neurofeedback training helps improve mental performance, emotional stability and psychological well being.

In addition, neurofeedback training has shown promising results for autism treatment. Autistic children who underwent neurofeedback have displayed improved behaviour, clearer speech, better focus and even improvements in their IQ and school exam scores. Increasing numbers of healthcare professionals have thus adopted neurofeedback as a core element of autism treatment.

Computer ‘games’

EEG Biofeedback is usually done with the help of computer games, such as the popular PacMan. But unlike regular computer games, the person does not “play” by controlling a joystick, mouse, keyboard or other device.

Instead, sensors are attached to the scalp and these sensors pick up brain signals that influence the outcome of the game.

But this is not a form of mind control either. Any attempt to mentally control the outcome of the game – by thinking, concentrating or even by deliberately trying to relax – will not help. Such attempts usually cause the game to stop.

Instead, neurofeedback training requires the person to naturally “allow” the game to proceed by generating the desired mix of brain waves.

Left / Right brain

Sensors may be placed at different points on the scalp that correspond to different regions of the brain. This way, the different regions of the brain may be “trained”.

Since the different regions of the brain control different functions and behaviours, neurofeedback training is able to target each of them specifically.

For example, the left hemisphere of the brain, or left brain, is associated with language and sequencing skills. The right hemisphere, or right brain, is associated with the sense of self / sense of other, sense of the body in space, emotional connectedness and sleep.

One way to understand neurofeedback or EEG Biofeedback is to think of it as helping brain cells to establish connections or communications.

For children with autism, neurofeedback trains the brain to communicate internally and challenges the brain to regulate specific regions. Some regions will be trained to calm down while other regions will be trained to activate.

Another way to understand neurofeedback is to see it as helping improve the "software” of the brain.

Thus, neurofeedback goes hand in hand with the biomedical approach to autism, which seeks to improve the “hardware” of the brain – and the body – through detoxification, nutritional supplements, diet control and solving problems such as yeast and bacteria infection.

In particular, neurofeedback training complements hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT, which has been proven to help the recovery of injured brain cells. Once these cells have recovered, neurofeedback trains them to function better.

However, neurofeeback or EEG Biofeedback is not just for children with autism, ADHD and other developmental disorders. Normal children and adults, too, can benefit from these brain exercises.

For young children, neurofeedback can help a variety of problems such as bedwetting, nightmares, sleep walking and teeth grinding. It is also helpful in assisting adolescents cope with drug-taking, alcohol, phobias and learning disabilities.

For the young and old alike, it stabilises the brain and a stable brain state can improve attention, reduce impulsivity, control hyperactive behaviors, improve sleep pattern and lead to better emotional wellness.

People who have done neurofeedback training have reported improvements in school or work performance, social relationships and self-esteem as well as reduction in irritability and oppositional behavior.

Some individuals report increased relaxation, reduced stress, and a heightened sense of control over their bodies, thoughts, and feelings during or immediately after treatment sessions.

Almost anyone can enjoy the benefits of EEG Biofeedback. It has been successfully applied to address depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, addictions, seizure disorder and unresolved emotional issues.

Neurofeedback also help in peak-performance training for business executives, athletes, musicians, artists and other performers and many others.

As people get older, it helps maintain good brain function. The best news is that almost any brain can be trained to function better regardless of its level of function.

EEG Biofeedback

Potential side-effects

Neurofeedback training rarely produces negative side-effects. Some potential side effects are:

The use of EEG Biofeedback requires the client's skin to be cleaned on the areas where the EEG sensors are applied. Some individuals with sensitive skin may experience small breaks in the skin when the cleaning occurs.
A very, very small minority of individuals have reported brief periods of negative effects during EEG Biofeedback. These could be in the form of negative emotions such as anxiety or frustration, or negative physical sensations such as fatigue, dizziness or tingling sensations. These negative side-effects are very rare and usually last for only a short period of time.
Some families experience a disruption in relationships after the family member who has received Neurofeedback training gets better. Family members may have been used to focusing on the person's “problems” but when those problems subside, they need to adjust how they relate to each other.

During Neurofeedback training, the person will be learning to change and control brainwave patterns. This learning process takes time.

Many individuals report some progress after about 10 sessions, but effective treatment usually requires between 20 and 40 sessions. For children with autism and other behavioral disorders, a lot more sessions may be needed in order to achieve significant results.Care should be taken in selecting a practitioner. The two most commonly used criteria for finding a competent practitioner are to look for someone who is certified in the use of EEG Biofeedback and someone who is trained as a practitioner of Neurofeedback.

Contra indications

Neurofeedback may not be suitable for individuals with the following conditions:

Individuals who are not willing or unable to understand the general principles and goals of the feedback used, such as people with excessive behavioral problems or low IQ.
Individuals who experience anxiety or an unpleasant feeling associated with Neurofeedback training.
Individuals with a history of epilepsy.

Also, some individuals may be unable to learn to control the EEG through Neurofeedback training. If periodic monitoring by an experienced neurofeedback pactitioner indicates that the individual is not making any progress, then the training should be discontinued.

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Neurofeedback training for mental performance