Neurofeedback: What can we use it for?
Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback that doctors and practitioners use today to treat a variety of things. Essentially you are teaching your brain self-control and regulation by measuring brain waves and providing a feedback signal when our brain waves are where we want them to be. Feedback that is given is typically visual or auditory. Visual feedback can be a flash of light on a dimly lit screen and auditory feedback can range from any sound. Over time our brain realizes that when our brain waves stay in the “optimal” range it will be rewarded and it will regulate itself to stay in that optimal range. The “optimal range” is different from person to person and depends on what the person is coming in for. Read below to some of the conditions that we treat with neurofeedback.
Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common things we can help treat with Neurofeedback. Those that experience anxiety may sometimes feel as if their brain is always turned on and they cannot turn it off. Patients who struggle with anxiety might see excess alpha and beta waves in their brain. Neurofeedback works so that when the patient is sitting down and his/her brain is calm and in an optimal state, they will be rewarded with a flash of light and a sound. On the other hand, when the brain is presenting an excess of those bad waves, the patient will see the screen dim and not hear any sounds. Over time the brain will start to pick up that when it is in a calmer state it will be rewarded versus when it is in a tensed and anxious state it will not.
ADHD
Here at NorCal Brain Center we have numerous amounts of adult and kids that come in that struggle with ADHD and the inability to focus in their day to day lives. Children who are diagnosed with ADHD struggle to pay attention and are restless. Those who struggle with ADHD have an excess of theta and beta waves in the frontal lobe that show on the EEG. A lot of times, parents will see a change in their kid and see a more focused and attentive kid. Although this can take time and progress is slow, the brain can eventually learn to regulate itself to the point where it can help a kid focus more and essentially calm down. There are therapies used in conjunction with neurofeedback to help with ADHD. Call us if you have any questions and would like to know if we can help you. Read our future blogs on Neurofeedback to see how we treat other conditions.
