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NEUROFEEDBACK. Using Technology to Re-Shape the Mind. Also called…. EEG Biofeedback Brain training Neuro-therapy Neuro-training Attention training Peak performance training. BIOFEEDBACK. Using information about how the body is working to alter what’s going on.
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NEUROFEEDBACK Using Technology to Re-Shape the Mind
Also called… EEG Biofeedback Brain training Neuro-therapy Neuro-training Attention training Peak performance training
BIOFEEDBACK Using information about how the body is working to alter what’s going on Biofeedback was popular in the 70’s for managing anxiety. The client got sound tones for rewards when his GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) met the pre-set levels.
We now know our brains are much more “plastic” than we used to think. Our brains can learn, change, improve, heal…
THE BIG IDEA: When you have information what your brain waves are doing, your brain can use that information to change how it works.
A few brain facts… Most brain development occurs during the 1st 2 years of life
The human brain weighs about 12 ounces at birth, about 35 ounces at 1 year…
By age 5, the brain is about its full size and weight – about 3 pounds (about 2% of adult body weight).
Your brain uses about 20-30% of your body’s basic energy – and about 20% of your oxygen.
By age 20-25, we have 100 billion neurons… but then we start to LOSE brain cells.
As many as 10,000 brain cells die every day after age 20. Fortunately, those 100,000,000,000 neurons are a generous supply!
Every neuron is connected to other neurons – we have an estimated 1,000,000,000,000,000 connections in our brain.
Our Synaptic Self* • Communication between brain cells is a bio-chemical event across tiny spaces called synapses. Our thoughts, feelings, actions, memories & imaginations are the result of what happens in our synapses. Synaptic Self – How Our Brains Become Who We Are by Ernest LeDoux
“I think, therefore I am…” Rene Descartes (1596-1650)
What makes us who we are? LeDoux believes it is all in the synapses that the essence of our personalities is encoded – including the basis for mental health and self-awareness – and mental illness, addictions and other brain-related problems.
PERSONALITY is a complex interaction between nature (our “hard-wired” responses) and nurture (our unique personal experiences) – all encoded in our synapses.
The electricity reflects normal cell activity as information is transferred from cell to cell.
We can detect this electrical signal using sensors – electrodes – placed on the scalp.
These electrodes pick up information about brain waves -- similar to the way stethoscopes pick up information about our hearts and lungs.
In both situations, SENSORS are gathering data.
Beta waves are produced in the brain stem and the cerebral cortex
The signal is VERY tiny, measured in microvolts – about 1 millionth of a volt.
This electrical signal is then magnified by some kind of amplifier, which is then fed through a computer. BrainMaster Wireless Pendant Pocket 1-W EEG
Computers can filter out the various brain wave frequencies & provide us with this information in a usable form.
The patterns of brain wave activity varies, depending on where on the brain we are looking, and what kinds of things we are doing. In different mental states, different types of brain waves dominate.
Normal Brain • Good balance of brain waves • Ability to shift easily from one brain state to another
Neurofeedback works by helping to restore a better balance of waves in various parts of the brain.
Dysfunctional Brain • May have • too much of some • frequencies over others – • or in the wrong place
Dysfunctional Brain • May have • too much of some • frequencies over others • unstable frequencies
Dysfunctional Brain • May have • too much of some • frequencies over others • unstable frequencies • an impaired ability to • shift from one • mental state to another.
Attention Deficit Disorder The brain produces fast beta waves when the person is actively mentally involved in a language-based task …
…and slower theta waves when involved in an image-based processing task, like a video game.
For under-powered brains a fast-wave task like school work ends up causing the brain to start into beta—then collapse into slow drowsy waves. Stimulant meds can stimulate the brain-– until the meds wear off.
NF works by re-training the brain to produce the beta waves on its own – and many people continue to improve after the training ends!
BRAIN WAVE FREQUENCIES Each brain wave frequency can be measured in terms of: • Microvolts (µV) = Amplitude/Height of the wave • Hertz (Hz) = Frequency/Speed of the wave per second
FREQUENCY • The speed of electrical undulations, measured in cycles per second, or hertz (hz). • The frequency defines the brainwave bandwith: • Delta, Theta, Alpha = Slow • SMR, Beta, High Beta, Gamma = Fast
AMPLITUDE • The powerof the electrical impulse, measured in microvolts. (µV) • Like volume is to sound • Slower waves have higher amplitudes. • It takes the brain a lot of energy to produce the faster waves, so amplitudes tend to be lower.
FREQUENCY BANDWITHS • Single frequencies organized into discreet groups • Each bandwidth is associated with specific characteristics • The amplitude and microvolt readings reflect all of the activity within the bandwidth • NF training is aimed at changing the amplitude of a selected frequency bandwidth
Cortical and Subcortical Processes Regulation of basic life functions Has a role in sexuality, memory, and processing emotional information Used for thinking, talking, hearing, seeing and creating
DELTA • 0.5-3 Hz (cycles or waves per second) • Sleep State • Regenerative State • Complex problem solving • Consciousness completely internalized • Transcendental states • Dominant wave form in infants up to 6 months old • 40% of the amplitude in infants • <5% of the amplitude in a “normal” adult
High Amplitudes of Delta • Learning Disabilities • “Sleepy Brains” • Brain Injuries • Eye Blinks and Eye Movement Artifact
THETA • 4-7 Hz (cycles or waves per second) • Trance State • Intuitive, Creative • Internal Focus • Thoughts in Theta are visual/emotional
High Amplitudes of Theta • Learning Disabilities • Foggy Brains • Filtering Problems (ADHD) • Processing Problems (ADD) • Slow Reaction Time • Lack of Oxygen and Blood Flow • Depression • Anxiety