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WHAT IS NEUROFEEDBACK THERAPY?
What is Neurofeedback Treatment?
Biofeedback is an operant conditioning procedure in which a person learns to control physiological functions such as muscle movements, breathing, heart rate, skin tension, and brain waves that they normally cannot control or are consciously aware of. This method allows a person to take control of their own body and make certain changes to it. It increases the individual's bodily awareness and helps them relax and relieve mental tension. The person becomes aware of many bodily reactions they were previously unaware of. Body parameters can be measured and modified.
Neurofeedback utilizes the theory of brain plasticity. It aims to change the brain's electrical activity by using classical conditioning and operant conditioning methods.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Biofeedback Therapy:
Measures and regulates heart rhythm and heart rate variability.
Heart Rate: The normal resting heart rate is 60-100 beats/min. Many people are at the 40-60 beats/min level, which is directly proportional to their fitness level. Moderate mental stress can cause an increase of 8-11 beats/min, after which it is expected to return to baseline.
The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) regulates the homeostatic mechanism. It is directly involved in the neuronal and hormonal stress responses known as the Fight or Flight mechanism, which requires an immediate response. The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), on the other hand, requires a slower response that does not require an immediate reaction. Therefore, the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems need to work complementarily and in balance. In other words, the heart rate and breathing must be synchronized. If the heart rate increases when inhaling, it should slow down when exhaling.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is the regulation of changes in heart rhythm by the central nervous system (CNS) and the posterior nervous system (PNS). The balance between the CNS and PNS from one beat to the next should be 0.1 pk frequency. This variability varies during different activities. This is important for maintaining heart health and ensuring peak performance at all times.
(For example, Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is not the same as your heart rate. Your HRV is the time between two heartbeats. Your heart rate speeds up when you inhale and slows down when you exhale. Bringing your HRV into "coherence" means your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems fluctuate steadily and rhythmically over time. When your HRV is in coherence, it leads to other physiological systems that fluctuate rhythmically (e.g., heartbeats, breathing rhythms, and blood pressure fluctuations) also tending to be in harmony. This results in more efficient and harmonious functioning of the cardiovascular, nervous, hormonal, and immune systems.)
Breath Biofeedback: Measures and regulates your breathing pattern and speed.
Body Temperature Biofeedback: Measures and regulates the flow of blood from the body to the periphery.
Muscle Tension Biofeedback (EMG): Measures and helps regulate the electrical current that causes muscle contraction.
Skin Tension Biofeedback (GSR): Measures and helps regulate skin tension in the hands and palms in anxiety.
Electroencephalogram (EEG): Measures brain waves at different frequencies. Electrodes are placed on specific areas of the skin to measure and record electrical activity in the brain.
QEEG: Digital Electroencephalogram (EEG).