Neurofeedback

WHAT IS NEUROFEEDBACK?

Neurofeedback is Personalized Brain Training. Neurofeedback training works on the basis of showing the brain a reflection of its own behavior and rewarding more efficient patterns. This training has been shown to improve functional connectivity between brain areas, as well as successfully treating various mental health issues. Neurofeedback training helps improve our sense of self, sleep, mood regulation, memory and focus. By training the dysrhythmic brain areas, we can help the brain restore balance and functionality.

WHY USE NEUROFEEDBACK?

It is an evidence-based, scientifically proven treatment, medication-free and non-invasive. Neurofeedback can help with areas of the brain that control verbal expression, social complexity, mood regulation, focus/concentration, sense of self. When any of these areas becomes dysregulated, it can give rise to various pathologies such as anxiety, depression, focus issues, developmental, delays, ADHD, and autism/schizophrenia, among other challenges. These challenges can happen as a result of natural/genetic propensities, trauma (emotional and physical), infection and neurodegeneration (age and disease)]

HOW DOES IT WORK?

We attach sensors to the dysrhythmic brain area to read EEG data. This gets interpreted and analyzed in real-time. Meanwhile, the person is watching a movie, engaging their conscious mind. When the particular brain area we are training is not producing an efficient wave pattern, we give the brain feedback: the volume drops, slightly, or the picture changes size. That brain area then responds by changing its behavior to restore the volume and picture size. This change in behavior happens preconsciously – i.e. without our conscious effort – we are watching the movie. Note that the only feedback we are giving the brain about its behavior is via the volume or picture size change. There is NO stimulus through the sensors – they only read and pick up the EEG signal.

THE BRAIN

Specifically, we look at functional brain areas. There are around thirty areas of interest, and we can assess their relative performance both towards new and familiar situations. Each brain area governs a part of our performance, identity and social interaction. When one or more brain areas are dysrhythmic, that is, not contributing optimally, a vulnerability to certain behavioral patterns emerges. When viewed this way, we can obtain a granular picture of a person’s strengths and challenges. On the basis of a EEG brain map, we can now train the brain with neurofeedback. Challenges thus become opportunities that can be addressed.

DOES NEUROFEEDBACK HURT?

Neurofeedback training is an enjoyable process – the conscious mind is occupied with watching a movie while preconscious behavior adapts to the auditory and visual feedback (there is no direct stimulus via the electrodes, they merely measure ongoing brain activity). Neurofeedback training is an evidence-based, effective and non-invasive treatment. With neurofeedback training, we show the brain more efficient ways of functioning. After a training session, there is generally an improved sense of self, calmness and confidence – in general, we have shown the brain a new type of reward – efficient functioning with respect to a particular brain area – and it will gravitate towards situations, projects, people and places that will support this in a virtuous, positive feedback loop. With repetition, the trained brain area learns a more efficient way of behaving. It becomes equipped with a better way to process sensory stimuli and interact with other brain areas.