How does it work? - Neurofeedback London

The Othmer Method and Personalised Brain Training

Neurofeedback London-Brighton uses what is considered one of the most sophisticated methods of neurofeedback training. Daniel Webster studied each method under direct supervision of its founders:

– the Othmer Method / ILF (Infra-Low Training): aimed at training limbic system self-regulation

– qEEG-brain-map-based Personalised Brain Training

This method is non-invasive, drug and medication-free forms of brain training. The process itself is simple: Up to four sensors are comfortable placed on the head, at the sites of the brain areas we are training. While the conscious mind is engaged with a movie of choice, the sensors analyse brain activity in real-time, and aberrations are translated into feedback inhibits. This is mainly auditory – the volume drops subtly for a very short time – as well as visual, with the picture size changing. Our brain preconsciously changes its behaviour to preserve the flow of the reward, the continuation of the movie. We are not making any conscious effort, other than engaging with the content of the movie. The brain learns a more efficient way of behaviour in a seemingly passive way. We are making new, easier habits available to the brain, and with time and repetition it will choose to adopt these in everyday life. The brain is equally able to reject these new habits if they don’t serve a purpose.

Neurofeedback is a form of complementary therapy and should not be seen as a replacement for conventional medicine. qEEG brain map-based neurofeedback training takes a more holistic approach to brain functioning, rather than just focusing on medical symptoms. It is not intended as a form of diagnosis nor medical intervention nor medical advice per the disclaimer.

Brain Maps and Personalised Brain Training Explained

Brain Maps expose Individual Vulnerabilities

With a Kaiser Neuromap, we can identify character traits, vulnerabilities and strengths.

Different brain areas and networks govern our behaviour. For example, there are parts of our brain which control mood regulation; spatial distractibility; physiological arousal; our sense of self; self-critical thoughts; anger and emotional attachment; and there are various sources of anxiety.

A brain map shows us which brain areas are behaving immaturely, and thus expose us to vulnerabilities or mental health issues.

Rather than fitting people into categories – diagnosis – we can assess vulnerability to behaviour patterns. Every brain is different. A brain map provides a more granular approach to understanding our strengths and weaknesses.

Personalised Brain Training with Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback lets us train dysrythmic brain areas. With sensors comfortably fitted to the brain areas we want to train, we detect brainwave patterns real-time while watching a movie. When these patterns are inefficient, the volume drops momentarily. This is the feedback we are giving our brain, short and instantaneously.

The brain area we are training recognises this – while our conscious mind is focussed on the movie – and adjusts its behaviour to restore the normal volume. With repetition, throughout a session, learning occurs.

Meanwhile our conscious mind is solely focussed on the movie; the training process is passive in this sense.

The drop in volume is subtle, so we continue to understand the flow of the movie. No current or electrical stimulation is fed to the brain; sensors simply read brainwaves and the feedback is purely audio-visual.

Neurofeedback trains our Pre-Conscious Mind

Rather than engaging the conscious mind, which slows us down, we are training preconscious processes.

This equips us with the ability to live in the moment and attain our potential (if we have to resort to conscious control, we are not living in the moment).

We take a holistic approach to healthy brain self-regulation, rather than categorisation or diagnosis.

Personalised Brain Training is an advanced qEEG brain map-based approach to neurofeedback training developed by the founders of the field. Taking Othmer Method / ILF training methods further, it employs Default Network Training protocols as developed by David Kaiser.

Neurofeedback is Evidence-based

Neurofeedback training is an evidence-based complementary therapy. Its efficacy was first demonstrated some 50 years ago, and with advances in technology, training protocols have become more efficient and the feedback method – watching movies – thoroughly enjoyable.

Neurofeedback is evidence-based. It’s first application was discovered in 1971 when it was used to resolve intractable epilepsy.

There are over 2,000 peer-reviewed research reports on PubMed demonstrating efficacy across a number of pathologies.

In the US, it is an accepted complementary treatment for many challenges.

Guided by a Kaiser Neuromap, our neurofeedback training targets specific brain areas, neural hubs and networks. This improves integration of the brain area we are training, as well as its network and sub-cortical connections.

Developed by a founder of the field of neurofeedback, and with a wealth of over 3,000 brain maps and thirty years’ of experience, Personalised Brain Training uses advanced neurofeedback protocols.

A qEEG-brainmap takes under an hour to obtain and is a non-invasive process. A nineteen-sensor cap is comfortably fitted and we record about twenty minutes of brain activity. Using specialised software, we obtain a visual analysis which we will communicate verbally. This also forms the basis of our training plan. Note that we do not provide diagnosis.

This brain map approach is unique in that it analyses the connectivity of a functional brain area, rather than simply geographic areas of the brain.

Connectivity is a measure of regional integration of specific brain areas with other areas and key networks. This is a relative measure – to be meaningful, it has to be referenced to a baseline. Rather than use an average as a reference, we compare results to a set of hand-picked individuals who are both high-performing professionals and well-balanced individuals. Our ability to engage with others, form friends and alliances, and make consensual decisions is deemed as important for success as professional specialisation and technical performance.

A functional brain area, as first delineated by Korbinian Brodmann in 1909, was first defined by variations in the number of layers in its grey matter. This difference in physical property still holds as a valid way to separate brain regions, and each has its own function while being connected to other areas of the cortex via white matter, as well as to the brainstem, in particular, the thalamus. With a brain map, we gain insights into both cortical integration (how well the area connects with its surrounding areas), as well as its thalamo-cortical integration.

Neurofeedback Training Sessions

Personalised Brain Training aims to optimise the cortical connectivity, as well as promoting improved thalamo-cortical connection. Neuroplasticity, the ability of neural networks in the brain to make new connections, is an essential and continuous process that underpins our ability to learn. With brain training, we can promote this process.

Protocols are generally around 30-45 minutes per brain area that we train; as such, training sessions are ideally around 90-120 minutes. This corresponds to the average length of a movie. This is also the length of our ultradian rhythms – attention cycles that govern our day, letting us perform at more than 100% at peak, and less than this at trough – think of the lull we experience around lunchtime. By training the brain throughout a complete cycle, we are more likely to provide the brain with a challenge at different points in its attention cycle for a more comprehensive training.

The primary feedback mechanism in Personalised Brain Training is auditory, that is, a subtle change in volume. The brain recognises this, preconsciously, while our conscious mind is focused on the movie, and corrects its behaviour to preserve the continuity of the watching (or listening) experience. A secondary, visual feedback mechanism can be activated, whereby the picture size changes too, though this is optional in cases of high visual sensitivity (e.g. migraines).

We can track progress by remapping the brain at intervals, usually after every 20 hours of training. Ten sessions will give a good indication of responsiveness, which besides subjective feedback we can ascertain with a further remap. With neurofeedback training, we are showing the brain a more efficient state during a session. Upon repetition, the brain learns to adopt this new state. The person has to then implement this new learning in their life. Internal changes have to be externalised. Training success depends on this ability thus results can vary.

Neurofeedback training begins with two to three sessions per week and the frequency of training can then be adjusted to need and symptom improvements. Intensive courses involving two or more sessions per day can also be accommodated.

Contact Daniel on +44 (0)7966 699430 or daniel@neurofeedback.io to arrange sessions.

The Process

Brain Map

We record qEEG brain activity for about 15-20 minutes. This process takes about 30-45 minutes overall and we discuss results a few days later via call or in person. This provides the basis for the Personalised Brain Training Plan.

Neurofeedback Sessions

Comfortably watching a movie of choice, we train specific brain areas per our Personalised Brain Training Plan. Sessions are two hours (shorter if necessary), and ideally we aim to do two or three per week. Alternatively, intensive courses can accommodate two sessions per day. Generally, we would look to do 40 hours or 20 sessions.