Personalised Brain training for mind and soul
Neurofeedback training for Calm Mental Focus and Creativity
Neurofeedback training promotes a calm mental focus – the foundation of faster, efficient performance, and limitless creative energy.
A calm, well-regulated brain is able to get in ‘the zone’ quicker, in any performance-oriented scenario. Neurofeedback works on improving self-control of energy and emotions, regulating sleep and recovery, mental calming, enhancing sensory processing and improving fine motor skills and timing. Emotional stability is rooted in healthy brain self-regulation, as is physical calm – the basis for drive and speed, and to unlocking creative energy and potential, and to sustain this.
Neurofeedback starts by laying the foundations – improved physical and emotional calm. Once the training frequency is found that works, typically within the first few sessions, specific goals or issues can be addressed. These can include physical regulation i.e. improved sleep rhythms for better rest and recovery; regulating energy and emotions to find the ‘zone’ quicker between success and setbacks; improving mental focus; and fine-tuning motor skills and timing.
Alpha Theta training, aims to resolve underlying, unprocessed issues. These can include writer’s block or creative inhibitions; setbacks or even successes; recurring, obsessive thought or distractions, which are often rooted in previous events or experiences. Letting the brain resolve deeper issues helps free up energy that is better used in our conscious, productive life, and when it comes to peak performance, efficiency is key. Alpha Theta training feels similar to meditation, or a power nap; the subconscious mind does most of the work while you listen to comforting music in a relaxed setting, eyes closed for twenty minutes to half an hour. When ready for Alpha Theta training, this can result in profound calming, self-assurance and sustained confidence.
Finally, neurofeedback can improve attention and focus with Synchrony training. Whether Alpha, Gamma or Infra-Low are the optimal frequency for this training will evolve from the initial training work, and this powerful protocol and contribute substantially to maintaining a calm mental focus under pressure. It can also be very helpful in establishing a foundation for concentrated, creative work and increase endurance in both.
Going from pitching to putting, the process of resetting ones emotions, taking a deep breath and focusing on a well-rehearsed task under pressure is the same as for an athlete recuperating during breaks. Neurofeedback trains the brain to recognise and adapt to the change in gear, and to mobilise a detached yet attentive, focused and alert yet sensitive and intuitive state of mind easily.
Football teams have been using the method for the last decade.
A study by Imperial College showed that neurofeedback helped musicians improve their musical performances by an average of 17 per cent, equivalent to an improvement of one grade or class of honours.
NBA star Chris Kaman (Clippers, centre), attributes some of his success and improvements to Neurofeedback.
Here’s a short video on neurofeedback and golf – amateur Alan Alda beats a pro at putting:
Neurofeedback training can help anyone with a stressful routine to adopt a confident and positive mindset, in order to deal with situations as they occur.
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.
Music and Creativity
A study by Imperial College, London, and the Royal College of Music showed that students advanced effectively one or two years in musical maturity with a mere ten sessions of Alpha Theta Neurofeedback Training.
In this 1999 study at Imperial College, London, Alpha Theta Neurofeedback Training was compared to other standard supportive services and relaxation training techniques and exercises. Students of the Royal College of Music, London, were evaluated on their musical performance, having received ten sessions of Alpha Theta Neurofeedback Training. Only the Alpha Theta Neurofeedback Training subset demonstrated gains in musical performance, and these gains were substantial and systematic:
Overall Quality | 14% |
Musical Understanding | 16% |
Stylistic Accuracy | 14% |
Interpretive Imagination | 17% |
Total Average Musical Improvement | 15% |
These impressive gains as judged by blind evaluators represent a substantial improvement. All aspects of musicianship were positively, and greatly affected, including physical ability as well as creativity and insight.
Source: Othmer / Gruzelier
J Gruzelier also finds in a 2014 study that Alpha Theta training benefits both advanced instrumental and novice singing abilities, including improvisation – beyond the outcome of the previous study with elite conservatoire musicians.
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.