Neurofeedback is a special variant of biofeedback. In this process, a computer analyzes a person’s brain waveforms and displays them pictorially on a monitor.
What is neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is understood as biofeedback of brain activity. This procedure uses encephalograms, from which brain activity is measured. The patient then receives feedback via a connected computer screen. This feedback allows the person to regulate their brain activity more effectively. Thus, dysregulation of brain activity is often considered to be the trigger of unwanted behaviors or numerous diseases. Through neurofeedback, however, people can learn to compensate for their misregulations. The term feedback comes from the English language and means “feedback”. Such a feedback must exist between what the person wants and what he achieves. For example, humans could not ride a bicycle if they were not able to sense the lean angle. However, man does not perceive most of the functions of mind and body. Since they are controlled automatically, they can hardly be influenced. If such a function fails, there are therefore few training options. In such cases, biofeedback can provide relief. Biofeedback measures a variable to be trained with the help of special devices. Acoustic or optical feedback signals are applied.
Function, effect and goals
A biofeedback for the brain represents the neurofeedback. Humans can neither directly feel nor influence the numerous brain functions. Neurofeedback is suitable for this purpose. A very simple but direct method is the electroencephalogram (EEG), with which the brain waves can be measured to obtain information about the processes in the brain. The information that a person receives during this process is enough to put the brain into a biofeedback circuit. For example, to increase a person’s attention, the EEG detects and reports brief periods of inattention. During neurofeedback training, this can happen up to two thousand times. Over time, the brain learns to achieve a state of attention. The purpose of neurofeedback training is to achieve an appropriate state of the brain, which is then maintained. In this way, neurofeedback increases the self-regulating properties of the brain. Neurofeedback is used for the treatment of numerous diseases and disorders. These include attention hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, panic attacks, concentration disorders, sleep disorders, stress-related disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, epilepsy, anxiety disorders, depression, tic disorders, schizophrenia, and strokes. In addition, the special biofeedback serves to promote health because it trains coping with and reducing stress and maintains mental flexibility in old age. Neurofeedback can also be used in school and education by increasing academic performance and balancing instability. In addition, it is suitable in professional life to achieve mental excellence. Before applying neurofeedback, the therapist conducts a detailed interview with the patient. During this discussion, the therapist examines the patient’s medical history, symptoms, and the goals of the treatment. Depending on the area of application, different test procedures such as a stimulus-response test can be performed. After the discussion, the therapist decides whether neurofeedback is appropriate and then draws up a therapy plan. Neurofeedback is carried out one to three times a week. After 20 sessions, there is another discussion with the therapist, who then decides whether to continue the treatment based on the goals achieved. For optimal neurofeedback sessions, good cooperation between patient and therapist is necessary. At the beginning of neurofeedback, the doctor sticks three electrodes with a paste on the patient’s scalp. The electrodes perform the task of measuring the fluctuations of the electrical potential generated by the brain. The therapist determines to which parts of the brain the electrodes are attached. The same applies to the frequencies to be filtered out of the electrical signals, which the patient receives for feedback. The brain waves are displayed in the form of waves.However, because the patient has difficulty interpreting these, he receives a graphic sequence instead. This is usually an airplane that rises or falls depending on the change in brain activity. Through this simplified representation, the patient learns to specifically influence his or her electrical brain activity.
Risks, side effects, and dangers
In order to be able to meaningfully influence the brain’s activities in everyday life, the patient needs plenty of practice. It is not uncommon, therefore, for him to receive a training screen from the therapist to use at home. Children suffering from ADHD can also take the screen to school and use it positively. If the achieved goals are stable or a sustainable improvement of the symptoms has been reached, the neurofeedback can be terminated. There are no risks associated with neurofeedback. However, if the procedure is carried out incorrectly, undesirable side effects can sometimes occur. These include drowsiness, agitation, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and epileptic seizures. These side effects, however, last only a short time unless the false training is done over a longer period of time. In addition, there is a risk that the symptoms will be exacerbated instead of reduced by the wrong training. For this reason, it is recommended that neurofeedback therapy always be performed by trained professionals. The electrodes attached during neurofeedback do not apply electric shocks to the patient, as is often falsely claimed, but only measure brain activity. There are no dangers associated with this procedure.
