Neurofeedback (NFB) is a more advanced branch of biofeedback that focuses on the brain and central nervous system (CNS).
Neurofeedback optimizes the brain and nervous system by giving the brain information about the way it is operating using EEG technology.
An EEG (electroencephalogram) is a recording of the electrical activity of the brain. Your brain is made up of billions of brain cells called neurons, which uses electricity to communicate with each other.
The combination of electrical activity of the brain is commonly called a Brainwave pattern, because of its cyclic, 'wave-like' nature. Our mind regulates its activities by means of electric waves which are registered in the brain, emitting tiny electrochemical impulses of varied frequencies, which can be registered by an electroencephalogram.
These brainwaves are known as: Beta emitted when we are consciously alert, or we feel agitated, tense, afraid, with frequencies ranging from 13 to 60 pulses per second in the Hertz scale. Alpha when we are in a state of physical and mental relaxation, although aware of what is happening around us, its frequency are around 7 to 13 pulses per second. Theta more or less 4 to 7 pulses, it is a state of somnolence with reduced consciousness. Delta when there is unconsciousness, deep sleep or catalepsy, emitting between 0.1 and 4 cycles per second.
In general, we are accustomed to using the beta brain rhythm. When we diminish the brain rhythm to alpha, we put ourselves in the ideal condition to learn new information, keep fact, data, perform elaborate tasks, learn languages, analyse complex situations. NeurOptimal®, meditation, relaxation exercises, and activities that enable the sense of calm, also enable this alpha state.
Before Training
NeurOptimal® Client Hookup consists of silver electrodes, applied to the clients’ ears & scalp, centered between the ear and the crown of the head on the bony ridge (Central points C3 & C4). Much like an EKG or ECG, the NeurOptimal® system is simply reading this signal. Nothing invasive is involved with the training process. NeurOptimal® neurofeedback is naturopathic and does not “push” the brain in any particular direction. The system merely cues your central nervous system to do what is naturally best for YOUR brain.
Your trainer will record a baseline reading and review it with you before starting the training. While this is not absolutely necessary for the brain training, it can be interesting to look at your brain activity at the beginning versus the end of your session as well as over time. While NeurOptimal® offers some very exciting ways of assessing your progress, in the end it is always how you are doing in your life that counts most. After all, that is what brought you into training in the first place!
During Training
Your trainer will then give you some ear buds and perhaps a blanket. S/he will start the program for you and then the brain training begins. You might listen to music or watch a movie during which you may notice very brief pauses in the sound or image. The very precise timing of these interruptions gives the brain vital information it needs to reorganize itself to operate more optimally. You don’t have to do anything while all this is happening. It’s all right to close your eyes and "zone out" and just let your brain do its job. Length of the brain training can vary, but a session usually runs around 35 minutes. Once you have finished, the trainer may record another baseline and compare it with your earlier one.
After Training
How will you feel afterwards? Because NeurOptimal® is non-invasive and does not push the brain in any “direction” during training, it is highly unlikely you will feel any side effects following a session. Any noticeable shifts in your mood, awareness or energy level after brain training really depends on the individual and can vary from session to session.
The main point is that transformation with NeurOptimal® happens according to the brain’s own intrinsic wisdom, with no conscious effort from the user.
How Many NeurOptimal® Session Do I Need?
“How long will it take?” is a question many clients ask (second only to “What results can I expect”?). There is no standard answer to this question because everyone’s central nervous system is unique. While we cannot predict what your brain will do with the information it receives from our neurofeedback training, we can offer a few guidelines.
The Six Session “Rule”
We often tell clients to expect SOMETHING to shift within six sessions. Often, it is much quicker than that. Early on, clients commonly report feeling better rested, having an improved outlook and engaging more effectively with colleagues or loved ones. Changes you experience may or may not be related to the goals you came in with, but generally speaking, any kind of shift is a positive indication that the NeurOptimal® brain training is working as designed.
Specifically, clients describe feeling clearer, calmer, lighter or brighter for a few hours after the session – a feeling that typically will last through the week, from one neurofeedback training session to the next (weekly sessions being the most common). Eventually, this new centered way of being becomes their “new normal”. Only if they get thrown off by a negative event -a bad day at work, chemicals, a knock on the head - might they drop into the way they felt before. But generally, they will not dip as deeply into emotional discomfort and will more than likely bounce back from challenging situations much more quickly and easily.
The “New Normal” Threshold
How much neurofeedback training does it take to get to your “new normal”? As NeurOptimal® has improved and evolved, reaching a new, improved baseline for users has become quicker and quicker. We used to say at least 20 sessions were necessary to help with issues bothering you in the "here and now"; 30 plus sessions for "deeper" problems that originated earlier in life. Now we are now finding significant results occur in much less time. Today, it is possible you could be feeling much better in fewer than 10 neurofeedback training sessions.
In the end, the more brain training you do, the more the positive effects will stay with you. Much like learning a language or a physical skill like rollerblading, “practice makes perfect”. The more sessions you undergo, the better your brain fitness.
You can stop whenever you feel ready and return for booster sessions to tune up and strengthen what your brain has already learned. You will never lose what you have, even if it your brain’s optimal operation becomes a little rusty. In fact, many clients continue brain training on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to maintain their brain fitness for a lifetime. NeurOptimal® is non-invasive and naturopathic, so it may be used as long as you like. Similar to the benefits of exercise for the body, neurofeedback can be an important tool for brain health, as it keeps the central nervous system in tip-top shape. You can make NeurOptimal® neurofeedback training central to your personal brain fitness program as you age.
Contact Brain Wave Coaching & Technology to find out how we can help you! 604-316-5572
Neurofeedback optimizes the brain and nervous system by giving the brain information about the way it is operating using EEG technology.
An EEG (electroencephalogram) is a recording of the electrical activity of the brain. Your brain is made up of billions of brain cells called neurons, which uses electricity to communicate with each other.
The combination of electrical activity of the brain is commonly called a Brainwave pattern, because of its cyclic, 'wave-like' nature. Our mind regulates its activities by means of electric waves which are registered in the brain, emitting tiny electrochemical impulses of varied frequencies, which can be registered by an electroencephalogram.
These brainwaves are known as: Beta emitted when we are consciously alert, or we feel agitated, tense, afraid, with frequencies ranging from 13 to 60 pulses per second in the Hertz scale. Alpha when we are in a state of physical and mental relaxation, although aware of what is happening around us, its frequency are around 7 to 13 pulses per second. Theta more or less 4 to 7 pulses, it is a state of somnolence with reduced consciousness. Delta when there is unconsciousness, deep sleep or catalepsy, emitting between 0.1 and 4 cycles per second.
In general, we are accustomed to using the beta brain rhythm. When we diminish the brain rhythm to alpha, we put ourselves in the ideal condition to learn new information, keep fact, data, perform elaborate tasks, learn languages, analyse complex situations. NeurOptimal®, meditation, relaxation exercises, and activities that enable the sense of calm, also enable this alpha state.
Before Training
NeurOptimal® Client Hookup consists of silver electrodes, applied to the clients’ ears & scalp, centered between the ear and the crown of the head on the bony ridge (Central points C3 & C4). Much like an EKG or ECG, the NeurOptimal® system is simply reading this signal. Nothing invasive is involved with the training process. NeurOptimal® neurofeedback is naturopathic and does not “push” the brain in any particular direction. The system merely cues your central nervous system to do what is naturally best for YOUR brain.
Your trainer will record a baseline reading and review it with you before starting the training. While this is not absolutely necessary for the brain training, it can be interesting to look at your brain activity at the beginning versus the end of your session as well as over time. While NeurOptimal® offers some very exciting ways of assessing your progress, in the end it is always how you are doing in your life that counts most. After all, that is what brought you into training in the first place!
During Training
Your trainer will then give you some ear buds and perhaps a blanket. S/he will start the program for you and then the brain training begins. You might listen to music or watch a movie during which you may notice very brief pauses in the sound or image. The very precise timing of these interruptions gives the brain vital information it needs to reorganize itself to operate more optimally. You don’t have to do anything while all this is happening. It’s all right to close your eyes and "zone out" and just let your brain do its job. Length of the brain training can vary, but a session usually runs around 35 minutes. Once you have finished, the trainer may record another baseline and compare it with your earlier one.
After Training
How will you feel afterwards? Because NeurOptimal® is non-invasive and does not push the brain in any “direction” during training, it is highly unlikely you will feel any side effects following a session. Any noticeable shifts in your mood, awareness or energy level after brain training really depends on the individual and can vary from session to session.
The main point is that transformation with NeurOptimal® happens according to the brain’s own intrinsic wisdom, with no conscious effort from the user.
How Many NeurOptimal® Session Do I Need?
“How long will it take?” is a question many clients ask (second only to “What results can I expect”?). There is no standard answer to this question because everyone’s central nervous system is unique. While we cannot predict what your brain will do with the information it receives from our neurofeedback training, we can offer a few guidelines.
The Six Session “Rule”
We often tell clients to expect SOMETHING to shift within six sessions. Often, it is much quicker than that. Early on, clients commonly report feeling better rested, having an improved outlook and engaging more effectively with colleagues or loved ones. Changes you experience may or may not be related to the goals you came in with, but generally speaking, any kind of shift is a positive indication that the NeurOptimal® brain training is working as designed.
Specifically, clients describe feeling clearer, calmer, lighter or brighter for a few hours after the session – a feeling that typically will last through the week, from one neurofeedback training session to the next (weekly sessions being the most common). Eventually, this new centered way of being becomes their “new normal”. Only if they get thrown off by a negative event -a bad day at work, chemicals, a knock on the head - might they drop into the way they felt before. But generally, they will not dip as deeply into emotional discomfort and will more than likely bounce back from challenging situations much more quickly and easily.
The “New Normal” Threshold
How much neurofeedback training does it take to get to your “new normal”? As NeurOptimal® has improved and evolved, reaching a new, improved baseline for users has become quicker and quicker. We used to say at least 20 sessions were necessary to help with issues bothering you in the "here and now"; 30 plus sessions for "deeper" problems that originated earlier in life. Now we are now finding significant results occur in much less time. Today, it is possible you could be feeling much better in fewer than 10 neurofeedback training sessions.
In the end, the more brain training you do, the more the positive effects will stay with you. Much like learning a language or a physical skill like rollerblading, “practice makes perfect”. The more sessions you undergo, the better your brain fitness.
You can stop whenever you feel ready and return for booster sessions to tune up and strengthen what your brain has already learned. You will never lose what you have, even if it your brain’s optimal operation becomes a little rusty. In fact, many clients continue brain training on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to maintain their brain fitness for a lifetime. NeurOptimal® is non-invasive and naturopathic, so it may be used as long as you like. Similar to the benefits of exercise for the body, neurofeedback can be an important tool for brain health, as it keeps the central nervous system in tip-top shape. You can make NeurOptimal® neurofeedback training central to your personal brain fitness program as you age.
Contact Brain Wave Coaching & Technology to find out how we can help you! 604-316-5572
