What is Neurofeedback Training?
Neurofeedback is a simple, painless learning technique that involves teaching your brainwaves to become more functional and effective. It started in research settings and was then further developed for use by health care professionals, to help people with a range of difficulties. To date there are over 10,000 peer reviews and studies, and neurofeedback has helped millions of people improve the quality of their lives.
The way these difficulties are seen is not through labels such as OCD, Autism, PTSD or ADHD – to name but a few. Instead, it is to understand the challenges the person is presenting with, link their symptoms to the brain’s control centres, assess the brainwave patterns, and devise a training and treatment plan to help the brain to regulate these areas better, thereby lowering their symptoms, and improving engagement.
Neurofeedback systems
There are two main types of neurofeedback systems. The first one is ‘classical’ neurofeedback and the other type is LENS neurofeedback. I use both types of systems and will tailor the treatment programme to your needs, depending on what the assessment process indicates your brain needs.
To date there are over 10,000 peer reviews and studies, and neurofeedback has helped millions of people improve the quality of their lives
Brain Wave Activity
A tool that leads to treatment
The electrical activity of the brain, also known as the “EEG” or electroencephalogram, reflects the functional capacity of the brain to operate efficiently, to change states at will, and to be flexible and resilient. Brainwave frequencies are measured in cycles per second, or Hertz (Hz). These frequencies range from very slow activity (characteristic of deep sleep – Delta, 1-4Hz), to drowsy activity (Theta, 4-8 Hz), to moderate activity (characteristic of relaxed wakefulness – Alpha, 8-12 Hz), to fast activity (characterising the activated, problem-solving mind – Beta, 13-21 Hz). The brain also shows a Sensory-Motor Rhythm (SMR 12-15 Hz) which is important in the acquisition of information and is active during mental alertness and muscular relaxation.
For example, if someone’s EEG shows very fast activity (High Beta, 22-36 Hz), it can point to problems like anxiety and obsessive behaviour. On the other hand, an even faster frequency brainwave, called Gamma (38-42 Hz) is important for intense problem-solving and learning.
Another example is when a waking brain that is trying to attend and problem-solve is under-aroused (too much slow frequency activity), its executive functions fail to operate and regulate efficiently. This state is typical for people with problems with attention. The inability of the brain to produce sufficient fast activity for attention, planning, emotional regulation, judgement, and problem solving predisposes people to seek out high levels of stimulation, which help them to feel more normal and attentive.
Because of this close relationship between the frequency of brain activity and the individual’s ability to attend and engage in efficient executive functioning, assessing a person’s brain waves is an effective way of gathering the information needed to plan a brainwave retraining program. Different areas of the brain need differing levels of activity and frequencies, this will also vary depending on the type of activity, and whether the eyes are open or closed. Therefore, what we are doing in the assessment is understanding where the various frequency levels of different areas of the brain are working well and are in balance, and when and in what circumstance they are not. It is then a very short step to devising a plan to retrain these frequencies and improve functioning.
For those of you with a scientific leaning click on the research link to have a more detailed look at some of the science.
Neurofeedback for Children
Brain Wave Types
Specific brain waves with their characteristics.
