1 NEUROFEEDBACK Using Technology to Re-Shape the Mind

2 Also called… EEG Biofeedback Brain training Neuro-therapy Neuro-training Attention training Peak performance training

3 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.

4 Every day forms of biofeedback

5 You have to have accurate feedback, of course!

6 Brain training is… exercising the brain – a mental workout.

7 We now know our brains are much more “plastic” than we used to think. Our brains can learn, change, improve, heal…

8 When you have information what your brain waves are doing, your brain can use that information to change how it works. THE BIG IDEA:

9 A few brain facts… Most brain development occurs during the 1 st 2 years of life

10 The human brain weighs about 12 ounces at birth, about 35 ounces at 1 year…

11 By age 5, the brain is about its full size and weight – about 3 pounds (about 2% of adult body weight).

12 Your brain uses about 20-30% of your body’s basic energy – and about 20% of your oxygen.

13 By age 20-25, we have 100 billion neurons… but then we start to LOSE brain cells.

14 Fortunately, those 100,000,000,000 neurons are a generous supply! As many as 10,000 brain cells die every day after age 20.

15 Every neuron is connected to other neurons – we have an estimated 1,000,000,000,000,000 connections in our brain.

16 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

17 “I think, therefore I am…” Rene Descartes ( )

18 I don’t know, so maybe I’m not…

19 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.

20 PERSONALITY is a complex interaction between nature (our “hard-wired” responses) and nurture (our unique personal experiences) – all encoded in our synapses.

21 Brain cells produce chemical & electrical signals.

22 The electricity reflects normal cell activity as information is transferred from cell to cell.

23 We can detect this electrical signal using sensors – electrodes – placed on the scalp.

24 These electrodes pick up information about brain waves - - similar to the way stethoscopes pick up information about our hearts and lungs.

25 In both situations, SENSORS are gathering data.

26 Beta waves are produced in the brain stem and the cerebral cortex

27 The signal is VERY tiny, measured in microvolts – about 1 millionth of a volt.

28 This electrical signal is then magnified by some kind of amplifier, which is then fed through a computer. BrainMaster Pocket 1-W EEG Wireless Pendant

29 Computers can filter out the various brain wave frequencies & provide us with this information in a usable form.

30 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.

31 Normal Brain Good balance of brain waves Ability to shift easily from one brain state to another

32 Neurofeedback works by helping to restore a better balance of waves in various parts of the brain.

33 May have too much of some frequencies over others – or in the wrong place Dysfunctional Brain

34 May have too much of some frequencies over others unstable frequencies Dysfunctional Brain

35 May have too much of some frequencies over others unstable frequencies an impaired ability to shift from one mental state to another. Dysfunctional Brain

36 Attention Deficit Disorder The brain produces fast beta waves when the person is actively mentally involved in a language-based task …

37 …and slower theta waves when involved in an image-based processing task, like a video game.

38 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.

39 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!

40 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

41 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

42 AMPLITUDE The power of 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.

43 BRAIN WAVES

44 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

45 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

46 DELTA 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

47 High Amplitudes of Delta Learning Disabilities “Sleepy Brains” Brain Injuries Eye Blinks and Eye Movement Artifact

48 DELTA 0-3Hz

49 THETA 4-7 Hz (cycles or waves per second) Trance State Intuitive, Creative Internal Focus Thoughts in Theta are visual/emotional

50 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

51 THETA 4-7 Hz

52 ALPHA 8-12 Hz Alertness Peacefulness Readiness Meditation Alpha Peak Frequency >10 µV Suggests Superior Intelligence

53 High Amplitude Alpha High Anterior (Frontal) Alpha Daydreamers ADD/ADHD Depression Traumatic Brain Injuries Marijuana Use High Posterior (Rear) Alpha Anxiety Insomnia

54 Alpha 8-12 Hz

55 SENSORIMOTOR RHYTHM (SMR) Hz Relaxed yet focused Stillness: Calm Mental State Reflecting-before-acting Sleep Spindles (12-14 Hz)

56 SMR Hz

57 BETA Hz Thinking Focused Sustained Attention Problem-Solving Externally Oriented

58 High Amplitude Beta Hz Left Hypo-activation = Depression Right Hyper-activation = Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Sleep Disorders Bruxism

59 BETA Hz

60 High Beta Hz Hypervigilance Very fast cognitive processing

61 High Amplitude High Beta Epileptic Auras Cortical Irritability Hyper-vigilance Overthinking Ruminations Obsessive Compulsive D/O

62 GAMMA Hz “The Binding Rhythm” Important to learning by bringing together different aspects of an object into a single precept. Associated with transcendent experiences Found throughout the scalp rather than one discreet location

63 What’s Neurofeedback good for??

64 …probably many, if not most, of all mental health diagnoses!

65 HOW CAN NEUROEEDBACK BE GOOD FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT CONDITIONS??

66 Because the real problem is the brain’s impaired ability to regulate itself.

67 NF leads to improved brain self-regulation.

68 UNDER-AROUSAL is the problem with disorders like depression and ADHD.

69 OVER-AROUSAL is the problem with anxiety disorders (includes panic attacks, PTSD, agoraphobia, etc.)

70 INSTABILITY is the problem with bipolar disorder, seizure disorders, migraines.

71 How long is the treatment?

72 Typical training is 2-3 times a week, for minutes.

73 although they can sometimes be immediate, such as in relieving a migraine headache. Usually the effects are gradual,

74 For many conditions, 40 sessions will provide nearly permanent relief.

75 For really entrenched problems – e.g., Asperger’s & other autism spectrum disorders – sessions may be needed, and results may not be as complete.

76 NF can change the face of mental health treatment – and offer resolution of symptoms rather than the temporary relief of medications.

77 For traditional therapy, it can make people “more available” and therapy- ready.

78 NEUROEEDBACK POSITIVELY AFFECTS:  ADD/ADHD  ADDICTIONS  ANXIETY  ATTACHMENT DISORDER  AUTISM

79 AND HELPS THOSE WITH:  CLOSED HEAD INJURIES  CONDUCT DISORDERS  CHRONIC PAIN  DEPRESSION  EPILEPSY

80 PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM:  FIBROMYALGIA  LEARNING DISABILITIES  MIGRAINES  OCD  POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS

81 & THOSE DEALING WITH:  SLEEP DISORDERS  STROKE  TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

82 COMPUTER ADVANCES MEAN NEUROFEEDBACK MAY HELP RESOLVE MANY ISSUES

83 Mental health may be on the verge of a whole new era…