NEUROFEEDBACK

Brain injuries often result in abnormal brainwave patterns that may cause a variety of health issues.

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, safe method of monitoring brainwaves and correcting abnormal patterns to alleviate corresponding symptoms.

Neurofeedback helps improve concentration, short-term memory, insomnia, speech, energy level and emotional balance.

A PAINLESS PROCESS

Neurofeedback is painless. Small sensor pads (non-electrical) are placed on the client's head. These sensors enable brainwave patterns to be monitored via computer and displayed on a monitor in front of the person.

The computer assists the brain in recognizing normal rhythmic patterns by producing audio and visual reinforcement when they occur. The brain then makes the appropriate corrections to achieve normal patterns.

Neurofeedback enables the body to self-regulate and bring itself back into balance. It offers individuals an opportunity to participate in their own healing process

NEUROFEEDBACK USES "REAL TIME" DIGITAL EQUIPMENT

The professionals Nielsen Recovery Group coordinate with use Margaret Ayer’s “Real Time” Digital EEG Neurofeedback equipment. It displays a patient's brainwaves as they occur in “real time." This enables a precise interpretation of brainwave patterns by the client and an immediate opportunity for correction of abnormal patterns in the brain. (visit Margaret Ayer’s website at neuropathways.com)

The Real Time Digital equipment takes 250,000 samples per second. It does not add or average them—you have only “real time” primary data. At this incredible speed, the real time equipment feeds the information back to the brain in less than one thousandth of a second. This makes an amazing difference in the speed at which training can take place.

Because there are different brainwave patterns for different conditions, it is important for the client to see their “real time” data to accurately correct their abnormal patterns. Typical analog equipment takes 120 samples per second, which are added, averaged and reported at the end of the session---the original EEG (brainwave) data is lost. (Click here to view Neurofeedback Questions & Answers with Margaret Ayers.)

HISTORY OF NEUROFEEDBACK

In the late 1960's, Barry Sterman , a neuroscientist at UCLA, trained cats to increase their sensory motor rhythm (SMR) brainwaves by giving them rewards whenever they happened to be producing such a rhythm. Subsequently, the cats were used in an experiment to investigate seizures in pilots who were exposed to hydrazine fuel. Inexplicably, the cats from the earlier research were resistant to the seizure-producing effects of the chemical.

Sterman applied this finding to humans by studying a group of patients whose severe epilepsy had not responded to medical treatment. By using neurofeedback to increase a particular type of brainwave, over 60% of the patients experienced a significant reduction in seizures, as well improvement in the quality of their sleep.

Margaret Ayers began her work with EEG neurofeedback in 1975 when the UCLA Medical School hired her as an electro-encephalographer.

She was the first to publish research on utilizing EEG neurofeedback with head trauma, stroke and quadriplegics. Her pioneering neurofeedback equipment design and innovative work with head injury, coma and learning disorders have won her international recognition.

NEUROFEEDBACK RESOURCES

Questions and Answers with Margaret Ayers

Healing Power of Neurofeedback by Steven Larsen, published by Healing Arts Press

McAlvany Health Alert Volume 2 Issue 7 July 2002