Neurofeedback Enables Better Brain Functioning
Neurofeedback, also known as “brain training” or “EEG biofeedback”, is about “feedback” from the brain and it helps train brain activity and improve cognitive performance. It works by placing a few harmless sensors (readers) on the scalp to measure and monitor brain activity intended to train someone to gain voluntary control over that brain function. Neurofeedback is a subset or a type of biofeedback. It’s a real procedure that involves brain training to improve mental performance or alleviate specific issues. The objective of a neurofeedback training session revolves around training the brain towards optimal function allowing individuals to self-regulate.
Conditions that can be improved by neurofeedback and biofeedback are: anxiety, depression, add/adhd, learning difficulties, PTSD, insomnia and other sleep disorders, hypertension, stroke, chronic pain, asthma and chronic fatigue syndrome.
How Does our Brain Work and Why is Neurofeedback so Effective?
Our brain is electrical and operates as one big neural network constantly sending signals and communicating with other areas of our brain and body. Brainwaves are produced by synchronized electrical pulses from neurons communicating with each other. The speed of the electrical energy flowing through the brain is known as our processing speed or brainwaves. Brainwaves provide a great deal of information on how we are feeling and functioning. Brainwaves breakdown energy by speed and depending on your brains speed we can identify states of distractibility, focus, relaxation, stress, underlying moods and overall brain function.
At New Mentality, thanks to cutting edge technology and science-based tools and techniques we can now see, analyze and understand how your brain is performing and create training programs to improve its performance.
BRAIN WAVES FUNCTION AND SYMPTOMS :
DELTA: SleepyDreaming. Too much: Brain injuries, learning problems, inability to think, severe ADHD. Too little: Inability to rejuvenate body, inability to revitalize the brain, poor sleep.
THETA: Drowsy Meditative. Too much: ADHD, depression, hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattentiveness. Too little: Anxiety, poor emotional awareness, stress.
ALPHA: Relaxed Reflective. Too much: Daydreaming, inability to focus, too relaxed. Too little: Anxiety, high stress, insomnia, OCD.
BETA: Alert Working. Too much: Adrenaline, anxiety, high arousal, inability to relax, Too little: ADHD, daydreaming, depression, poor cognition.
GAMMA: Peak Concentration and high levels of cognitive functioning. Too much: Anxiety, high arousal, stress. Too little: Poor memory, impaired mental processing and learning disabilities.
What Exactly Happens in a Neurofeedback Training Session
During a neurofeedback session, you sit comfortably in fornt of a computer for 20-30 mins that will monitor your brainwaves , with a few sensors placed on your scalp in front of a screen or monitor. EEG sensors that monitor/read your brainwaves are a core aspect of all New Mentality neurofeedback programs. Sensors are harmless and non-invasive and only read your brains electrical impulses called waves.
During the session you will be asked to watch a movie you like, play a game or listen to music.You will be asked to watch a movie you like, play a computer game or listen to music. The screen/monitor or the sounds/tones that you hear helps generate the feedback during the session.
EFFECTIVE: Science based tools with proven results
HARMLESS: Non-invasive, only reads brain waves
EFFORTLESS: Watch a movie, music or play a game
The essence of Neurofeedback is the “FEEDBACK”
If your brainwaves are not firing at the desired speed you will receive negative feedback (the movie pauses, the game stops or music stops). This process is acting as a reward or conditioning system for your brain. With this type of immediate feedback your brain will learn when something is out of balance and it will also learn what it needs to do to get back on track. Good performance = Positive FEEDBACK (you can see the images or hear the sounds) | Poor performance = Negative FEEDBACK ( you can’t see the images or hear the sounds)
Throughout your training program we will be monitoring and tracking your progress after each session. Here you will learn more about your brain waves and you’ll have the opportunity to see a visual representation of where you’re starting but also each session along the way. This is a feedback process, so coming into each session prepared to provide feedback on “any” observations is key (big or small). Overtime you will notice changes to your results screens which should also begin to correlate with the changes you will notice in your daily life.
ADHD Patient Results. Significant Improvement in a 10 Session Period
Brain Function Analysis and the Training Plan for Mental Disorders.
At New Mentality we can monitor and measure your brain activity (by analyzing the brain waves). Brain analysis software like qEEG brain mapping helps identify the specific activities occurring in your brain. Brain mapping allows us to see what areas are over working, under working and working optimally and the areas that can benefit from the Neurofeedback training.
A qEEG brain map gives a visual representation on how your brain is functioning and gives you the ability to visually see your unique patterns of mental strengths and weaknesses categorized into executive processing, memory processing, visual, verbal processing and more. Then, the practitioners customize a training program to condition your brain to access a more efficient and optimal state.
Contact us today to start or to learn more about the New Mentality programs.
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