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Carolyn Robertson has
earned Certification through the
Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA)
(#1408).
EEG Biofeedback is
employed to modify the electrical activity of the
central nervous system including EEG, event related
potentials, slow cortical potentials and other
electrical activity either of subcortical or cortical
origin. EEG biofeedback is a specialized application of
biofeedback or brainwave data in an operant conditioning
paradigm. The method is also referred to as
neurofeedback. The method may serve as the basis for
neurotherapy (treatment of a clinical disorder) or
performance enhancement (enhancement of normal
functioning).
EEG
Biofeedback is a learning strategy that enables persons
to alter their brain waves. When information about a
person's own brain wave characteristics is made
available to him, he can learn to change them. You can
think of it as exercise for the brain.
EEG Biofeedback is used for many conditions and
disabilities in which the brain is not working as well
as it might.
An initial interview is done to obtain a
description of symptoms, and to get a picture of the health history and family
history. Some testing may be done as well. And the person does the first EEG
training session, at which time we get a look at the EEG. This all may take
about two hours. (The details may differ among the various affiliate offices. In
some offices a full brain map, or quantitative EEG, is routinely obtained, which
may require a separate office visit. Or more extensive testing may be done.)
Subsequent training sessions last about 40 minutes to an hour, and are conducted
from one to five times per week. Some improvement is generally seen within ten
sessions. Once learning is consolidated, the benefit appears to be permanent in
most cases.
The EEG biofeedback training is a painless,
non-invasive procedure. One or more sensors are placed on the scalp, and one to
each ear. The brain waves are monitored by means of an amplifier and a
computer-based instrument that processes the signal and provides the proper
feedback. This is displayed to the trainee by means of a video game or other
video display, along with audio signals. The trainee is asked to make the video
game go with his brain. As activity in a desirable frequency band increases, the
video game moves faster, or some other reward is given. As activity in an
adverse band increases, the video game is inhibited. Gradually, the brain
responds to the cues that it is being given, and a "learning" of new brain wave
patterns takes place. The new pattern is one which is closer to what is normally
observed in individuals without such disabilities. |
