Neurofeedback therapy, also called neurotherapy or EEG biofeedback, is a method through which the brain is exercised. NF strengthens the brain, calms it, and improves stability. In short, it rewires the brain.
After birth, the brain develops when exposed to new stimuli. If the wiring is defective, new stimuli cause disorganisation of information.
To rewire the brain, we apply neurofeedback therapy. This treatment stimulates metabolism and blood flow, strengthens dendritic connections as well as the functioning of neurotransmitters, which accounts for improvement in the patient’s ability to carry out cognitive tasks successfully.
The conventional treatment of epilepsy includes the intake of different kinds of anti-convulsants. Sometimes a patient does not respond effectively to a specific anticonvulsant medication. Although medication controls epilepsy to a certain degree, some patients still have seizures despite taking medication.
As an alternative to medication, the Americans started with a therapy called neurotherapy during the 60s and 70s, controlling epilepsy with great success.
Dr. Sterman conducted an experiment on cats for NASA that measured the effect of monomethyl hydrazine (a toxic rocket fuel), which causes epilepsy and even death in people and animals.
He found that cats that suffered from epilepsy and received neurotherapy treatment, had fewer seizures and also had a longer life span than the untreated cats. Americans started treating people with the same kind of therapy with great success.
Today, neurofeedback therapy is recognised as a successful supportive treatment of epilepsy. There are numerous neurofeedback systems on the market. This practice makes use of Brain Master Systems.
Dr. Joel Lubar from the University of Tennessee conducted studies and research on epilepsy that show the positive effect of neurotherapy lasting 12 months or longer, post-training. Clinicians report long-lasting and permanent changes.
Research indicates relapses are normally due to injury, or extreme stress or trauma. Some patients will never need maintenance sessions. For others, ongoing training may be appropriate, especially for degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's. Repetition of intensive training is seldom needed. Occasional “follow-up” sessions are suggested once every three to six months.
Amplitude or Power Training refers to the amount of power in a signal or the amplitude of a particular frequency band. There may be an excess of a frequency range that is inhibited or a lack of a frequency range that is rewarded during the training.
Z-score Training: The use of z-scores implements the concept of a normal distribution or standard deviation pertaining to the increase and decrease of amplitudes in all the frequency bands relative to persons of the same age.
Infraslow fluctuation (ISF) focuses on the lowest energy that the brain produces (<0.1Hz). Research indicates that it regulates autonomic functioning and regulates the vagal nerve, which is the 10th cranial nerve and the longest cranial nerve.
Through ISF training, the optimal frequency of each person is determined and trained to become more prominent. Finding the correct frequency for a radio station is a good analogy to finding the optimal frequency of a person. When a radio is not tuned onto the correct frequency, it will distort the sound. If a person is not functioning at their optimal level, functional deficits are present.
The optimum frequency is reflected to the trainee with 2 reward sounds. A higher tone is heard when the amplitude increases by more than 15 % above the mean (0.0030 Hz), and a lower tone is heard when the amplitude decreases by more than 15% below the mean (0.0030).
Alpha-Theta Training: The purpose of Alpha-Theta training is to reach the deeper inner state of the brain, the midbrain, and the reptilian brain, to obtain calmness and relaxation, and to enhance the change of the level of awareness.
DIFFERENT METHODS APPLIED IN NF
Amplitude or Power Training refers to the amount of power in a signal or the amplitude of a particular frequency band. There may be an excess of a frequency range that is inhibited or a lack of a frequency range that is rewarded during the training.
Z-score Training: The use of z-scores implements the concept of a normal distribution or standard deviation pertaining to the increase and decrease of amplitudes in all the frequency bands relative to persons of the same age.
Infraslow fluctuation (ISF) focuses on the lowest energy that the brain produces (<0.1Hz). Research indicates that it regulates autonomic functioning and regulates the vagal nerve, which is the 10th cranial nerve and the longest cranial nerve.
Through ISF training, the optimal frequency of each person is determined and trained to become more prominent. Finding the correct frequency for a radio station is a good analogy to finding the optimal frequency of a person. When a radio is not tuned onto the correct frequency, it will distort the sound. If a person is not functioning at their optimal level, functional deficits are present.
The optimum frequency is reflected to the trainee with 2 reward sounds. A higher tone is heard when the amplitude increases by more than 15 % above the mean (0.0030 Hz), and a lower tone is heard when the amplitude decreases by more than 15% below the mean (0.0030).
Alpha-Theta Training: The purpose of Alpha-Theta training is to reach the deeper inner state of the brain, the midbrain, and the reptilian brain, to obtain calmness and relaxation, and to enhance the change of the level of awareness.
The sound in neurofeedback is basically the feedback system.
In neurofeedback, sound is that score system—it makes the invisible (your brainwaves) visible (or, in this case, audible)
Self-control boost: Over time, you don’t just rely on the sound—you start being able to shift your brain state on your own, like controlling focus before a test or calming down before sleep.
