What is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive technique to help treat brain dysfunctions. It is often used to help patients who suffer from psychiatric disorders. This therapy helps to improve self-regulation, cognitive control, and psychomotor abilities. During the therapy, the patient is exposed to signals to change the amplitude of their brain waves. The signals provide feedback to the brain, which then learns to respond in a healthier manner.

Neurofeedback has been used in clinical settings for decades. Several studies have shown that Neurofeedback can improve the performance of patients with many mental health conditions. Some examples of these include ADHD, depression, and anxiety. While it can take a few sessions to begin to see improvements, the changes are long-lasting and usually permanent.

Neurofeedback can also be useful for individuals with traumatic brain injury. It has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of epilepsy. However, it is important to know that it is not an appropriate treatment for severe psychiatric disorders.

What is Neurofeedback? A Psychiatrist’s Perspective

A good provider of neurofeedback will have the proper training and experience to ensure that the patient’s goals are met. Also, the treatment is usually very safe, with minimal side effects. Depending on the individual, the procedure can take several months to show results. Despite this, it is generally recommended that the patient undergo the procedure under the supervision of a qualified mental health practitioner.

When the individual’s goals are met, they may have an immediate improvement. For example, in the case of dyslexia, the patient’s spelling and reading skills may improve. In addition, their attention, memory, and concentration can be improved.

Patients with ADHD, depression, and other mental health issues have found that neurofeedback can help regulate their brain wave patterns. These waves, when disrupted, can cause unhealthy behavior. During a training session, the patient learns to reduce or eliminate these unwanted brain waves.

Aside from helping patients, research indicates that neurofeedback is a promising treatment for professional athletes. Unlike traditional EEG, which is expensive, neurofeedback uses equipment that is less expensive. With this equipment, researchers can easily detect and measure the neural activity associated with a particular neuropsychiatric disorder.

Research is underway to develop a better understanding of the mechanism of neurofeedback. The future of mind-body medicine looks bright. There are also advancements in imaging technology that are demonstrating that the structure of the brain has changed. Combined with EEG, fMRI could potentially be used to pinpoint correlates of neural activity.

Although the evidence is promising, more research is needed to fully understand how neurofeedback works. Moreover, more extensive trials are needed to find out which systems are most effective. But in the meantime, it seems like neurofeedback is one of the best options for treating certain mental health disorders.

Currently, there are still many questions about the effectiveness of neurofeedback, but the results of a large number of clinical trials are very positive. In fact, a number of institutions, including Stanford University, have begun their own clinical trials.