Neurofeedback Therapy is a non-invasive, drug free way to help you regain control of your brain functioning. It encourages the brain to make lasting changes by showing feedback that you can use to correct faulty brain patterns. While it may not cure you of your symptoms, it can help you to self-regulate and manage them with more success than other therapies or medications.
Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback and can be used to treat many different disorders, including ADHD, Autism, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Insomnia and Addictions. It works by helping you learn to control and alter your brainwaves into a healthier functioning pattern that allows you to focus, organize and follow through on tasks.
It consists of placing electrodes on your head that can read your brain Neurofeedback Therapy waves (Electroencephalography, or EEG). Then, your doctor can display this information on a computer screen along with video and audio cues that you can see and hear. The clinician sets goals for your treatment based on the type of disorder you have. Then, you work to reach these targets, allowing your brain to change its behavior.
Your therapist may choose to train specific areas of the brain using electromagnetic tomography (EEG), Low-resolution electromagnetic tomography and/or Hemoencephalography (HEG). Frontal lobe neurofeedback is often used to treat mood disorders, PTSD and anxiety. The frontal lobes are also responsible for emotional regulation and self-regulation. Parietal lobe neurofeedback is a treatment option for Alzheimer’s, memory issues and executive functioning problems.
Beta wave neurofeedback helps people who have ADHD to manage their emotions and impulses. It also reduces and in some cases eliminates the negative symptoms of these disorders. It can improve your ability to read and solve math problems for people with dyslexia, which is related to a lack of alpha waves in the frontal lobes.
Research has shown that neurofeedback is effective in reducing symptoms of depression, ADD and ADHD, and other conditions such as epilepsy and PTSD. However, it is not a cure and you will need to continue to practice the techniques to maintain these positive changes. While you can find neurofeedback products on the market, you should only use a licensed and certified therapist who is experienced in this type of treatment. These systems can be expensive, so it is important to get the right kind of assistance from someone who has your best interests in mind. You can also try this at home by purchasing a brain training system that uses sensors to monitor your brain activity. Several companies, like EMOTIV and Muse, produce brain-training devices that you can wear to learn how your brain reacts to certain situations. This is a less expensive option than working with a professional. However, this method of monitoring and changing your behavior is not as effective as the methods used by a licensed therapist.