1. History and Applications
Neurotherapy
History and Applications

2. What is neurofeedback/neurotherapy?
Neurofeedback uses EEG to provide feedback in the form of games/other stimuli
Neurotherapy is the use of the EEG to resolve symptoms

3. History of neurotherapy
Pavlov: 1880’s classical conditioning
Early 1940’s: Jasper and Shagass
1962: Sterman, et. al: classical conditioning of the EEG using auditory signal
1968: Sterman initiation of what we now call neruotherapy reinforcing SMR in cats

4. Who benefits from neurotherapy
Can’t everyone benefit from an improved brain?
Peak performance training
Assessment guided neurotherapy

5. Assessment for effective neurotherapy
Biology
Psychological
Social
QEEG
On-going assessment: session to session and in session

6. Assessing the EEG The wave states are not independent
Dynamic and interactive

7. Delta 1-4 hz Commonly associated with sleep
Predominant frequency in infants
Can indicate TBI
Inattention

8. Theta 4-7 hz Present sinusoidal, rhythmic/arrhythmic
Creativity and spontaneity
Inattention

9. Alpha 8-12 or 8-13 hz. Inner calm
High anterior amplitudes associated with daydreaming and depression in children
Depression commonly correlated with increased left frontal alpha

10. Sensorimotor rhythm 12-15 or 12-16hz.
May reflect being internally oriented
One paper indicates 56% of kids with ADHD have excessive SMR (Gurner)

11. Beta “any rhythmic activity >13hz”.
People with excessive beta: on edge
Out of session self awareness strategies

12. High Beta
20-32hz.
A marker for many disorders

13. Gamma
40hz.
Found during problem solving
Lacking in learning disorders

14. Treatment considerations
Sleep
Diagnostic signatures; fired and wired

15. Treatment Barriers Effect is not immediate
Treatment requires consistent attendance

16. Treatment Positives/Benefits
Low side effect profile
Usually long lasting effects

17. Selecting protocols Evidence based practice Trauma: ACES study
Sebern Fisher: calming protocols

18. Attention Assessing arousal Under arousal and inattention
Over arousal: over focus, distractibility, impulsivity
Executive function
Arns meta analysis
ADHD a sleep disorder?

19. Anxiety Obsessive rumination Panic Fear
The importance of check ins throughout the day

20. Depression
Unmanaged stress/anxiety
Frontal lobe asymmetry

21. Treatment Sessions and Beyond
Identifying target symptoms and triggers
Out of session support

22. Related techniques Trans cranial direct stimulation
Heart Rate Variability
Commercial products

23. Recommended readings The Body Keeps Score, Bessel Van Der Kolk
Neurofeedback in the Treatment of Developmental Trauma, Sebern Fisher
Healing Young Brains: The Neurofeedback Solution, Robert Hill and Eduardo Castro