What is Neurofeedback?
What is EEG Brain Mapping?
We at interactive Brain Analysis are both brain specialists and psychotherapists. Few psychotherapists use factual brain information to direct and measure the effects of the therapy. Although we use standard modalities, such as talk therapy, too, we also believe that technology and applied science are powerful tools. This combination, and the decades of experience, is what makes our clinic unique.
What is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is the instant form of QEEG brain mapping. It gives the client and the trained therapist instant insight as to how the brain is functioning. This is done by real time measuring, analyzing and displaying brain activity. The instant display of the client’s brain waves allow him or her to immediately respond, and to quickly learn how to change their state of mind. This interactivity creates a feedback loop with the brain, which allows the client to break with negative mental and emotional patterns. QEEG is short for the big words Quantitative Electro-Encephalo-Gram. In normal words it means a picture (=gram) of the brain (=encephalo) by measuring (=quantitative) its electrical activity.
How is EEG Brain Mapping different from Neurofeedback?
EEG Brain mapping is done over a 20 to 30 minute period of time; the brain’s activity is recorded with non-intrusive electrodes. The procedure is totally harmless since nothing goes into the brain; only the subtle patterns in the natural brain electricity are recorded.
After the recording session the data set is skillfully cleaned from artifacts (data noise) and analyzed against an extensive database of other peoples’ brain maps. The database analysis gives a diagnosis and shows normal and abnormal activity. Brain mapping requires a lot of computer power and can not be done in real time. It also requires a very experienced clinician who can recognize and eliminate interference (noise data) and who can clinically interpret the database comparison.
“Analogy: Neurofeedback is information about the brain similar to weather information. Step outside and you will know real time if it is cold, rainy, or windy, and you adjust your behavior (clothing, activity) interactively.
EEG Brain Mapping can be compared with climate information. It is a large data set that is compared with other places and over very long times. Climate, like brain mapping, predicts what to expect over seasons and years. Climate based decisions are for example what and when to plant in the garden, or if your house needs to be equipped with heating, air conditioning, or both.”
Neurofeedback is the instant replay version of brain mapping. Where a brain map gives client and therapist deep insights, neurofeedback is immediate but more simplistic. This immediacy and simplicity allow the client to quickly respond, which creates a feedback loop. The feedback to and from the brain quickly becomes a learning tool that can make permanent changes in ones mindset.
Neurofeedback often displays as charts or games. The representation of what’s going on in the brain is simplified so that it can be quickly recognized and influenced. The real time chart movements can be controlled by the client until a more desirable state of mind is reached. Games work similarly: objects are moved to a set target by changing ones brain activity. It’s fun to do! Who would have thought that one can move things by thinking alone!
How do you read my brain?
The brain, like the heart, works on electricity. An average adult brain produces around 12 watts of electrical power, comparable to the LED light bulb over your dining table. We snuggly place a nylon cap with 19 embedded electrodes over your head. The electrodes touch the skin on head through a conductive gel.
A powerful computer and sophisticated software analyze the fluctuations in the measured electrical currents and create charts and pictures of the processes inside. The software measures not only the strength (amplitude) of the electrical currents, but also the frequency (wave length), timing, location and connections, and much more.
The frequency of brain waves is the most talked about:
Beta waves are the fastest type of brainwave and occur when the brain is active and engaged mentally.
Alpha waves occur when the brain is in a state of non-arousal, such as when a person has finished a task and is resting or when one meditates.
Theta brainwaves are associated with daydreaming and rapid eye movement (REM) dreaming phase of sleep. Theta brainwaves occur when you are in a state like driving on the freeway or are running for a long time. This kind of state often is associated with times when ideas and creativity flow.
Delta brainwaves are the slowest and associated with deep dreamless sleep.
“Analogy: The way EEG brain analysis works can be compared with a Super Bowl party in a room with no windows. The ceiling and side walls are covered on the outside by 19 microphones (i.e. the electrodes). Powerful software now starts comparing the pitch, the beat, the volume of the sounds that are picked up.
You can see that such analysis can imagen where the tv is located, how many people are watching, where they sit or stand, what gender they are, and whether their team is winning.
Similarly, EEG creates a detailed real time 3-D video of the brain’s internal workings through analyzing the electrical frequency, timing, location and strength picked up by its 19 electrodes.”
EEG biofeedback is exercise for the brain
Neurofeedback, also called EEG Biofeedback, assists in altering the electrical activity of the brain. The effectiveness of neurofeedback comes from training the brain to selectively enter a variety of mental states and thus break out of persistent cognitive and emotional patterns. EEG biofeedback is exercise for the brain. Neurofeedback encourages greater awareness and regulation of bodily functions, cognitive processes, and emotional states.
Boulder Neurofeedback
Interactive Brain Analysis has the most extensive neurofeedback tool set in Boulder. Our practice has the state of the art neurofeedback protocols for ADHD, depression, anxiety, brain injury, and also peak performance. Interactive Brain Analysis attracts clients from Golden, Longmont, Lafayette, Broomfield, Denver and Westminster, Colorado.
Click and call 303 447 8443 and schedule a 1 hour brain tour to find out what we can do for you.