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What is the history of Neurofeedback training? Why haven’t I heard about Neurofeedback? Will I feel anything from the equipment? How does Neurofeedback compare to taking prescription medications? Can I benefit from Neurofeedback training if I am currently taking psychiatric medication(s)? How can Neurofeedback training help so many different kinds of problems? How do you know what “renormalized” looks like for my brain? What are the different types of brainwaves? I am still unsure about the evidence for Neurofeedback training. What are others saying about Neurofeedback? Will I have to receive Neurofeedback training continuously to sustain the reduction in my symptoms? What is the difference between Biofeedback and Neurofeedback? Are any sessions covered by insurance?
What is the history of Neurofeedback training? Neurofeedback was initially studied in the early 1960s by Dr. Joe Kamiya at the University of Chicago. These early studies focused on training for deep relaxation via increasing alpha frequencies (7.5-13 Hz). When it was conclusively demonstrated that EEG training was possible and effective, others began to experiment with Neurofeedback training on animals and humans. Dr. Barry Sterman at UCLA was the first to implement Neurofeedback training for seizure reduction. This training met with phenomenal success in human patients. In fact, NASA has used Neurofeedback training for astronauts in order to reduce the seizures that they can experience as a result of their exposure to rocket fuel while in space. As more and more experiments were conducted, researchers began to notice that Neurofeedback could affect other conditions such as hyperactivity, attention problems, mood disorders, and more. Groundbreaking research was done by Dr. Eugene Peniston at the VAMC in Fort Lyons, Colorado which showed the amazing efficacy of Neurofeedback training for post-traumatic stress and addictions. Also, excellent work has been done with learning disabled and brain injured children in public school settings by Dr. John Anderson. As the research evidence for Neurofeedback continues to grow, and technology becomes more and more sophisticated, additional studies and clinical practice are advancing Neurofeedback into the health and wellness fields as a powerful tool for personal transformation and healing. Back to Top
Why haven’t I heard about neurofeedback? In light of the research evidence and clinical efficacy of Neurofeedback, it is only a matter of time before Neurofeedback becomes accepted alongside psychiatric medications and traditional talk therapies as a powerful tool for personal health and wellness. However, at this time, the major barrier to the widespread popularity of Neurofeedback is a mind set among many health professionals that makes it hard to comprehend both the simple elegance of Neurofeedback training and the complex technology behind it. Our health professionals are generally trained to prescribe drugs for a “disease” or to “talk about it”, rather than teach self-regulation (with the aid of high-tech equipment) for the development of health and well being. Because Neurofeedback doesn’t quite fit into either of the above categories, it often gets passed over and/or disregarded by those who could benefit greatly from its implementation. Back to Top
Yes, Neurofeedback is extremely safe. This practice is so safe that federal authorities have placed no restrictions on its usage whatsoever. When one compares this to the strict regulations in place for common prescription medications, the safety of Neurofeedback becomes clearly apparent. A question some people have is whether Neurofeedback training might injure their brain waves and/or harm their personality. Because of the fact that Neurofeedback training is not yet well known to the general public, these questions understandably arise. In light of this, it is important for you to be assured that Neurofeedback training will not “injure your brainwaves” or harm you in any way. The elegance of Neurofeedback training is that it basically enables the brain to train itself. Neurofeedback is merely the process of ‘feeding back’ to the brain its own information - telling the brain what it has already done and pinpointing for the brain its dysfunctional areas and patterns. Because the decision to increase or decrease any performance frequency is made solely by the brain, the process is perfectly safe. The brain always strives for internal harmony, and efficiency and thus uses this information to alter itself accordingly. There are CD’s and other “home training” devices that have been marketed which promise to “entrain” your brain waves. These products do have the potential to create imbalance and turbulence in your brain’s frequency waves due to the fact that they actively force the brain to “tune in” to a single frequency. This however is not the case with Neurofeedback training. Back to Top
Will I feel anything from the equipment? The EEG equipment consists of ear clips and two sensors which are placed bilaterally on the scalp with a small amount of connective gel. Most clients report a cool sensation on their ears and scalp as the sensors are being placed and soon forget about them once training commences. The sensors passively read the electrical signals of your brain through the scalp - they DO NOT send any electricity into you. Back to Top
Unlike the use of medications for treating various symptoms, Neurofeedback training rarely produces any negative side-effects. It is this absence of side-effects that makes Neurofeedback training so appealing. Neurofeedback is not a drug or medical procedure in which something is done to the physical brain. Because Neurofeedback training only sends auditory and visual information to the brain about its own performance, there are no true side-effects. However, a momentary experience of light headedness or a slight headache, a brief sense of fatigue, or a short period of feeling highly energized, while unusual, can occur for clients who are rapidly re-normalizing their brain functions. Also, a very small minority of individuals have reported brief periods of negative feelings (e.g., anxiety, “spaciness”, or frustration) while undergoing training. These negative effects are very rare and last for only a short period of time. Generally, it seems the small minority of people who do experience any negative effects are immune-suppressed individuals who are extremely sensitive to physiological shifts. These people can benefit greatly from Neurofeedback; however, for them the transitional learning process may involve brief periods of psychosomatic turbulence. With Neurofeedback training, the majority of individuals actually experience positive side-effects such as decreased levels of stress and anxiety, an increased level of confidence, and IQ enhancement. Once the brain acquires more resilience and flexibility, many seemingly unrelated things just seem to “come together”. Again, the metaphor of physical exercise can help us to understand this phenomena. When someone is exercising regularly they tend to feel energized and good about themselves. This feeling of well being ‘rubs off’ on their mood and translates into improved social interactions and work behaviour. This type of positive “domino effect” is often experienced by those who undergo Neurofeedback training. Back to Top
How does Neurofeedback training compare to taking prescription drugs? Psychiatric drugs, such as the stimulants, Ritalin and Adderal (for ADD/ADHD), and the mood-altering drugs, Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft (for depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress, and obsessive-compulsive behavior), have immediate benefit for the short term. For many, these drugs are truly lifesavers and their efficacy cannot be denied. Unfortunately, if taken for an extended period, these powerful drugs can produce unfortunate complications (such as sexual dysfunctions and weight gain) and other side effects which can be serious and sometimes permanent (such as tics and movement disorders). Because these drugs treat the symptom without healing the underlying brain dysfunction, their benefit generally lasts only as long as they are being taken regularly - missing even a single dose can cause uncomfortable side-effects (such as dizziness, mood fluctuations, etc). Recent research has shown that attention, learning, and mood problems may have more to do with faulty brain circuitry, electrical impulse timing issues, and an inability to effectively modulate frequency resources, than about neurochemical imbalances. Indeed, it seems that treating people for chemical imbalances only deals with the external symptoms (as can be seen in the resurfacing of symptoms once medications are stopped), whereas Neurofeedback effects the actual underlying brain dysfunction. Neurofeedback training has helped many people alleviate their distressing symptoms, avoiding prescription drugs altogether, or, under their doctor’s guidance, to safely and often effortlessly reduce or withdraw from prescription medications. IMPORTANT: it is essential to consult with your doctor before altering your prescribed medication intake. Non-compliance with your doctor or psychiatrist’s prescription can result in serious physical side effects and/or psychological harm. Back to Top
Can I benefit from Neurofeedback training if I am currently taking psychiatric medication(s)? Yes, you can. While many psychiatric medications “dampen” the amplitude of certain brain wave frequencies, these and other frequencies can still be effectively trained. As mentioned above, many clients report being able to eventually reduce or even eliminate their need for medication as a result of Neurofeedback training. IMPORTANT: it is essential to consult with your doctor before altering your prescribed medication intake. Back to Top
How can Neurofeedback training help so many different kinds of problems? The answer to this question lies in the simple fact that behavior is intimately connected to brain functioning. Learning disabilities, attentional and focus problems (ADD/ADHD), “stuck” mood patterns (depression and anxiety), addictions, redundant behavior (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), and sleep disorders (insomnia) are all different examples of a brain carrying out a specific performance feature(s) poorly. Often these problems can be seen as a result of different ‘timing’ and/or regulation issues in the electrical circuitry of the brain which in turn effects the transmission and re-uptake of the brain’s neurotransmitters. These disorders are all alike in that they are characterized by dysfunction and mismanagement of the brain’s energy. The difference among these disorders is the location and the manner in which the brain is mismanaging itself. With Neurofeedback training, the source and frequency of the neurological inefficiency is identified and then the brain is assisted in healing and repairing itself via the feedback it receives. As a result of this process, the symptom(s), are either significantly reduced, or eliminated altogether. Frank H. Duffy, M.D., a Professor and Pediatric Neurologist at Harvard Medical School, stated in an editorial in the January 2000 issue of the journal Clinical Electroencephalography that scholarly literature now suggests neurofeedback “should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy it would be universally accepted and widely used” (p. v). “It is a field to be taken seriously by all” (p. vii). Back to Top
How do you know what “renormalized” looks like for my brain? This is an excellent question, and very relevant in light of various past methods of providing Neurofeedback. In the past, ‘brain maps’ were made via a very expensive process known as QEEG, and these maps were then compared against a database of “normal” brain activity. While QEEG is very useful for research, this approach to Neurofeedback training has many methodological flaws, some of which are readily apparent. For instance, this approach is akin to expecting the “normal” family to have 2.3 children - while 2.3 is the statistical ‘norm’ it is not the reality! Current research and meta-analyses have conclusively shown that the QEEG is irrelevant to the actual process of Neurofeedback training. West Coast Neurofeedback Clinic utilizes the most advanced signal processing and computational system available which allows us to view your unique EEG activity ‘real time’ and train your brain to its own optimal state of efficiency, flexibility and resilience. This technology allows us to train each brain’s unique electrical signatures according to their individual parameters and system dynamics - not an external statistical norm. West Coast Neurofeedback Clinic employs a comprehensive approach to Neurofeedback training which trains the whole brain. This serves to harmonize the brain with itself and avoid any ‘overshooting’ or overtraining in specific frequency ranges or brain locations. This training approach can be illustrated in terms of physical exercise. If one were to train only one part of the body, the body would become imbalanced, uncoordinated and prone to injury. As any good physical trainer knows, it is essential to train the whole body in order to attain peak performance, resilience, and adaptivity/flexibility. For the brain this means that while the areas needing most attention are being trained the most, the whole brain is concurrently being trained to function harmoniously together. Back to Top
What Are the Different Types of Brainwaves? Brainwaves are found by measuring the electrical impulses generated by different parts of the brain. These electrical impulses are mathematically divided according to their different wave frequencies. Brainwaves are measured according to their Hertz (cycles per second) and their amplitude - or power in microvolts. A good way to conceptualize this is to think of the ocean. The oceans surface is a single surface; yet, it is made up of hundreds of separate waves, having differing sizes and velocities. In an EEG we divide the wave frequencies into groups that are associated with particular states of consciousness. These frequencies are: Delta 0 to 2 Hz – Predominates during deep sleep - stages 3 & 4 - and deep empathic states of consciousness. Delta waves are the dominant rhythm in infants for the first year of life. .Theta 3 to 7.5 Hz – Associated with the daydreaming state and creativity. Theta waves predominate in the transition state between wakefulness and sleep and have a strong presence during focused prayer, meditation and other forms of spiritual awareness. Alpha 7.5 to 13 Hz – Associated with relaxed alertness. The brain’s idle state. When Alpha waves are predominant, most people feel a sense of calm and well being. SMR (Sensory Motor Rhythm) 13 to 15 Hz – Associated with the inhibition of body movement and the ability to focus. Beta 16 to 18 Hz – Associated with focus and executive brain functions, including analytical problem solving, information processing, and decision making. High Beta 23 -38 Hz - Extreme high energy focus. This high frequency wave is often seen in association with anxiety and racing thoughts, and agitation. Gamma 38+ Hz - Gamma waves are high frequency waves that appear to be involved in the functional integration of all brain states. In general, when one is not sleeping or meditating, it is desirable to have a all of the brain waves operating in a balanced harmony, having relatively low amplitudes and a lack of erratic fluctuation. Back to Top
I am still unsure about the evidence for Neurofeedback training. The best advice if you are unsure about Neurofeedback training is to do your own research by consulting the scientific literature found in such journals as: The Journal of Neurotherapy, Journal of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, Biological Psychiatry, Child Study Journal, Brain and Cognition, Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuropsychology, International Journal of Psychophysiology, Canadian Journal of Clinical Medicine, and the Journal of Head Trauma to name but a few. Many articles from these journals are available on the web (see the Links section provided on this web site for starters). There you will find evidence which will allow you to make an informed decision about Neurofeedback training. Back to Top
What are others saying about Neurofeedback? “At the conclusion of treatment, all of those who under went EEG biofeedback (neurofeedback), were able to cut their medications by at least half, and still enjoy the improvements they got from the drugs. And about 40% were able to discontinue their medication.” (Remarks after a year-long study of 100 children.) Vincent J. Monastra, PhD, director, the FPI Attention Disorders Clinic in Endicott, N.Y., WebMD Health, 2002.
In a recent paper Update on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder published in Current Opinion in Pediatrics Katie Campbell Daley reviewed the research and practice standards on treatment of ADHD. Dr. Campbell serves on the staff of the Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston and in the Department of Pediatrics of the Harvard Medical School. She concluded: "Overall, these findings support the use of multi-modal treatment, including medication, parent/school counseling, and EEG biofeedback, in the long term management of ADHD, with EEG biofeedback in particular providing a sustained effect even without stimulant treatment...parents interested in non-psychopharmacologic treatment can pursue the use of complementary and alternative therapy. The therapy most promising by recent clinical trials appears to be EEG biofeedback."
A comprehensive review of the research on EEG neurofeedback has been published in a special issue of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, Jan. 2005, (14:1, Emerging Brain Based Interventions) devoted to emerging interventions. In the introductory chapter, the volume editors assess the degree of scientific support for neurofeedback using standards developed by the child psychiatry professional oprganization (AACAP). They conclude that neurofeedback meets the same standard as that for stimulant medication: "EEG biofeedback meets the AACAP criteria for clinical guideline (CG) for treatment of ADHD, seizure disorders, anxiety (OCD, GAD, PTSD, phobias), depression, reading disabilities, and addictive disorders. This suggests that EEG biofeedback should always be considered as an intervention for these disorders by the clinician. Clearly there is stronger evidence of efficacy...for the use of EEG biofeedback for ADHD in children and adolescents. Due to this high level of empirical support, the use of EEG biofeedback for ADHD will (with the publication of the second RCT) meet the most stringent APA criterion of efficacious and specific, which requires two independent RCT’s among other factors."
"In my experience with EEG biofeedback (neurofeedback) and ADD, many people are able to improve their reading skills and decrease their need for medication. Also, EEG biofeedback has helped to decrease impulsiveness and aggressiveness.” Daniel Amen, M.D., Clinical Neuroscientist, Child and Adolescent Psychologist, Change Your Brain Change Your Life,1998.
“For chronic conditions, such as seizures, depression, hyperactivity, eating disorders, brain injuries, and other ailments, the kind of conditions that conventional medicine does the worst with, it (neurofeedback) is in many ways more helpful than medication, with far fewer side effects.” Jamie Deckoff-Jones, M.D., former assistant director at Stanford University trauma center, WholeHealthMD.com, 2002.
“In my own practice, I’ve used neurofeedback in a comprehensive medical treatment program to help more than 1,000 patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. When combined with supportive therapies such as family counseling and educational therapy, neurofeedback is the most effective treatment available.” David F. Velkoff, M.D., Medical Director, Drake Institute of Behavioral Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, Physician ’s Weekly, Point/Counterpoint,1998.
“It improves seizures, depression, low self-esteem or congenital head injuries, and it helps the ‘craziness that often comes with these’ … Patients report they sleep better, feel better, they don’t have seizures, they are more in control, and that they get more work done. It helps with closed head injury patients. It helps with chronic neurological disease, where there is no active injury but there are problems with normal functioning. We’ve had success with multiple sclerosis, with toxic encephalopathy (for example, chemical poisoning interfering with neurologic functioning), with chronic pain, migraines and fibromyalgia. And, of course, we get very good results with ADD.” Jonathan Walker, MD, neurologist, Dallas (Texas)
“Among the newer approaches to managing ADD, the most exciting is a learning process called neurofeedback. It empowers a person to shift the way he pays attention. After more than 25 years of research in university labs, neurofeedback has become more widely available. This is a pleasing development, because neurofeedback has no negative side effects.” William Sears, MD, The ADD Book
Frank H. Duffy, MD, a professor and pediatric neurologist at Harvard Medical School, authored a January 2002 editorial in the stating that research suggests that neurofeedback, or EEG biofeedback, “should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy it would be universally accepted and widely used.” Back to Top
Will I have to receive Neurofeedback training continuously to sustain the reduction in my symptoms? No. Once the brain’s learning acquisitions are made, they remain fixed - provided that the initial Neurofeedback training continues until the brain has stabilized at its new state of resilience and flexibility. This is very different from other forms of symptom control such as the use of medication for conditions like anxiety and depression. In these cases, the discontinuation of medication often results in the immediate return of symptoms - sometimes with even greater intensity than initially experienced. With Neurofeedback training, a small minority of clients have found the need for ‘touch up’ sessions due to a resurfacing of symptoms which have been triggered by external stressors. In these cases, it seems the person and/or their brain has somehow been traumatized back into old dysfunctional patterns. In the event this occurs, the acquired learning from past sessions enables the brain to return to its previous state of resilience and flexibility in a very short time. Another exception relates to clients who wish to pursue peak performance training. Clients wishing to continue training to further optimize brain functioning may receive Neurofeedback sessions on an extended basis. In addition, elderly clients often receive periodic Neurofeedback to mitigate age-related declines in brain efficiency. Back to Top
What is the difference between Biofeedback and Neurofeedback? Biofeedback generally refers to using measures derived from peripheral physiology such as skin temperature (GSR), muscle tension (EMG), and heart rate (EKG), rather than an EEG, which is derived directly from the brain itself. Neurofeedback is, however, a form of biofeedback and it is sometimes called EEG biofeedback for this reason. The major difference between traditional biofeedback and Neurofeedback is that because Neurofeedback trains the brain itself, it does not require conscious mediation of the learning process. In contrast, traditional biofeedback requires a rigorous process of cognitive mediation in order to acquire the desired transformation. Because of this, the acquired learning of traditional biofeedback is not easily generalized to new situations and environments. As mentioned earlier, the difference between these two can be seen in terms of training from the ‘outside in’ (traditional biofeedback) versus training from the ‘inside out’ (Neurofeedback). Or, for those who are more technically inclined, the difference between traditional biofeedback and Neurofeedback can be seen as similar to the difference between rewriting parts of the software program (traditional biofeedback) versus upgrading the hardware (Neurofeedback). Because Neurofeedback actually trains and develops the brain itself, this learning is continually processed in every new situation and environment; thus, the gains made with Neurofeedback are generalized to the rest of the person’s life and tend to continue on indefinitely. Back to Top
Are these sessions covered by insurance? At this time medical insurance plans do not cover Neurofeedback training. Back to Top
Unless otherwise arranged, payment is required at the time of your appointment. Back to Top
During your initial assessment, we will arrange for a training schedule that best suits your needs. These appointments are crucial to your progress. If for any reason you are unable to keep your appointment, 24 hours’ notice is required - (excepting emergencies, of course). Back to Top
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