. In contrast, the effects of a drug will only last as long as the drug is being regularly consumed. Thus, the time and effort invested in neurofeedback training sessions are greatly rewarded by an enduring return to a healthier, everyday life.
How can you start using Neurofeedback?
Contact Quietmind Associates at 267-481-3987 or email [email protected]
Complete our online intake, then schedule a consultation to review your history and current goals, QEEG brain mapping, initial neurofeedback and/or photobiomodulation training protocol, and additional evaluation referrals.
According to Simply Psychology, operant conditioning is a learning strategy in which reinforcement (reward) is likely to be repeated, and behavior that is not reinforced occurs less frequently. Neurofeedback reinforces our brain wave activity toward a more optimal state of balance and efficiency. For example, the television show, video game, or sound that we are watching or listening to during a session will fade in when we are engaging the proper brain waves (reward) and fade out if we are not.
Unlike pharmaceutical drug interventions, learning through neurofeedback is self-reinforcing and therefore permanent. In contrast, the effects of a drug will only last as long as the drug is being regularly consumed. Thus, the time and effort invested in neurofeedback training sessions are greatly rewarded by an enduring return to a healthier, everyday life.
How can you start using Neurofeedback?
Contact Quietmind Associates at 267-481-3987 or email [email protected]
Complete our online intake, then schedule a consultation to review your history and current goals, QEEG brain mapping, initial neurofeedback and/or photobiomodulation training protocol, and additional evaluation referrals.
