EEG Neurofeedback - Biofeedback Therapy
It seems that we are in a time when the search for alternative forms of healing and health improvement options is at an all-time high, as the general population, and especially the baby-boomer generation, strives to look and feel better longer. One interesting approach to alternative health is found in EEG neurofeedback, which is also referred to as biofeedback, and involves learning how to harness the power of one’s brainwave activity.
Many people state that the greatest draw to this type of therapy is the fact that it is holistic and completely non-invasive. In addition, there are not any significant negative side effects that have been reported in the more than 40 years since it was first introduced. There are, however, many very positive “side effects” that people who use biofeedback will point to and are eager to talk about because of the benefits that they have experienced.
EEG neurofeedback is a rather specific form of biofeedback therapy and it necessitates the use of a sophisticated biofeedback machine to register the biometric information of the person. From that input, which is based on the person’s brainwave patterns, biofeedback software interprets the signals and provides a display of the patterns which can be used to help the person learn to control their brain activity.
The primary purpose of this type of program is simply to give feedback about what the client’s brainwaves are doing and how the brainwave patterns influence the various physiological systems within the person. The neurofeedback information that is provided through biofeedback therapy sessions is based on the recording of the brainwave activity and the subsequent automatic analysis of the brain’s electrical activity.
EEG neurofeedback is the most traditional form of the various types of neurotherapy that is available. It was originally developed through university studies in laboratories and in recent years has started to become increasingly available in mainstream holistic practices. It is more and more in demand with each passing year as people learn more about the benefits of biofeedback therapy.
One of the most important uses of EEG neurofeedback is in its application to improve impulsivity, which is generally considered to be a precursor to violent behavior. In addition, biofeedback neurofeedback provides a great deal of support to cognitive interventions and can significantly enhance the success rate in treatment programs. The implementation of one of the forms of biofeedback is very much like the implementation of an exercise routine. Therefore, the more a person exercises, the more benefits are realized from the endeavor.
This type of feedback can be used to treat a wide array of conditions and disabilities in which the brain is not functioning at its most optimal level. Common conditions of this are exhibited in cases of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), specific learning disabilities, in many forms of severe conduct problems, and related issues such as sleep problems, teeth grinding, chronic pain, frequent headaches and migraines.
A biofeedback program is also viewed as an effective alternative to using drugs to control symptoms of ADD and ADHD, and other forms of developmental disorders. It is important to note that EEG neurofeedback should not be considered a treatment that is “done to” a patient. More accurately, it should be viewed as interactive training in which the patient must actively participate and fully engage in order to receive the full benefits from any kind of neurotherapy program.
By Holistic Health Editor
