Research on Neurofeedback and ADHD
Brain training: The future of psychiatric treatment?
“Children diagnosed with ADHD tend to have an excess of low frequency (theta) brain waves and fewer high frequency (beta) waves in certain regions of the cortex, as detected by EEG (Figure 2). Therefore, neurofeedback training for children with ADHD attempts to minimize the occurrence of lower frequency theta waves and enhance the occurrence of higher frequency beta waves. This is done by rewarding the children each time they demonstrate beta waves during neurofeedback training. Through the process of operant conditioning, the children intuitively learn to promote beta waves and suppress theta waves (Figure 2).”
Meta-analysis of Research on ADHD and NFB
Neurofeedback for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Neurofeedback:
Though based in technology, neurofeedback is a 100% non-invasive, drug-free, brain training system that helps the central nervous system (CNS) make the best use of your brain’s natural resources. NeurOptimal® is extremely powerful and effective. The U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration has approved neurofeedback for relaxation training and the American Pediatric Academy has endorsed neurofeedback as a “Level 1/Best Support” treatment for children with ADHD.
What is Neurofeedback?:
NeurOptimal®’s EEG biofeedback or neurofeedback system is a powerful technology that can greatly enhance your well-being and generally help you get the most out of life. Brain training can unlock untapped cognitive potential and help you achieve long-held goals and dreams.
Biofeedback has been around for almost 40 years, but its practical use was inhibited by the scarcity of a practical delivery system. In the past, a neurofeedback interface would require a room full of computers and technicians. Today, Zengar Institute, Inc. has created a simple, interactive software that harnesses this powerful technology in an easy- to-use program called NeurOptimal® that loads onto a laptop computer.
How does NeurOptimal work?:
The NeurOptimal® proprietary neurofeedback system is a highly personalized brain training software that prompts the central nervous system to help make the best use of your brain’s neural resources.
Neurofeedback training for the brain is similar to physical training for the body. Much of our suffering comes from pervasive recurring thoughts and feelings in which our minds become emotionally stranded or cognitively “stuck”. Neurofeedback prompts the brain to draw from its existing resources and pull itself out of these mental “ruts”. The result is a more open and positive mindset in which obstacles are more manageable and problems more resolvable.
Much like a mirror that promotes self-correction, NeurOptimal®’s proprietary neurofeedback program monitors your brain waves and then provides “feedback” to your central nervous system about what it has just done. When the software detects a tremor in your brain wave pattern, it sends an audible signal that encourages the brain to “reset” and self-correct.
What happens during a session?:
I will have you fill out a survey listing the complaints and/or challenges that have brought you into the office.
You will next be placed in a quiet space and in a comfortable position. I will attach special sensors to your head that will feed your cortical activity patterns into the NeurOptimal® program’s software. A neurofeedback training session is relaxing, enjoyable and typically lasts about 50 minutes.
As the session starts, you will hear music play though headphones and perhaps watch relaxing geometric images gently morph across a computer screen. I also have a menu of various videos and music you can select from. You will hear occasional “skips” or interruptions in the music – this is the signal that prompts your brain to “reset” and optimize itself. It mirrors to your brain the cortical activity patterns and allows the brain to retrain it self to it’s most natural “normal” state pre any conditioning we have given it.
At the end of a session, you will most likely feel less stressed and more mentally clear. I do not like to give expectations as I want to have changes reported as they occur. I recommend after 10-12 sessions to watch a bunch of the videos available at the link below to see what other people have experienced. It is unlikely you will experience any negative after-effects as NeurOptimal® does not artificially “push” the brain in any specific direction. Survey research suggests that many users experience deeper sleep and vivid dreams after their very first session.
Please commit to 10-20 sessions. I have had multiple clients stop at 5-8 sessions, everyone is different as to when they feel effects, if they are to be felt. I highly recommend committing if you chose this option of services.
For individuals with developmental disabilities, I am highly trained on how to give NeurOptimal and still meet the attentional needs of each individual. I’m confident we can get the training to every individual who wishes to receive it. Sometimes, we have to do “exposures”, so that individuals get used to the process and we start with only 10 minutes sessions, then increase to 20, until we can get to the full 33 minute training. I’m confident we can get there with patience and trial and error. I can upload any favorite videos and use it in the system, so please bring favorites with you so I can get them into my system before the first session.
How is NeurOptimal different than other neurofeedback systems?:
There are a few key factors that distinguish NeurOptimal® from other neurofeedback systems:
- NeurOptimal® is effective because it is designed to work best with your individual brain. It does not attempt to “fix” predetermined conditions or pin down specific problems. This was a limitation in many earlier neurofeedback systems. Often, resolving one problem in one area could cause problems elsewhere. The heart of the NeurOptimal® system -Dynamical Neurofeedback®- is a proprietary technology based in neuroscience and specifically designed with the naturally non-linear function of the human brain in mind. NeurOptimal® is built to harness the incredibly dynamic nature of your brain in a way other systems simply cannot match. As a result, this neurofeedback system can be used effectively to address a wide array of complaints without specifically “targeting” them from the outset of the training.
- NeurOptimal® neurofeedback is extremely safe. Research shows your own brain “knows best” and therefore the NeurOptimal® brain training system does not force or “push” the brain in any one direction. Basically, Dynamical Neurofeedback® provides your brain with the information it needs to correct itself and function at its most optimal. NeurOptimal® simply enables your own brain’s natural process of self-correction.
- NeurOptimal® requires no effort on the user’s part. Some brain training systems require the user to “interact” by playing games or solve puzzles during sessions. This additional level of interaction is unnecessary with the NeurOptimal® neurofeedback system. During a training session, you can simply relax and enjoy!
Anecdotally: Please ask me my experience using the system and I will be glad to share why I so deeply believe in this agent of change.
Things I Can’t Say