Neurofeedback peak performance training - frequently asked questions
- What does neurofeedback consist in?
- What is the connection between neurofeedback and biofeedback?
- What is the essence of peak performance training with neurofeedback?
- What are benefits of the peak performance training with neurofeedback?
- Is the training "good for everything"?
- What applications are the benefits of neurofeedback useful for?
- Who uses the training most frequently?
- Does the training have an effect for everyone?
- To whom will the training not be useful?
- How long does the training take?
- When are effects of the training perceived?
- Is self-training difficult?
- Are there any limitations or contraindications for neurofeedback?
- May any negative reactions occur from the training?
- Are Alpha waves the best?
- What does neurofeedback consist in?
- What is the connection between neurofeedback and biofeedback?
- What is the essence of peak performance training with neurofeedback?
- What are benefits of the peak performance training with neurofeedback?
- better concentration,
- better attention,
- easier decision making,
- reduced number of errors,
- shorter response time,
- enhanced creativity,
- more efficient memory,
- accelerated learning,
- increased immunity to stress,
- increased productivity,
- lowered susceptibility to "burning out",
- quicker and deeper relaxation,
- better mind/body integration,
- enhanced well-being,
- reduced anxiety and stage fright,
- increased self-confidence and assertiveness,
- better self-control,
- development of self-awareness,
- development of emotional intelligence.
- Is the training "good for everything"?
- What applications are the benefits of neurofeedback useful for?
- important meetings,
- public speeches,
- performance,
- competition,
- examinations,
- studies,
- projects,
- analyses,
- creative activity,
- decision making,
- operation under stress,
- critical situations,
- work overloads,
- interpersonal relationships,
- personal development.
- Who uses the training most frequently?
- artists,
- athletes,
- authors,
- businesspeople,
- drivers,
- firemen,
- managers,
- officials,
- pilots,
- police officers,
- specialists,
- students.
- Does the training have an effect for everyone?
- To whom will the training not be useful?
- do not see any need to increase the mind's abilities or immunity to stress,
- are not able to invest at least a quarter of an hour once in a few days,
- experience anxiety or fear from using this kind of advanced technology.
- How long does the training take?
- When are effects of the training perceived?
- Is self-training difficult?
- Are there any limitations or contraindications for neurofeedback?
- May any negative reactions occur from the training?
- Are Alpha waves the best?
EEG neurofeedback is based on the recording and automatic analysis of the brain's electrical activity. Specially selected parameters of this activity are presented to trainee as feedback. These represent some fundamental psychological processes which usually remain unconscious and get out of our control. Neurofeedback is a kind of a mirror for them; using the feedback signal, the subject learns to shape these processes better.
Feedback is widespread in nature; it conditions the existence of every organism. It is also used in technology, business and education. It is a way of enabling self-regulation of systems, raising their operational quality to higher level.
Biofeedback is a broader category of methods. These methods use feedback of various physiological signals, such as electrical activity of muscles (EMG), bladder tension, electrical activity of the skin (EDA/GSR), or body temperature. These methods are applied to treatment or improvement of organism functions as reflected by these signals.
EEG neurofeedback belongs to the most sophisticated of biofeedback methods. Utilizing signals coming directly from the Central Nervous System, it has a wider range of influence. This allows the capture of some indicators of higher mental activities as well.
The essence of the training is learning the links between our physical behavior or internal attitudes - and quality of brain functioning - through use of feedback of EEG parameters. The experience gained in this way allows more intentional managing of mind operation and more efficient allocation of its resources to meet specific needs. The purpose is greater usage of the potential of one's own mind, in order to act more effectively, to obtain better achievements, and to lead more joyful life.
Effects depend on the type of training and the quality of equipment employed, among other things. The most frequently listed benefits are:
No. Fields of influence of the training are in principle the potential of the mind and reactions to stress. However, since these have significant importance in many areas, the range of usefulness for neurofeedback can indeed be quite extensive.
These are selected examples:
These are people intensively using the mind; people often taking up challenges. These are also people exposed to considerable levels of daily stress. For example, (in alphabetical order):
Research suggests that about 90% of users notice profitable impact from the training. The level of impact varies individually, from subtle to strong. For some people, neurofeedback has crucial importance. Subjective estimations of improvement are confirmed in examinations of objective indicators, e.g., rates of errors, visual-auditory efficiency, and school scores. Some research also points to an increase in IQ.
The peak performance training won't be useful for persons who:
The minimum is a dozen or so short sessions, each scheduled every couple of days. In order to obtain significant and durable effects the number of sessions is usually several times larger. But the best results are obtained by continual practice - similar to gains in sports.
Apart from regular exercises, it is also profitable to apply neurofeedback before more serious challenges, such as key meetings, public speeches, or examinations, as well as after stronger stress and in periods of overload.
The perception of results has a few phases. Many people initially experience a so-called "novelty effect", connected with some excitement (similar to the uplift felt after buying a car). This experience is not essential for the training and it usually disappears within a few days. Another component, observed relatively regularly, is improvement in mood (calming down, brightening, cheerfulness, clarity and the like, depending on the type of the training). This usually occurs during a session or within a few next hours. The third component, considered the chief objective of neurofeedback, is gradually progressing (within the space of a dozen or so to a few dozen training sessions) improvement in the psychological functions enumerated previously (like attention, concentration, mental efficiency). With time, higher level of functioning penetrates many fields of life and this begins to be perceived as a natural component.
With equipment utilizing the newest technological solutions, self-training does not pose significant difficulty. Attaching the electrodes is the most difficult task. After gaining skill, manual activities connected with self-training are executed routinely and they require only a few minutes.
Therapeutic neurofeedback should be administered by a properly skilled therapist, with the use of equipment intended for such purposes. Persons suffering from epilepsy, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or schizophrenia should use neurofeedback exclusively with the participation of a therapist. Neurofeedback is not generally administered to children below the age of 7. Older children with attention deficits usually receive feedback signals in the form of attractive visual presentations.
In some people, a transitory excessive nervous stimulation may occur. In such a case it is necessary to shorten sessions, to train less frequently, or to stop the training cycle. In the event of intense psychological tension or sleep deficit, the training may provoke transitory drowsiness.
Actually the Alpha waves in the back part of head are desired at rest in the waking state. They have beneficial physiological effects. At the same time they allow passage to other levels of psychological activation more easily, if necessary. But to be exact, no type of brain wave is the best for every condition. For instance, Theta waves prevail throughout most of healthy sleep; however their longer predominance while awake usually accompanies a state of inattention.
The desired type of waves also depends on the location in the brain and person's age. Furthermore, specific wave type almost never occurs independently, but in various proportions with waves of other frequencies.
Finally, the ability of long-lasting maintenance of specific wave predominance turns out to be less essential than flexibility of wave changes in accordance with varying requirements.
If you want to learn more...
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Research - Survey of scientific discoveries connected with neurofeedback in peak performance training.
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Neurobit Optima - Versatile multi-channel equipment for neurofeedback, biofeedback and physiological data acquisition.
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Links - Sources of additional information on neurofeedback.
