Definition from the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback “ Neurofeedback teaches the ability to modify brainwave activity. It is a painless, non-invasive treatment that allows the individual to gain information about his or her brainwave activity and use that information to produce desired changes”. Neurofeedback

Management of behavioral symptoms with Neurofeedback – not a new concept Also know as EEG Biofeedback, it applies the basic biofeedback principles to brain activity

Biofeedback is information It displays information about your performance back to you You receive weight biofeedback whenever you step on a bathroom scale You obtain heart rate biofeedback after a run using a watch and your index finger Biofeedback provides you with information about your performance to increase your awareness and control over your own body What is Biofeedback

How does Biofeedback work Using information about how the body is working to alter what’s going on Sensors and / or electronic instruments detect physiological changes This information is then relayed back to the individual to teach them to control their physiology What is Biofeedback

6 Main Biofeedback Modalities Muscle (EMG) Temperature Heart rate Respiration Skin Conductance (GSR) Brainwave (Neurofeedback) What is Biofeedback

Neurofeedback is a form of Biofeedback In the same way athletes use the principle of biofeedback to control their heart rate, Neurofeedback provides feedback about brain activity Neurofeedback programs convert EEG into audio and visual signals which allow trainees to “listen and see” their brain wave activity What is EEG and brainwave activity? What is Neurofeedback

The brain is a electrochemical organ Communication in the brain occurs when neurons fire producing electrical power Neurons communicate with each other via these electrical circuits This electrical activity is displayed in the form of brainwaves There are 5 main brainwaves which range from the most active to the least active The speed of this electrical power determines how fast or slow neurons communicate EEG Activity - Brainwaves

Delta is the frequency range up to 4 Hz and is associated with sleep.

EEG Activity - Brainwaves Theta is the frequency range from 4 Hz to 7 Hz and is associated with drowsiness, deep day dreams, lucid dreaming and light sleep and the preconscious state just upon waking, and just before falling asleep.

EEG Activity - Brainwaves Sensorimotor Rhythm (SMR) is a middle frequency (about 13–15 Hz) associated with physical stillness and body presence. Alert but relaxed focus.

Beta is the frequency range above 12 Hz and below 20 is associated with active, busy thinking and active concentration. EEG Activity - Brainwaves

High Beta is the frequency range above 22 hz and is associated high state of arousal, excitement, anxiety and stress

EEG Activity - Brainwaves The brain rhythms have an organising principle – self regulation, in that each person has their own set point of oscillation

EEG Activity - Brainwaves The brain is designed to balance between these different states of arousal Its is widely accepted that there is a relationship between emotional state and brainwaves, with slow waves frequencies associated with drowsiness and fast frequencies associated with anger, anxiety or hyper vigilance

EEG Activity - Brainwaves The patterns of brain wave activity varies depending on what we are doing In different mental states, different types of brain waves dominate Balanced Brain: Mid range frequencies (12-20 hz) balance - feeling of calm, control and mental alertness Ability to shift easily from one brain state to another

EEG Activity - Brainwaves While all the frequencies are appropriate for a given situation, the midrange frequencies (12-21) are those most people want to be able to produce at will and induce feelings of calm, control and mental alertness

EEG Activity - Brainwaves Problems can arise when the brain becomes unable to produce mid range frequencies or balance between the different frequencies Genetic, traumatic or environmental events can deregulate these rhythms leaving an individual in an unstable emotional, cognitive and / or physical state – unable to draw on normal inhibition and excitatory mechanisms affecting relaxation, alertness and / or attention

EEG Activity - Dysregulation Problem - brain’s ability to regulate itself becomes impaired Over arousal – characterised by excessive fast wave activity Anxiety disorders Hyper-vigilance Impulsive behavior Anger / Aggression Sleep disorders Stress

EEG Activity - Dysregulation Problem - brain’s ability to regulate itself impaired Under arousal – characterised by excessive slow wave activity Depression Attention deficit Insomnia Concentration problems Lack of mental flexibility

EEG Activity - Dysregulation Problem - brain’s ability to regulate itself impaired Unstable – characterised by an inability to balance between the two different mental states

Biological sensors are attached to the scalp which convey information about underlying brain activity to a computer This raw EEG activity is broken down into different frequency bands – for example: Theta, Beta and High Beta The different frequencies are presented as a video display and / or audio feedback What is Neurofeedback

How does Neurofeedback Work

Aim of the Neurofeedback session – to encourage the production of healthier brainwaves For example those with slower frequency learn to produce faster, higher frequency The Trainee learns to increase the voltage in the “rewarded” frequency - whilst reducing the voltage of the very slow, as well as fast frequency, sets of brainwaves

Trainees are taught to control levels of arousal When the correct levels of arousal are achieved, they receive positive feedback Games and / or audio provide feedback When brain activity moves toward patterns of improved self- regulation, the display advances, slowing or stopping as brain activity regresses What is Neurofeedback

Typically the signals used for children involve games. Much like computer games the children score points for either getting pacman to move, an animal to run, keeping a car on the road or a plane to move When the trainee produces more normal brainwaves – SMR – for at least 60-70%, the object will move Trainees are taught to control levels of arousal When the correct levels of arousal are achieved, they receive positive feedback What is Neurofeedback

Mazes What is Neurofeedback

For adults the signals may just be been audio rewards – combination of positive and negative sounds or even watching the a graphical interaction of their own brainwaves. What is Neurofeedback

The Reward? – either calmer or a more alert feeling resulting from the production of healthier brainwaves. What is Neurofeedback

Doesn’t force brainwave changes – non invasive Allow trainees to identify different brainwave states Rewarding optimum brainwave states “feels good” After a few sessions of being “rewarded” the brain starts to reset it – operant conditioning Brain is engaged, not trainee Training strengthens neural networks as amplitude increases or decreases Through the process of operant conditioning, the brain is taught to regulate itself How Does Neurofeedback Work