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How Does Neurofeedback Work?
It’s another one of those questions I get asked several times a week. So, first understanding that neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback providing a signal a reward signal to the brain when brain waves move in a healthier more functional direction. Now, that signal then over time causes the brain in most cases to incrementally, gradually reorganize brain waves into a healthier more functional brainwave pattern, and so many people ask doesn’t tell me how it works, how does that work.
What we believe is happening, is that brains tend to like novelty, and so when the brain starts to realize that it gets a reward tone every time there’s a movement in a healthier direction. It tends to absorb that reward tone and start moving in that direction. Now, this is a slow gradual process over time, and every brain varies a little bit, but it’s an operant conditioning model because when that brain wave, let’s say we had a brain wave that we want to bring down right. it’s too strong this happens with a lot of kids and adults with ADD, it’s often present with anxiety, panic, OCD, these kinds of things.
Neurofeedback to Feel and Function Better.
So, imagine this theta wave, it’s very strong, and we want to bring it down, so the neurofeedback is providing a reward tone every time that dips, and over time because it is an upper and conditioning model. The brain then responds to that reward in incrementally very slowly changes that brainwave.
Coincidentally with ADD, anxiety disorders, in certain locations that theta wave can be five or six standard deviations above where it should be which is significant, I mentioned that because it’s simply a matter of time than to retrain that brain wave into a healthier brainwave form. So, in essence how does a biofeedback work, it’s not injecting any electricity, it’s not doing anything invasive to the brain, it’s simply rewarding the brain for finding a better brainwave pattern in doing this repeatedly and through upward conditioning that brain then becomes reorganized in ways that feel better and function better. I hope that helps this is Dr. Randy Cale, take care now.