Biofeedback method
was developed for NASA’s Space Flight Center.
What is EEG
Biofeedback?
Your brain emits
bioelectrical activity that the EEG Biofeedback equipment reads
through
electrodes attached
to your head, then a computer program analyzes the recorded brain
waves.
During the
biofeedback training, you modify the activity of your brain just with
the
power of your mind,
creating new neural connections. You can correct your level of
attention and
arousal and optimize your psychophysiological state. This is possible
thanks
to the extraordinary
plasticity of the human brain - under the influence of environmental
stimuli it can make
lasting changes in the synapses and neural networks. As a result, the
whole body functions
are improved.
The brain remembers
and recreates these reactions which are rewarded, seeks further
rewards by
optimizing its work. To change the functioning of the cerebral cortex
you only
need to train one or
two areas, then other areas change their excitability of neuronal
connections too!
The most basic EEG
rhythms that we analyze in the therapy are: delta (the slowest),
theta,
alpha and beta
(fastest). DELTA waves are produced during deep sleep, THETA when
you are half-asleep
or meditate, ALPHA when you are completely relaxed , BETA when
you are focused. The
excitation or high stress produces brain waves of even higher
frequencies. During
the EEG Biofeedback training, we strive to learn self-regulation
of these waves, so
that you can maintain the newly formed habit also after finishing
the therapy.
The effectiveness of
therapy EEG Biofeedback
The effectiveness of
method depends on individual capabilities and of course, the
patient,s
motivation and support from the family. The difficulties do not
disappear straight
away and you need to
be aware of this.
The first research
on the method of EEG biofeedback was conducted at the
University of San
Francisco in 1958, later NASA (1972), proved that we are able to
increase the
amplitude of the brain waves only with willpower.
- In the study by
Monastry (2002) it has been shown that positive changes in ADHD
patients treated
with EEG biofeedback persisted even after they stopped using the
Ritalin
drug. In the group
that used only Ritalin, symptoms relapsed one week after
discontinuation of
the drug.
American
pediatricians (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012) placed
Biofeedback on
the list of the most
effective therapeutic methods to help with attention deficits and
hyperactivity.
-Tansey (1993) and
Lubar (2003) have shown that patients were able to maintain the
ability to control
their hyperactivity up to 10 years after training.
- Rosenfelf, Baehr
(2001) demonstrated improvement in depressed patients treated with
Biofeedback therapy.
Positive changes persisted for five years.
- Rice et al. (1993)
demonstrated improvement in patients with anxiety disorders.
- Peniston and
Kulkosky proven to improve the condition of people with PTSD (after
30
sessions
neurobiofeedback).
EEG Biofeedback does
not eliminate the complex developmental disorder of the nervous
system (eg. ADHD,
dyslexia, autism, Asperger), but significantly improves the
functioning
of a person
suffering from these disorders.
