When do you do neurofeedback?
Examples of possible applications of neurofeedback:
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Autism
- Epilepsy
- Stress and stress-related diseases
- Burnout and depression
- Migraine and other headaches
- Anxiety disorders, panic disorders
- sleep disorders
- chronic pain
- addictive disorders like alcohol addiction or drug addiction
Usually neurofeedback alone is not sufficient to treat a disease successfully. Therefore, physicians tend to use neurofeedback as an adjunct therapy to other treatment components such as medication and talk therapies.
Neurofeedback for performance enhancement
Neurofeedback therapy is effective as a supportive treatment for many diseases and complaints. The method is also sometimes used by competitive athletes and medical professionals (such as surgeons) to enhance their ability to perform and concentrate.
How does neurofeedback work exactly?
The doctor sticks small electrodes on the patient’s scalp. He uses these to conduct the electrical activity of the brain by means of EEG. The brain waves are displayed as waves. However, these are difficult to interpret for the layperson. For this reason, the patient is shown a graphic sequence on a screen instead, for example of a moving airplane. This rises or falls depending on how the brain activity changes.
Neurofeedback training
In neurofeedback training, the patient should now learn to consciously influence various brain functions such as concentration, memory, relaxation, etc. based on the simple pictorial representation. For children, these training sessions are designed in a playful way: There are reward points for successfully “moving” the plane.
Is neurofeedback dangerous or painful?
Even if the rumor persists – neurofeedback does not administer electric shocks to the patient! The attached electrodes only serve to measure brain activity, and this is neither painful nor dangerous.
