What Is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is a painless, noninvasive approach that allows the individual to gain information about their brainwave activity and use that information to produce changes that lead to better brain function.

Training the brain to function at its optimal potential is similar to the way the body is exercised, toned, and maintained. When you give the brain information about itself, it has an enormous capacity for change!

How does Neurofeedback work?

Neurofeedback reads a client’s brainwaves, or EEG, and uses that information to create “feedback” as part of a video game or movie to show the brain what it is doing. Brainwave activity adjusts the speed, activity, volume, and visibility of the screen. When the brain sees that it is controlling what is happening on the screen, usually after a few minutes, it will use that “feedback” to adjust its own activity to be calmer, more stable, and better regulated.

What can Neurofeedback help with?

  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is described as an inability to focus, and is often paired with anger outbursts, restlessness, and social impairment. Neurofeedback assessments identify unhealthy, abnormal brainwave patterns and brain training helps the brain develop normal, healthy, organized patterns. The brain becomes more stable and clients notice a reduction in hyperactivity. In general, overall concentration is improved and the brain operates more efficiently.

    Links:

    Neurofeedback in ADHD

    EEG Biofeedback Therapy for ADD: A Systemic Review

    Effectiveness of Neurofeedback on Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

  • Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet less than a third of people who suffer seek help. With Beta brainwave dysregulation, the brain tends to operate at a faster-than-normal processing speed and is considered to be over-aroused. Neurofeedback therapy can be paired with talk therapy to focus on the direct training of brain function so that your brain can function normally and efficiently. Particularly, neurofeedback focuses on the electrical activity of your brain. Therapy sessions normally include training to increase healthy brainwaves while inhibiting other, stress-related waves. This increases the opportunity to solve anxiety at the root cause(s). You are empowered to react to anxiety symptomatology in healthier ways.

  • Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) normally emerge around the age of two or three. These symptoms include inappropriate social interaction, poor eye contact, compulsive behavior, impulsivity, repetitive movements, self-harm, or persistent repetition of words or actions, and learning disability or speech delay. Other common symptoms are anxiety, irregular mood patterns, intense interest, or problems paying attention. Often, individuals on the Autism Spectrum are also unaware of others’ emotions. Clinical results of neurofeedback have shown improvement of autism symptoms, including greater ability to handle touch and contact, reduction of emotional outbursts, clearer speech patterns, decreased hyperactivity, increased social skills, increased focus and attention patterns, increased executive skills, and better cognitive functioning.

  • Depression affects more than 280 million people worldwide. Symptoms include (but may not be limited to) feelings of overwhelm, fatigue, sadness, foggy-brained, or disconnection. Research shows that depression may be impacted by a reduction of brainwave activity on the left side of the brain, where positive mood is engaged. Neurofeedback helps train the brain to increase alpha brain waves on the left side. As the left side of the brain becomes more active, clients generally feel more positive in their moods. Overall, when brainwave functioning improves, mood improves as well.

    Links:

    Neurofeedback Training in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

  • As an essential, sleep allows the body and mind to recharge. Poor sleep patterns are associated with irritability, tiredness, and difficulty with focus and concentration. Lack of sleep is also believed to be related to physical health problems including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Chronic, or recurrent, insomnia is a widespread condition affecting nearly 15% of the global population. In clinical studies, neurofeedback is shown as an effective, drugless, natural approach to insomnia, especially for people who have struggled for years.

  • Brain fog, forgetfulness, declining cognitive function, mixing up your words, asking the same questions repeatedly or taking longer to perform normal tasks are all signs and symptoms of memory loss. These are early warning signs of abnormal brainwave function that are often associated with the inability to process information optimally. Neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to create new neural pathways. When the imbalance is removed and brainwaves are regulated, cognitive function improves. The result is an improved ability to remember.

    Links:

    Effects of Neurofeedback on Memory

  • Many factors can trigger migraines – ranging from hormonal imbalance, light sensitivity, allergies, and dehydration to neuro-metabolic issues. This leaves your brain in a high state of stress and imbalance. The results are a variety of symptoms, including the inability to focus, mood swings, and throbbing pain. Neurofeedback is a scientifically proven system that retrains the brain to create new patterns and responses to incoming triggers and stressors. This new response improves brainwave activity and function. The result is a calmer, happier, healthier brain that has fewer symptoms and flare-ups.

    Links:

    Effects of Neurofeedback on Memory of Migraine Patients

    Neurofeedback and Biofeedback with 37 Migrainers: A Clinical Outcome Study

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder often occurs after a stressful or traumatic event, leaving a wake of symptoms in its path. From anxiety and depression to fear, guilt, and shame, the emotional toll impacts daily lives, careers, and relationships. With PTSD, a severe stress response is triggered, the challenge is to teach the brain to turn off the stress response. The specific areas of the brain affected by PTSD can also be targeted and retrained to produce healthier patterns. This retraining creates relaxation in the brain and teaches it new ways to handle stress. As brainwaves are rebalanced and improved, function improves, leading to better mood, sleep, cognitive function, and adaptability in daily life. Over time with neurofeedback, as the areas of the brain improve, it has been possible to significantly reduce medications as a person with PTSD begins to maintain a calm state on his or her own.

    Links:

    Neurofeedback Modulates Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

  • Whether you are a professional athlete, a top executive, a weekend warrior, a student-athlete, a professional, or a performer, you know that peak performance is essential to your success. Neurofeedback improves depth and quality of sleep for greater physical and mental stamina, nental focus and clarity, concentration, adaptability and mental cognition, the rate of mental processing, and memory so you are functioning at your best.

  • A Substance Use Disorder ranges in severity from mild to severe. People who struggle with substance use disorders often begin or continue using because they have underlying, or co-occurring symptoms related to anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, or PTSD. Studies have shown that abstinence rates can be improved using neurofeedback, making neurofeedback a modality that both complements and enhances the efficacy of recovery programs for substance use disorders.

anchor-of-hope-counseling-neurofeedback

“Neurofeedback should play a major therapeutic role in many different areas. If any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy, it would be universally accepted and widely used.”

-Dr. Frank Duffy, Pediatric Neurologist, Harvard Medical School

It’s in the science…

Click to read an in-depth study of neurofeedback from Harvard Medical School.

Neurofeedback At Home

Our cutting-edge Brain Empowered Take-Home Neurofeedback System is effective and easy to use.

Our Take-Home program includes:

  • Unlimited brain training

  • Personalized brain training protocols

  • Real-time training responsiveness  

  • Nutrition links to brain performance

  • Weekly progress monitoring

  • Breathing exercises and mindfulness app

Neurofeedback can help you be steady in life’s storms.