HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM EEG TRAINING

BENEFITS: HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM EEG TRAINING

• Improving the overall quality of your life
• Slowing down the aging process
• Creating successful relationships
• Improving social skills
• Mastering communication skills
• Enhancing attention, focus, concentration, speech, perception, learning abilities and cognitive flexibility
• Learning to optimize thinking patterns
• Increasing organization, planning, judgment, problem solving and efficiency
• Developing capacity for fast decision making
• Relieving stress and improving resistance to stress
• Decreasing and/or eliminating anxiety
• Gradual relaxation, whether at work, at home, or while traveling
• Building and retaining memory
• Increasing self-esteem and self-confidence
• Better sleep/normalization of sleep patterns
• Reducing or eliminating anxiety
• Releasing muscle and mental tension
• Pain control
• Strengthening your immune system to resist any disease
• Reducing or eliminating bad habits
• Increasing relaxation and the elimination of tension
• Reducing impulsiveness, distractibility and hyperactivity
• Overcoming obsessive-compulsive behavior
• Increasing tolerance to frustration
• Reducing irritability and oppositional behavior
• Cognitive enhancement
• Increasing IQ score
• Improving behavior, grades, self-esteem, job performance, and overall interaction with others
• Helps to transition more smoothly through life events
• Increasing the energy flow to the brain
• Calmer mind and greater creativity
• Greater motivation
• Enhancing emotional, spiritual and physical awareness and well-being
• Personal growth and prime performance
• Enhancement of musical/vocal abilities
• Achieving peak cognitive and physical performance and optimal learning capacity

WHY EEG BIOFEEDBACK?

• Drug free
• No side effects
• Non-invasive
• Painless
• Enhances sleep patterns
• Equally effective for children and adults
• Can be performed by people in any physical conditions
• Feasible for all age groups
• Successful outcome for students, professionals, executives, artists and athletes
• Powerful, accelerated learning experience
• Fundamental breakthrough in your ability to relate to life with new freedom and power
• Delivers significant changes/amazing results in a short period of time
• High-tech health care approach
• Learn self-regulation instantly
• Clients receive feedback faster than he or she can move to another thought.
• Provides faster and long-lasting results compared to other therapeutic approaches
• Permanent changes in learning and behavior
• Lasting results that expand and unfold over time
• Addresses mental, emotional, and/or medical concerns
• Reduces and/or eliminates the use of medications
• Discover and pursue your potentials through Neurofeedback
• Empowerment for personal and performance development and enhancement
• Promote and/or reclaim your health
• Cognitive/mental flexibility
• No interference when incorporated with other approaches

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The way it works is that special sensors (electrodes) are placed on the scalp and ear lobes to measure the brain wave electrical activity. Minute fluctuations in the electromagnetic field produced by the brain are recorded at the scalp and analyzed by a computer to provide detailed information about the functioning of the central nervous system. The brain's neural signals can be presented instantly as feedback that the brain responds to, in the form of animated images and sounds (music/tones) that encourage the production of healthy brain waves and decrease production of unhealthy ones. Having learned to modify your brainwaves directly, you can modify a wide variety of corresponding mental, emotional and physical states. A computer is placed a few feet directly in front of the client. It looks like you are playing a video game using brainwaves while stabilizing/normalizing the brain and increasing flexibility. Furthermore, EEG Biofeedback enables you to monitor, change and eventually control your brain waves. In other words, it allows you to learn voluntary control of your brain wave activity. Similar to workout/exercise, you can build healthier and stronger brain waves. The monitor displays specific patterns that the client attempts to change by producing the appropriate type of brain wave. The monitor rewards the client for producing the appropriate brain wave by providing positive reinforcement in the form of sounds and images. Clients are trained through operant conditioning process to augment (increase) certain brain wave patters associated with healthy mind/body functioning and inhibit (decrease) those brain wave patterns that are associated with various conditions/dysfunctions/disorders. In other words, the goal is to produce healthy brain wave patterns and reduce the unhealthy ones. Once the skill is acquired, it becomes self-sustaining.

CONDITIONS THAT MAY BE HELPED WITH NEUROFEEDBACK:

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Learning Disabilities (LD)
• Dyslexia
• Autism
• Developmental Delays, i.e., language, speech, motor, etc.
• Asperger's Disorder
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Depression
• Manic Depressive Illness
• Sleep Disorders/Disturbances
• Enuresis/Bed Wetting
• Memory Problems
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• PMS and Menopause
• Chronic Pain
• Migraines and Headaches
• High Blood Pressure
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Bruxism or Teeth Grinding
• Stroke
• Explosive Rage Syndrome
• Balance and Coordination Problems
• Motor and Vocal Tics
• Epilepsy
• Seizure Disorders
• Cerebral Palsy
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Closed Head Injury
• Tourette's Syndrome
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson's Disease
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Lyme Disease
• AIDS
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Chemical Dependency
• Addictive Behavior
• Conduct Disorders
• Bipolar Disorder
• Eating Disorder
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Urinary Incontinence
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD)

Attention Deficit Disorder is a very disruptive neurobiological disorder that can arise in early childhood. ADD is marked by behaviors that are chronic (lasting at least six months) with onset before age seven.

Characteristics of children with ADD can include:

A. Either inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity

Inattention:
At least six of the following symptoms of inattention have persisted for at least six months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level:
often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities
often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
often does not seem to listen to what is being said to him or her
often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions)
often has difficulties organizing tasks and activities
often avoids, expresses reluctance about, or has difficulties engaging in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework)
often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g. school assignments, pencils, books, tools, or toys)
is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
often forgetful in daily activities

Hyperactivity - Impulsivity: At least five of the following symptoms of hyperactivity - impulsivity have persisted for at least six months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level:

Hyperactivity
often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected
often runs about or climbs excessively in situations where it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness)
often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
is always "on the go" or acts as if "driven by a motor"
often talks excessively

Impulsivity
often blurts out answers to questions before the questions have been completed
often has difficulty waiting in lines or awaiting turn in games or group situations
often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into others' conversations or games)

B. The following must also be true:

Some symptoms that caused impairment were present before age seven.
Some symptoms that cause impairment are present in two or more settings (e.g., at school, work, and at home).
There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.
Does not occur exclusively during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia or other Psychotic Disorder, and is not better accounted for by Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Dissociative Disorder, or a Personality Disorder.

How is ADD diagnosed?

ADD is diagnosed by psychological testing together with a careful history of the person's behavior. Because learning disabilities are often associated with ADD, psychological testing is especially important to assess for the presence of complicating factors. Also, examination by a professional is important to assure that only children (or adults) with truly excessive symptoms are given the diagnosis of ADD. A typical test battery for ADD/LD includes a major intelligence test (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised) along with tests used to measure achievement in a variety of academic areas. Depending on the thoroughness of the exam, other questionnaires and tests are used to assess behavior and rule out other disorders that can look like ADD but are not.

What about treatment for ADD?

Treatment for ADD is varied, depending on the type of behavioral problems evident. Typically behavioral means are used to help provide structure to impulsive behaviors. Social skills training techniques are utilized to help the individual learn social skills that have been impaired by the presence of excessive distractibility and impulsiveness. Also, medication is sometimes used to reduce distractibility.

However, at the present time something called Neurofeedback is holding out new promise to people with ADD. Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback that directly trains the brain to work in a stable way that decreases many ADD symptoms. Some people find that they do not need medication. Kindly go through this site to understand more about this promising technology.

Benefits of Neurofeedback Training

Neurofeedback training program addresses the following cognitive functions

Concept comprehension - understanding tasks and concepts.

Working memory - retaining necessary information for short periods of time, yet long enough to complete specific tasks.

Sequential processing - working with pieces of information, one after another.

Simultaneous processing or multitasking - processing a few pieces of information at the same time.

Attention duration - Sustaining attention for longer periods.

Processing speed - the speed with which information is processed.

Selective attention - focusing on one task at a time.

Divided attention - focusing on more than one task at a time.

Sensory motor coordination - coordinating sensory and motor skills.

Visual processing - working with visual images.

Auditory processing - working with sounds.

Audio-visual coordination - working with both sound and visuals, simultaneously.

Peripheral vision – noticing background details while focusing on a task.

Improving the above-mentioned cognitive abilities provides many advantages. They include:

Enhancing different states of attention and concentration.

Improving memory.

Increasing self-awareness and self control.

Enhancing speed of processing.

Improving self-discipline and self-confidence.

Improving the ability to concentrate in the presence of distractions.

Reducing hyperactivity.

Reducing impulsivity.

Improving the ability to relax.

Improving patience.

Enhancing the ability to perform a number of tasks simultaneously.

Improve learning ability.

Improve the ability to quickly shift focus.

Improve the ability to sustain focus for prolonged periods of time.

Improve planning and organization.

What is Neurofeedback

We are able to go about our day because our brain talks to itself with highly complex waves of energy. These internal dialogues allow us to pay attention and focus on what is going on in our world, to remember what it is we want to know or need to do, to go to and stay asleep, and to color our life with emotional actions and reactions.

Medical professionals have known about these electrical conversations for over 60 years. Using a device called the electroencephalogram (EEG), Neurologists (medical doctors that diagnose and treat diseases of the brain and nervous system) record the brain waves of many of his or her patients, looking for distortions in the brain wave patterning to help diagnose seizures and manage epilepsy, and to help diagnose or rule out a brain tumor, blood clot, or stroke in those with such symptoms as black outs, headaches, or unusual behavior.

A few years ago, computer technology advanced to a point in which a brain wave analysis system could be created to break down the complexity of the brain wave patterning. As research evolved, the Quantitative EEG began to reveal that there is much more to brain waves than the detection of brain disease: The technology also helps us determine where and in what way the brain is efficiently doing and not doing its job.

It wasn’t long before biofeedback researchers figured out that when the power of the Quantitative EEG is combined with traditional biofeedback technology, the brain could be led to enhance its own performance. Electrodes placed on the scalp pick up the electrical energy the brain is producing; the brain wave signals are sent to the special computer, which amplifies the signals and rapidly divides the complexity of the brain wave frequencies into small groups of energy; The Neurotherapist/Neurofeedback Trainer (a therapist/trainer specially trained in brain wave training) selects a frequency group known to be important for focus, strategy, or memory, and returns the information back to the brain as audio tones. As the brain “listens” to the computer-generated audio information, it analyzes the tones, just as it does with all incoming information. Noting the one-to-one relationship between the incoming tones and frequencies it is using to perform the task, the brain begins to experiment by increasing or decreasing the energy of the cells responsible for producing that particular frequency. Finding that increasing the firing of specific cells improves its performance and decreasing it makes it worse (or vice versa), the brain begins to activate (or deactivate) cells to enhance and maintain the new level of performance.
The brain, in other words, uses the computer generated tones to do what it was designed to do by nature: Use information coming in from the outside world to learn or teach itself something. In this instance, the “something” it learns is that increasing (or decreasing) certain frequencies helps it focus better, to understand incoming information more quickly and accurately, and to execute complex tasks in an easier, more efficient way.

There is a fundamental difference between traditional instrumented biofeedback and the more recently developed Neurofeedback. Biofeedback helps us learn to take conscious control of our internal terrain for better management of stress and stress-related health problems. With Neurofeedback, however, it is not “us” that learns the new behavior: It is our brain. Just as “we” learned to walk and ride a bike, all “we” need do is go through the motions. (In this case, sit with electrodes on our head and play a video game or watch a video.) Our brain quickly and easily learns what it needs to do to learn and perform complex tasks in a more efficient way.

What is Biofeedback

We are truly “learning machines.” Our nervous system senses what is going on in the environment – the brain quickly processes and analyzes the new information – nerve cells fire and connect into performance circuits – we function and respond to what is going on in the world. This is “physiological” biofeedback defined: Information in – process and integrate – respond and interact.

Using the power of physiological biofeedback, our brain and nervous system quickly learns highly complex processes:

• When you were just a tiny baby, you started walking by rolling over in your crib. You were soon up on your hands and knees, rocking to and fro. In no time at all, you were crawling around the place, quickly finding the edge of the coffee table, and pulling yourself up. Then, to your parents delight, you tentatively put one foot in front of the other as someone held your hands high in the air. Finally, the big day: You took the courage to let go of everything and everybody and took your first step! From that day forward, there was no stopping you. You were all over the house, running from room to room, getting into all kinds of mischief.

• When you got your first bike/cycle, one of your parents probably helped by holding the bike upright and running along side as you turned the pedals. You glanced down to see where your hands and feet were, then up to see where you were going, all the while trying to keep the handle bars straight so you wouldn’t crash into something. In spite of having to learn so many unfamiliar and complex tasks all at once, you quickly coordinated everything you needed to do, and off you went on your own. In just a few hours, you had gone from walking to riding. You now whistled merrily along, waving to all your friends as you pedaled by.

Everyone physically and mentally able learns many complex tasks in his or her life. And, instruction manuals are not necessary. Billions of people have learned to walk and millions can ride a bike, for example, yet the local library has no “how-to” books on walking or riding a bike. The reason for this absence is that it isn’t “you” that learns these new tasks: It is your brain. All you needed was the desire to learn it, and the willingness to go through the motions.

Our brain is very smart. It quickly learns what it needs to do for us to live our life. And, whatever our brain learns and practices becomes an integral part of whom and what we are. We walk from room to room with no conscious thought, absent mindedly stick food into our mouth as we read a magazine, and, even if we haven’t ridden for years, we can probably hop on a bike, and, with a few wobbles, be riding as good as before. Unless damaged by drugs, toxins, physical or emotional trauma, or some disease process, our brain never forgets what we need to know: It remembers for a lifetime.

But, as we have all experienced, day-to-day stresses can cause our brain to go into overload, causing various systems to become compromised, even spin out of control. Examples are common: Severe headaches, low back, neck, and shoulder pain from chronic muscle tension, chronic digestive and bowel problems as the brain and body internalize gnawing stress, depression or anxiety can come from an over or under aroused autonomic nervous system (the “fight or flight versus relaxation” response), and, if the immune system turns on itself, allergies and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. When our brain/body rebels from the stresses of our hectic world, we may discover that we have little or no idea of how to alleviate the
discomfort. The reason for this lack of direction is a lack of detection: It was our brain/body that learned how to control and manage these internal functions. “We” (our conscious “self”) probably don’t have the knowledge, the “insider information,” to take conscious control and change what is going on inside our body.

The discovery and development of “instrumented” (computer assisted) biofeedback gives us the power to work with our brain/body so it can re-learn what it learned in years past. When a sensor or electrode is placed on an appropriate location on our body and plugged into an appropriate electronic biofeedback device, we can use the built-in tones, lights, or meter to make us aware of what is going on inside our body. With this information, we can work directly with our physiology to change our internal terrain. By learning to raise our hand temperature with Temperature Biofeedback Training, for example, we can learn to calm an over-aroused and out of control nervous system to relieve migraine headaches, lower blood pressure, and better manage stress. EMG (muscle) Biofeedback, as another example, allows us to learn to manage tension headaches and calm various stress-related neck and shoulder pains. With the appropriate technology and proper instruction, these changes are remarkably quick and easy for most to learn: Mastery is usually accomplished in just a few sessions.

Once we learn self-regulation with instrumented biofeedback, we can normally recreate the experience years later without the biofeedback device. We have better life tools with which to deal with the negative effects of stress-related discomforts

Neurofeedback - Brain Function Training

Neurofeedback & Biofeedback is helpful in the following indications:

Optimal Performance for Students, Executives, Sports personnel
Lack of Concentration, Focus, Attention for Students & Adults
Epilepsy
Learning Disabilities
Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD/ADHD)
Autism
Memory Problems
Depression
Stress & Anxiety Problems
Migraine
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
Sleeping Disorders
Frequent mood swings
Reading & Spelling Problems
Brain Injury
Dyslexia

The process starts with a complete assessment of the individual with QEEG(Quantitative Electroencephelograph) and HEG(Hemoencephelograph) followed by one to one training program.

FAQ of Neurofeedback training

What is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback. Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback. The body has a limited capacity to sense information coming from inside itself. However, if you monitor any biological process, amplify it, and feed it back to the brain, your brain can change it. As an example, if your place a special skin thermometer on your finger, you can raise or lower its temperature at will just by focusing on the gauge. Neurofeedback is the monitoring of brain waves with the goal of changing the patterns that cause problems. It is the modern application of the EEG (electroencephalogram) machine.

Q: Could you explain more about brainwaves?

Your brain produces four distinct types of brain waves, which are labeled in Greek letters. People usually have a mixture of frequencies at any given time, but the dominant frequency varies depending on the state of consciousness and on individual differences. Beta is considered to be the fast waves, measuring 15 Hertz and above. Alpha is 8-12 Hertz. Theta is 4-7 Hertz. Delta is 0.5-3.5 Hertz. Normal focused waking state consists of primarily Beta waves in the brain. When you close your eyes and relax, Alpha tends to be produced. Theta normally is only produced briefly when you are starting to fall asleep. Delta is normally produced when you are asleep. When you have brain irregularities caused by injury, your brain may have too much theta or delta being produced when you are supposed to be awake and alert.
By learning to inhibit this abnormal amount of theta or delta, a person can make great improvements in their problem. Excessive worry or anxiety is usually associated with too high of Beta in the frontal cortex. When a person learns to reduce the amplitude of this frequency, they become more relaxed and calm, and results last permanently.

Q: How long does the training take?

Sessions are usually one to three times per week, but each person is different. Some receive benefit after the very first session, but most notice an improvement within the first eight. How many sessions a person needs for completion depends on the type of problem, the age of the person, and many other factors. Typically ADD requires about 20-45 sessions. Application for alcoholism takes 30 to 40 sessions. Depression and anxiety resolves in about 20-30 sessions, although improvements are often noticed far sooner.

Q: How can I expect to feel after a session?

Depending on what frequency is being trained, you may feel a little tired, as if you worked hard, or sleepy and a little spacey for a while after the session. This goes away typically in 30 minutes. This is natural, as you are doing the equivalent of aerobic training or weight-lifting with your brain.

Q: Will the training last, or is it temporary?

The type of neurofeedback training we offer here is permanent. Neurofeedback helps to improve functions such as concentration, short-term memory, speech, motor skills, sleep, energy level, and emotional balance. The results of the training are permanent unless another trauma or injury occurs.

Q: Can neurofeedback help with ADD and ADHD?

Recent research suggests that individuals with ADD/ADHD tend to have elevated theta brainwave activity and low levels of beta brainwave activity. Symptoms of ADD/ADHD are usually reduced when brainwave activity is changed. Neurofeedback is commonly used as an adjunct or alternative treatment to medication and behavior management.
Most adults and children who have ADD/ADHD report improvement in the areas of 1) school and job performance due to an increased ability to focus, pay attention, and concentrate and 2) social relationships due to an increased ability to demonstrate self-control.

Q: What is ADD/ADHD?

Attention-Deficit Disorder is separated into two types: Inattentive Type (ADD) and Hyperactive-Impulsive Type (ADHD). People with ADD usually exhibit one or more of the following symptoms: inattention, distractibility, disorganization, daydreaming, lack of foresight, carelessness, forgetfulness, lack of motivation, lack of persistence, and procrastination.
People with ADHD typically exhibit one or more some of the following symptoms: hyperactivity, fidgeting, restlessness, excessive talking, and impulsivity. Individuals with ADD or ADHD often have significant difficulties with learning, concentration, school or job achievement, behavior control, social relationships, and self-esteem.

Q: Is there anything you can suggest for me to do so that I improve my training sessions?

Yes, eat a high-protein, low-sugar diet. Do light exercise, walk, or swim as often as possible. You should drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. You should get plenty of sleep, especially just before and just after your session. If possible, avoid all refined sugars and aspartame. If you like red meat, eat lean meat. If you are a vegetarian, include whole proteins in your diet. Take nutritional supplements to maintain a healthy body and brain.

Q: If I am on prescription drugs, can I stop taking them?

Your physician is the only one who can advise you to reduce, increase, or eliminate dosages for you. Never attempt to change your prescription without medical advice. It’s important that you notify your physician you are receiving EEG neurotherapy. Children with ADD and adults with genetic unipolar depressions are often able to gradually decrease or even discontinue their medication. Keep in contact with your physician.

Q: What if I am taking medications?

Most medications do not interfere with getting results with EEG neurofeedback. The exceptions are benzodiazepines and muscle analgesics.

Q: How much does this training cost?

Please contact me for fee arrangements. I strive to make my services affordable. I conduct initial 60-minute valuations where I perform an intake screening to get a history of your symptoms and how they adversely affect your life. I ask about your medical and family history. When appropriate, I conduct a full EEG brain map where I take amplitude readings of all frequency bands on 10 different sites on the scalp. I use a special software program that analyzes the data and I review the results with my clients. Subsequent neurofeedback training sessions typically last 45-50 minutes total.

Q: Do I need to worry about this equipment doing something to me?

No, the equipment does not send any electricity into you or in any other way do anything to you. It works like a mirror, showing you how your brain is functioning, and telling you if you are on the right track.

Q: Are there any other terms for Neurofeedback?

Yes, it is also called neurotherapy, EEG biofeedback and brainwave biofeedback.

Brainwaves and EEG

Brain Waves and EEG

Definitions

The EEG (electroencephalograph) measures brainwaves of different frequencies within the brain. Electrodes are placed on specific sites on the scalp to detect and record the electrical impulses within the brain.

A frequency is the number of times a wave repeats itself within a second. It can be compared to the frequencies that you tune into on your radio. If any of these frequencies are deficient, excessive, or difficult to access, our mental performance can suffer.

Amplitude represents the power of electrical impulses generated by brain.

Volume or intensity of brain wave activity is measured in microvolts.

The raw EEG has usually been described in terms of frequency bands: Gamma greater than 30(Hz) BETA (13-30Hz), ALPHA (8-12 Hz), THETA (4-8 Hz), and DELTA(less than 4 Hz).

For example : Our brain uses 13Hz (high alpha or low beta) for "active" intelligence. Often we find individuals who exhibit learning disabilities and attention problems having a deficiency of 13Hz activity in certain brain regions that effects the ability to easily perform sequencing tasks and math calculations.

Brain Wave Frequencies:

Delta (0.1 to 3 Hz)
The lowest frequencies are delta. These are less than 4 Hz and occur in deep sleep and in some abnormal processes also during experiences of "empathy state". Delta waves are involved with our ability to integrate and let go. It reflects unconscious mind.

It is the dominant rhythm in infants up to one year of age and it is present in stages 3 and 4 of sleep.

It tends to be the highest in amplitude and the slowest waves. We increase Delta waves in order to decrease our awareness of the physical world. We also access information in our unconscious mind through Delta.

Peak performers decrease Delta waves when high focus and peak performance are required.
However, most individuals diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, naturally increase rather than decrease Delta activity when trying to focus. The inappropriate Delta response often severely restricts the ability to focus and maintain attention. It is as if the brain is locked into a perpetual drowsy state.

Another way to look at Delta is to imagine you are driving in a car and you shift into 1st gear....you're not going to get anywhere very fast. So Delta would represent 1st gear.

Delta (0.1-3 Hz):

Distribution: generally broad or diffused may be bilateral, widespread

Subjective feeling states: deep, dreamless sleep, non-REM sleep, trance, unconsciousAssociated tasks & behaviors: lethargic, not moving, not attentive

Physiological correlates: not moving, low-level of arousal

Effects of training: can induce drowsiness, trance, deeply relaxed states

Theta (4-8 Hz):

The next brainwave is theta. Theta activity has a frequency of 3.5 to 7.5 Hz and is classed as "slow" activity. It is seen in connection with creativity, intuition, daydreaming, and fantasizing and is a repository for memories, emotions, sensations. Theta waves are strong during internal focus, meditation, prayer, and spiritual awareness. It reflects the state between wakefulness and sleep. Relates to subconscious.

It is abnormal in awake adults but is perfectly normal in children up to 13 years old. It is also normal during sleep. Theta is believed to reflect activity from the limbic system and hippocampal regions. Theta is observed in anxiety, behavioral activation and behavioral inhibition.

When the theta rhythm appears to function normally it mediates and/or promotes adaptive, complex behaviors such as learning and memory. Under unusual emotional circumstances, such as stress or disease states, there may be an imbalance of three major transmitter systems, which results in aberrant behavior.

Back to our car example, Theta would be considered 2nd gear. Not as slow as 1st gear (Delta) but still not very fast.

Distribution: usually regional, may involve many lobes, can be lateralized or diffuse;

Subjective feeling states: intuitive, creative, recall, fantasy, imagery, creative, dreamlike, switching thoughts, drowsy; "oneness", "knowing"Associated tasks & behaviors: creative, intuitive; but may also be distracted, unfocused

Physiological correlates: healing, integration of mind/body

Effects of Training: if enhanced, can induce drifting, trance-like state. If suppressed, can improve concentration, ability to focus attention

Alpha (8-12 Hz):

Alpha waves are those between 7.5 and 13(Hz). Alpha waves will peak around 10Hz. Good healthy alpha production promotes mental resourcefulness, aids in the ability to mentally coordinate, enhances overall sense of relaxation and fatigue. In this state you can move quickly and efficiently to accomplish whatever task is at hand. When Alpha predominates most people feel at ease and calm. Alpha appears to bridge the conscious to the subconscious.

It is the major rhythm seen in normal relaxed adults - it is present during most of life especially beyond the thirteenth year when it dominates the resting tracing.

Alpha rhythms are reported to be derived from the white matter of the brain. The white matter can be considered the part of the brain that connects all parts with each other.

Alpha is a common state for the brain and occurs whenever a person is alert (it is a marker for alertness and sleep), but not actively processing information. They are strongest over the occipital (back of the head) cortex and also over frontal cortex.

Alpha has been linked to extroversion (introverts show less), creativity (creative subjects show alpha when listening and coming to a solution for creative problems), and mental work.
When your alpha is with in normal ranges we tend to also experience good moods, see the world truthfully, and have a sense of calmness. Alpha is one of the brain's most important frequency to learn and use information taught in the classroom and on the job.

You can increase alpha by closing your eyes or deep breathing or decrease alpha by thinking or calculating.

Alpha-Theta training can create an increase in sensation, abstract thinking and self-control.
In our car scenario, Alpha would represent neutral or idle. Alpha allows us to shift easily from one task to another.

Distribution: regional, usually involves entire lobe; strong occipital w/eyes closed

Subjective feeling states: relaxed, not agitated, but not drowsy; tranquil, consciousAssociated tasks & behaviors: meditation, no action

Physiological correlates: relaxed, healing

Effects of Training: can produce relaxationSub band low alpha: 8-10: inner-awareness of self, mind/body integration, balanceSub band high alpha: 10-12: centering, healing, mind/body connection

Beta (above 12 Hz):

Beta activity is 'fast' activity. It has a frequency of 14 and greater Hz. It reflects desynchronized active brain tissue. It is usually seen on both sides in symmetrical distribution and is most evident frontally. It may be absent or reduced in areas of cortical damage.
It is generally regarded as a normal rhythm and is the dominant rhythm in those who are alert or anxious or who have their eyes open.

It is the state that most of brain is in when we have our eyes open and are listening and thinking during analytical problem solving, judgment, decision making, processing information about the world around us.

Beta would represent overdrive or hyperdrive in our car scenario.The beta band has a relatively large range, and has been divided into low, midrange and high.

Low Beta (12-15 Hz), formerly "SMR"

Distribution: localized by side and by lobe (frontal, occipital, etc)

Subjective feeling states: relaxed yet focused, integratedAssociated tasks & behaviors: low SMR can reflect "ADD", lack of focused attention

Physiological correlates: is inhibited by motion; restraining body may increase SMR

Effects of Training: increasing SMR can produce relaxed focus, improved attentive abilities,

Midrange Beta (15-18 Hz):

Distribution: localized, over various areas. May be focused on one electrode.

Subjective feeling states: thinking, aware of self & surroundingsAssociated tasks & behaviors: mental activity

Physiological correlates: alert, active, but not agitated

Effects of Training: can increase mental ability, focus, alertness, IQ

High Beta (above 18 Hz):

Distribution: localized, may be very focused.

Subjective feeling states: alertness, agitationAssociated tasks & behaviors: mental activity, e.g. math, planning, etc.

Physiological correlates: general activation of mind & body functions.

Effects of Training: can induce alertness, but may also produce agitation, etc.

Gamma (above 36 Hz):

Gamma is measured between 36 – 44 (Hz) and is the only frequency group found in every part of the brain. When the brain needs to simultaneously process information from different areas, its hypothesized that the 40Hz activity consolidates the required areas for simultaneous processing. A good memory is associated with well-regulated and efficient 40Hz activity, whereas a 40Hz deficiency creates learning disabilities.

Gamma (40 Hz):
Distribution: very localized

Subjective feeling states: thinking; integrated thoughtsAssociated tasks & behaviors: high-level information processing, "binding"

Physiological correlates: associated with information-rich task processing

Effects of Training: not known

Functions of Human Brain

The Brain has three main parts, the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The brain is divided into regions that control specific functions.

THE CEREBRUM:

Frontal Lobe:

Behavior

Abstract thought processes
Problem solving
Attention
Creative thought
Some emotion
Intellect
Reflection
Judgment
Initiative
Inhibition
Coordination of movements
Generalized and mass movements
Some eye movements
Sense of smell
Muscle movements
Skilled movements
Some motor skills
Physical reaction
Libido (sexual urges)

Occipital Lobe:

Vision

Reading

Parietal Lobe:

Sense of touch (tactile senstation)
Appreciation of form through touch (stereognosis)
Response to internal stimuli (proprioception)
Sensory combination and comprehension
Some language and reading functions
Some visual functions

Temporal Lobe:

Auditory memories
Some hearing
Visual memories
Some vision pathways
Other memory
Music
Fear
Some language
Some speech
Some behavior amd emotions
Sense of identity


Right Hemisphere (the representational hemisphere)

The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body
Temporal and spatial relationships
Analyzing nonverbal information
Communicating emotion


Left Hemisphere (the categorical hemisphere)

The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body
Produce and understand language

Corpus Callosum
Communication between the left and right side of the brain

THE CEREBELLUM
Balance
Posture
Cardiac, respiratory, and vasomotor centers

THE BRAIN STEM
Motor and sensory pathway to body and face
Vital centers: cardiac, respiratory, vasomotor

Hypothalamus
Moods and motivation
Sexual maturation
Temperature regulation
Hormonal body processes

Optic Chiasm
Vision and the optic nerve

Pituitary Gland
Hormonal body processes
Physical maturation
Growth (height and form)
Sexual maturation
Sexual functioning

Spinal Cord
Conduit and source of sensation and movement

Pineal Body
Unknown


Ventricles and Cerebral Aqueduct
Contains the cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord

Basics of Brain Waves

Brain waves are generated by the building blocks of your brain -- the individual cells called neurons. Neurons communicate with each other by electrical changes.We can actually see these electrical changes in the form of brain waves as shown in an EEG (electroencephalogram).
Brain waves are measured in cycles per second (Hertz; Hz is the short form). We also talk about the "frequency" of brain wave activity.
The lower the number of Hz, the slower the brain activity or the slower the frequency of the activity.
Researchers in the 1930's and 40's identified several different types of brain waves.

Traditionally, these fall into 4 types:

- Delta waves (below 4 hz) occur during sleep
- Theta waves (4-7 hz) are associated with sleep, deep relaxation (like hypnotic relaxation), and visualization
- Alpha waves (8-13 hz) occur when we are relaxed and calm
- Beta waves (13-38 hz) occur when we are actively thinking, problem-solving, etc.
Since these original studies, other types of brainwaves have been identified and the traditional 4 have been subdivided.

Some interesting brainwave additions:

- The Sensory motor rhythm (or SMR; around 14 hz) was originally discovered to prevent seizure activity in cats. SMR activity seems to link brain and body functions.
- Gamma brain waves (39-100 hz) are involved in higher mental activity and consolidation of information. An interesting study has shown that advanced Tibetan meditators produce higher levels of gamma than non-meditators both before and during meditation.

Are you wondering what kind of brain waves you produce?

People tend to talk as if they were producing one type of brain wave (e.g., producing "alpha" for meditating).
But these aren't really "separate" brain waves - the categories are just for convenience.
They help describe the changes we see in brain activity during different kinds of activities.
So we don't ever produce only "one" brain wave type.
Our overall brain activity is a mix of all the frequencies at the same time, some in greater quantities and strength than others.

The meaning of all this? Balance is the key. We don't want to regularly produce too much or too little of any brainwave frequency.

How do we achieve that balance?

We need both flexibility and resilience for optimal functioning.
Flexibility generally means being able to shift ideas or activities when we need to or when something is just not working.
Well, it means the same thing when we talk about the brain.
We need to be able to shift our brain activity to match what we are doing. At work, we need to stay focused and attentive and those beta waves are a Good Thing. But when we get home and want to relax, we want to be able to produce less beta and more alpha activity. To get to sleep, we want to be able to slow down even more.
So, we get in trouble when we can't shift to match the demands of our lives.
We're also in trouble when we get stuck in a certain pattern. For example, after injury of some kind to the brain (and that could be physical or emotional), the brain tries to stabilize itself and it purposely slows down. (For a parallel, think of yourself learning to drive - you wanted to go r-e-a-l s-l-ow to feel in control, right?). But if the brain stays that slow, if it gets "stuck" in the slower frequencies, you will have difficulty concentrating and focusing, thinking clearly, etc.
So flexibility is a key goal for efficient brain functioning.

Resilience generally means stability - being able to bounce back from negative events and to "bend with the wind, not break". Studies show that people who are resilient are healthier and happier than those who are not.
Same thing in the brain. The brain needs to be able to "bounce back" from all the unhealthy things we do to it (drinking, smoking, missing sleep, banging it, etc.) And the resilience we all need to stay healthy and happy starts in the brain.
Resilience is critical for your brain to be and stay effective.
When something goes wrong, likely it is because our brain is lacking either flexibility or resilience.

So -- what do we know so far?

We want our brain to be both flexible - able to adjust to whatever we are wanting to do - and resilient - able to go with the flow.
To do this, it needs access to a variety of different brain states.
These states are produced by different patterns and types of brain wave frequencies.
We can see and measure these patterns of activity in the EEG.

EEG biofeedback is a method for increasing both flexibility and resilience of the brain by using the EEG to see our brain waves.
It is important to think about EEG neurofeedback as training the behaviour of brain waves, not trying to promote one type of specific activity over another. For general health and wellness purposes, we need all the brain wave types, but we need our brain to have the flexibility and resilience to be able to balance the brain wave activity as necessary for what we are doing at any one time.

In our institute we have helped many individuals with Attention difficulties, depression, academic difficulties, Migraine, Learning disabilities, Memory problems, Peak performance, Epilepsy etc.

What is EEG Neurofeedback

What is EEG Biofeedback or Neurofeedback Training all about?

Do you sometimes have the experience of working through a problem, and you just lose your thought?

Does it seem like your brain is changing channels on you?

Do you know the feeling of wanting to listen to somebody, but pretty soon you catch yourself thinking about something else?

Have you ever experienced wanting to follow through on a project, but one thing or another keeps distracting you?

Have you been criticised for doing something and you don't remember doing it? Are you sometimes bothered by your own behaviour?

Do you think the way others judge you is unfair?

Your brain is part of who you are, but sometimes it may seem like your brain has a mind of its own. Sometimes your brain doesn't do what you want it to. Perhaps you and your parents/teachers have never thought about it in those terms. When people complain about your behaviour, or your inattention, they are talking to you, and blaming you. They are not saying, perhaps your brain is not functioning well today. However, scientists today are discovering ways of seeing the brain in action when it is working on a problem. And we can see differences when some brains have problems with learning disabilities, with paying attention, with behaviour etc. By putting electrodes on the scalp, we can listen to the electrical activity of the brain. This is called the "electroencephalogram" or EEG.

The electrical noise the brain puts out can tell us how well it is working. Much of the brain's activity is rhythmic, like music, or like waves on the ocean. And just as the ocean has rough and quiet times so the brain also shows us rough (difficult) and easy times. With a little feedback to the brain we can begin to train the brain to calm the rough seas and work more smoothly. What is feedback all about? Apart from all the other things the brain has to do, it also has to watch itself do it. It has to pay attention to itself, and control itself. This is called internal feedback. We can now add external feedback loops which tell the brain how it is doing. Your brain can be taught to raise the temperature of your hand. This is called biofeedback. If we give the brain feedback on its own electrical activity, we call it EEG biofeedback or neurofeedback.

With EEG biofeedback your brain can learn to control itself better. EEG biofeedback is being used by clinicians and scientists to help with a variety of conditions such as attention, learning and behaviour problems. However, there is still more research needed to answer questions like what distinguishes those who benefit from training; what changes really take place in the brain as a result of training; what are the long term benefits of training; how does this training compare to the effects of medication for certain conditions. This training is offered on the basis of past work where results have shown that it has helped children with their homework, do better in sports and improve their relationships with family and friends. It is also recognised that children have problems today that will not wait until researchers have sorted everything out.

Training is guided along the way based on the results that we get. We need to work out the best kind of training to do for each person. Since our brain has two hemispheres, or halves, and because they function differently, we have to train them differently, and then we have to train them to talk to each other more easily. Everyone may be just a little different to everyone else, and we have to work that out too. Testing will be done at the outset, and throughout the training process in order to monitor progress in the training. Other testing or referral to other specialists may be necessary to guide the training and to achieve the maximum benefits. You will probably have lots of questions as you go through training. Please feel free to ask them at any point as the training works best if you know what it is all about, and if it has your full commitment and interest.

The training won't feel like work to you, but your brain will be working all along trying to figure things out. Your part is to pay attention to the process as best you can, and that may not be easy for you. It helps if you care about the results. The program is about making your brain function better for you, so that some of the things that are difficult for you now will function better in auto-pilot mode. This program is something you can do for yourself. No one can make you do it, or make you care. That has to come from you. But if you go through the program, I believe that you will benefit from it over the long term, and in fact you may just end up being very proud of what you have achieved.

What can you expect to get out of the training?

You are the captain of a sort of team--- namely all of the mental and emotional resources that your brain possesses. This training is about making you a better captain, and also about making all the players on the team know their jobs and be able to cooperate better. Whilst in most children with learning, attention and behaviour problems, all the different players on the team are by themselves capable, it is the working together and the interaction that isn't going well. This training is about getting the internal teamwork going. When the brain is trained and functional, it doesn't have to worry about getting things done.

Things simply get done. For example, if you ride a bicycle well, you don't even have to think about what to do while you are riding. You do it automatically. So, brainwave training, as EEG Biofeedback is also called, is about making a better auto-pilot. Things need to run on automatic pilot. You shouldn't have to work at paying attention; you shouldn't have to strain at reading; you shouldn't have to force yourself to be interested in something. If your brain works well, then these things should take care of themselves. However, you have lived with your brain all your life, and you may not be aware that what is hard for you may be easy for lots of other people. It may seem almost unfair that when your brain is working well, it is also not working very hard. Success in this training should mean that the hard things get easier for you. Putting things into auto-pilot mode is also important because the brain has to take care of many things at once. For example, while you work on a maths problem in class, you can still be attentive for the moment when the teacher wants your attention back. So, the more we can make things easier for your brain to handle, and the more we can put things into auto-pilot mode, the more your brain can pay attention at the higher levels to what is really important.

In summary then, this training can be very important for your future. We are talking about the brain you will be depending upon for the rest of your life. For more information call Murali at +91 94440 57017 and fix up your appointment for a free counselling or simply mail your queries at rainmakers.murali@gmail.com