top of page

Neurofeedback Training

Screen Shot 2020-09-27 at 21.48.02.png
gd_Neurofeedback_14Q1_BEE_Medic-1024x682

What is Neurofeedback Training?

  • Neurofeedback Training (NFB) is a non-invasive intervention that trains the brain to function in healthier and more efficient ways. With the assistance of a trained clinician, neurofeedback training enables an individual to take advantage of the brain’s innate capability to self-regulate and optimize itself. Over time, the dysregulation is corrected leading to improved cognitive function, greater emotional stability, and increased quality of sleep.

  • Neurofeedback training could be a viable drug-free / lower dose option for managing symptoms of disorders such as ADHD, depression and anxiety.​

  • The electrical brain activity known as EEG or brain waves which cause our thoughts, emotions and behaviors are trained to function in a more efficient way. Neurofeedback uses the process of recording and measuring brain waves to create a signal called feedback. This feedback helps the brain learn self-regulation.  NFB monitors brainwaves, or electrical patterns in the brain. These brain waves can be recorded, measured, and displayed in digital form.

  • There are many types of psychotherapy including psychotherapies that help patients change behaviors or thought patterns, that help patients explore the effect of past relationships and experiences on present behaviors, and therapies that are tailored to help solve other problems in specific ways. For example, when using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a common type of short-term psychotherapy, the therapist aims to help a patient become rational in his or her assessments of situations.

  • Pharmaceutical interventions involve ingestion of a synthetic chemical compound, or medication. This medication is thought to exert an effect on the chemical makeup of the brain and nervous system in an effort to correct dysfunction. Some psychiatric medications help correct imbalances in brain chemistry that are thought to be involved in specific mental disorders. The use of medication suggest that psychotropics often cause unwanted side effects making treatment compliance an issue. Additionally, with many of these medications, the clinical effect stops once the substance is eliminated from the body causing a return of symptoms.

      The Benefits Infraslow Fluctuation (ISF) Neurofeedback

Infraslow fluctuation (ISF) neurofeedback training is a type of neurofeedback that focuses on observing the lowest frequencies in the brain.

The earliest research on these ultra-slow waves suggests ISF works by regulating autonomic nervous system function, the flight, fight or freeze response.

More importantly, ISF regulates the activation of brain areas linked in chronic autonomic stress by helping the brain communicate between the autonomic and emotional networks.

This in turn helps separate regions responsible for emotion from the autonomic distress signal. Simply put, ISF training impacts the brains flexibility to move from fight, flight or freeze to rest and repair.

ISF coordinates processes in the brain with processes in the body. The heart, the blood, the digestive system, and the Autonomic Nervous System are all coordinated at these very slow frequencies.

This synchronizing effect works to produce a brain and body that has the flexibility to respond appropriately to the environment.

The goal of ISF training is to reach a condition of homeostasis in mind and body that simultaneously promotes a calm and alert state.

This more flexible state helps to treat a variety of mental health illnesses and bothersome conditions.

Moreover, ISF training allows an individual to sleep better, attend more fully, feel more in charge of his or her emotional life, and changes a host of troublesome behaviors.

  • For eg. when young Johnny is presented with new material in geometry he focuses on the lesson and not the distracting noise out the window.

At work, Sue is able to remain relaxed and centered rather than anxious in the face of stress producing moments.

As the field of modern neuroscience continues to advance, we discover more and more about the natural flexibility and learning capacities of the brain. Once thought to be a fixed organ, the brain is actually able to consistently learn, adapt, and change in ways we never thought possible! With the use of cutting-edge neuro-technologies, including ISF Neurofeedback Training and QEEG brain mapping, we are able to help clients train their minds to operate in ways that better serve them. By focusing on the client’s needs, we are able to strengthen areas of dysregulation, break habitual thought and emotional patterns, and bring a sense of equilibrium to a person’s life.

https://neurofeedbackservicesny.com/the-benefits-of-infraslow-neurofeedback-training/

      Types of brain wave activity.

  • Delta waves/ sleep: this is the slowest brain wave and occurs during sleep.

  • Theta waves/ sleepy: when feeling sleepy.

  • Alpha waves: when relaxed and calm yet alert. It is one of the brain’s most important

  • brain waves. It enables tasks to be accomplished easily.

  • Beta waves: when actively thinking, problem solving and concentrating.

  • Gamma waves occur when information is processed quickly, it helps with memory and recall.

 

  •  The brain does not produce only one type of brainwave at a time. There may be some or all of the different brainwaves in the brain at any given time.

  • Depending what we are doing there should be a dominant brainwave. 

  • Beta for concentration, Alpha for awareness and Theta while sleepy.

  • Therefore, brain waves help to describe the changes we see in brain.

 What has this to do with neurofeedback training?

  • When our brainwaves are out of balance problems may be caused in our emotional health or our daily  functioning. 

  • We need to be able to change our brain activity to match what we are doing. 

  • At school/work, we need to stay focused and attentive and those beta waves are a good thing. 

  • But when we get home and want to relax, we want to be able to produce less beta and more alpha activity. 

  • To get to sleep, we want to be able to slow down even more. 

  • Life becomes difficult when we cannot match our brain activity to the demands of our lives. 

  • This brain based electrical activity, when under or over performing can produce a dysregulated state impacting  our academic, emotional, social, and physical areas of life.  Some of this dysregulation can include ADHD-attention deficits, mood regulation, addictions, anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD and behaviour  disorders. 

  • These dysregulated states are produced by different types of brain wave frequencies. Too many brain waves or  too little, cause problems as the brain is not performing at its optimal level.  

  • As brain waves change, so too do the symptoms of any disorders that the individual may be experiencing.

Neurofeedback training is training the brain waves so that they are optimized for when we  need them most. Types of Neurofeedback training are Power training, Z-score training, S-Loreta

 Included are peer reviewed articles below for more information.

 What is the process?

  • A person who is going to participate in neurofeedback training sessions will start by answering several questions about their symptoms, treatment history, and lifestyle.

  • The first step may be to do a qEEG - a Quantitative Electroencephalogram which produces a series of visual “brain maps”. Brain mapping/ qEEG uses a non-intrusive method to gather data to confirm the results of the assessment.

  • Click here to find out more:                    

  • Per session ¥11,000 (including tax)

  • 2 sessions weekly @ ¥22 000 per week (including tax). Suggested for optimal improvement.

  • Brain map/ qEEG - ¥70 000

  • Bazanova, O.M., Aftanas, L.I. (2010).Individual EEG alpha activity analysis for enhancement neurofeedback efficiency: Two case studies.  Journal of Neurotherapy 14(3), 244 – 253.

  • Boyd, W.D & Campbell, S.E. (1998) EEG biofeedback in schools: The use of EEG biofeedback to treat ADHD in a school setting. Journal of Neurotherapy,

       2(4), 65-71.

  • Budzynski, T.H. (1996). Braining brightening: Can neurofeedback improve cognitive process? Biofeedback, 24(2), 14-17.

  • Foks, M. (2005).Neurofeedback training as an educational intervention in a school setting: How the regulation of arousal states can lead to improved attention and behaviour in children with special needs. Educational & Child Psychology, 22(3), 67-77.

  • Fritson, K. K., Wadkins, T. A., Gerdes, P., & Hof, D. (2007).  The impact of neurotherapy on college students’ cognitive abilities and emotions.  Journal of Neurotherapy, 11(4), 1-9.

  • Kwon, H., Cho, J., Lee, E. (2009). EEG asymmetry analysis of the left and right brain activities during simple versus complex arithmetic learning.

  • Journal of Neurotherapy 13(2), 109 – 116.

  • Vernon, D., Egner, T., Cooper, N., Compton, T., Neilands, C., Sheri, A., & Gruzelier, J.(2003). The effect of training distinct neurofeedback protocols on aspects of cognitive performance. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 47, 75-85.

Articles

Pricing

bottom of page