Neurofeedback Training for Children, Teenagers and Young Adults

Neurofeedback improves Developmental Trajectories

Neurofeedback training is a complementary therapy approach to helping young people attain their best developmental trajectory and thus maximise their opportunities.  From infants to pre-teens, adolescents and young adults, we can assess a young brain’s maturity and structure an effective, personalised, non-invasive and medication-free intervention that is enjoyable – it involves watching movies of choice.  

Neurofeedback training has helped many children, teenagers and young adults realise their true potential.  

Neurofeedback can positively impact trajectories of children and young adults

"Anna was definitely a lot calmer, didn't 'lose her rag' when I expected her to; she spontaneously picked up a book, which was unheard of before, and started reading; her turn taking improved and she was allowed to join a group for play who had previously ostracised her."

"Victor's anxities were getting incapacitating with the beginning of the new school year. Within five sessions, he was no longer getting panic attacks. His tutors noticed a new focus, and he found a great circle of friends at boarding school. He greatly enjoys his weekly two hour movie session."

"Tamy's social fears and repetitive routines stopped and she regained her delightful demeanor. She started playing with children in her age group."

"Julian's previous therapist suggested we go for an assessment, having noticed some autistic traits in addition to his diagnosed ADHD and slower social development, along with tics, motor control issues and habits. After five sessions of neurofeedback, he had calmed a lot and was in full control of his impulsive aggressions when he didn't get something he wanted. His focus and general maturity improved incredibly in the twenty sessions we did in all, as did all of his other symptoms, as well as sleep."

There are over 40 different brain areas, each with specific functions.  These include mood regulation, spatial awareness (and hence distractibility), motivation, planning and organisation, emotional sense of safety, and sensory integration.  When any of these areas is dysrhythmic or immature, pathologies or adverse behaviour patterns can emerge.  With a Kaiser Neuromap, we can detect vulnerabilities. Neurofeedback lets us train brain areas to help maturation and restore functional connectivity. 

 

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Neurofeedback for Children, Teenagers and Young Adults

A Kaiser Neuromap will expose vulnerabilities without subjecting the child to categorisation and associated stigma – it is not a diagnosis – and reveals a more granular insight into individual development issues.  

This gives us hope and optimism as we can train the brain in a personalised manner to reset trajectories in a unique way.  

Neurofeedback training is evidence-based, effective and produces lasting results.  

An investment at this stage can produce life- and performance enhancing results that will reward both the child and its carers. 

The approach is holistic – with a brain map, we see multiple vulnerabilities even when these have not come to attention yet.  It is a complementary therapy method.

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Brain Maturation during Childhood

Childhood is when critical brain maturation occurs.  Connectivity between different brain areas forms and consolidates at its fastest then, and this is what contributes substantially to behaviour, character and personality, and our ability to work and share a reality with others.

 

White Matter Tract formation in children, teenagers and young adults, by volume and DTI

An infant brain is only a quarter of the size of an adult brain.  This doubles (!) during the first year, reaching 80% by year 3, and 90% by year 5.  

Physically, the neuronal pathways connecting our brain areas – white matter tracts, or “information superhighways” – grow in strength.  

This process continues well through teenage years and early adolescence, influenced by our environment and genetics, as these long-range connections continue to expand by another 50% between ages 5-25.

 

White Matter Tract growth in children and teenagers shown using DTI, this can be improved with neurofeedback training

As the brain grows structurally, different areas form connections in the form of networks. 

An important conglomeration of brain areas is the Default Mode Network, our neural definition of self.

The Default Network starts forming during late childhood, and develops substantially during teenage years.  

Default Mode Network growth from kids to adults linked to increased functional connectivity

 

Supporting the brain in its maturation within this window should therefore produce the biggest effect; training the brain at this point becomes the best and most efficient investment in terms of time, cost and effort.  

Neurofeedback has been shown to improve physical brain development, producing positive cognitive changes.

 

Ghaziri2013 Study showing neurofeedback training helps develop white matter tracts

The Alpha Peak, or sampling speed, increases during childhood.  We can track this aspect of brain maturation with a brain map.  

Our dominant alpha rhythm is the median frequency within the 7-12Hz frequency band (“alpha”).  Alpha spindles were the first EEG rhythm to be discovered as a non-trivial feature, particularly in occipital regions.  Furthermore, their prevalence was found to be associated with a state of rest or pleasant disengagement from our environment.  Each person has their own dominant alpha frequency, usually within the range of 9-11Hz, and the median across the population is 10.25Hz.  It was further found that this dominant frequency evolves with age, peaking during puberty and then usually settling in at around the population average rate, and prone to declining with age thereafter.  

We can think of our dominant alpha rhythm as a sampling rate during rest state, that is, a frame rate or how often we take in and process sensory stimulus each second.  When our frame rates align with others, we are sampling the environment as the same rate, and are in effect sharing the same ‘movie’.  Synchronising with others in this way is a good basis for sharing a reality, and thus effective human interaction.  

When this alpha rhythm has not matured, or risen to the rate of a child’s peer group, it can conceivably put the person at a disadvantage with regard to social interaction.  Our observations have shown that this can be the case when a child exhibits behavioural issues.  Research confirms a correlation between alpha rate and neurocognitive development in children.  We have seen this improve during neurofeedback training.  

 

Our Brain is divided into various functional areas responsible for interpreting sensory stimulus, contextualising situations, forming responses and decisions, and planning motor actions. 

Emotions, focus and awareness are governed by specific brain areas and networks.

 

Our Brain has diverse functional areas which we can train with neurofeedback

A simplified illustration of the interaction of these functional brain areas is the processing streams involved in registering a visual image and responding with an action. 

Visual input from the retina is relayed to the back of our head, where visual processing takes place.  Further contextual, spatial and emotional awareness is registered, and the information added on the way.  

Understanding what is in front of it, and where we are in relation to it, both spatially and in context, forms our understanding of the situation, ready for our decision making. 

This impulse is then translated into a motor action, to then engage our relevant body parts.  All this relies on a seamless interaction between relevant brain areas, and can take 80-200ms, or a fifth of a second.

Dorsal and ventral attention streams shown in graphic, activated while responding to visual stimulus

We can gain insights into our brain activity by measuring a small voltage present on the surface of our head using EEG. 

Processing this information real-time lets us view the interactions of functional brain areas and networks.  

We then compare this to a baseline to determine whether behaviour is aberrant or efficient.

Functional Connectivity of Default Mode Network can be measured by qEEG

Analysing qEEG data using a Kaiser Neuromap, shows us which brain areas are efficient or dysrythmic.  

We can see functional connectivity, and detect if a brain area is not contributing efficiently.  When this is the case, the function which it governs will be impaired and exbihit immature behaviour. 

By using the delineation method of numbered Brodmann Areas, we can disaggregate sources of inefficient or undesirable behaviour patterns and find their neural correlates.

 

qEEG brain maps show cortical strenghts and vulnerabilities which can be treated with neurofeedback

Neurofeedback training is enjoyable, as we are watching a movie of choice.  

The feedback is primarily auditory, involving slight volume changes.  

The process is explained in the video in under a minute.

Behavioural issues can see fast results, as feedback from parents shows.  

Developmental issues can take more sessions, with noticeable behaviour changes along the way. 

 

"She was definitely much calmer and didn't explode at times when I expected her to. "

"Picked up a book and started reading! Unheard of before, I could never get her interested in reading for herself."

"He is calmer, less reactive and when he gets frustrated at something [that he can't have] he manages to calm himself down."

"The best vacation we ever had! Not one eruption, calm and engaged with the other children."

With neurofeedback training, we can improve functional connectivity between brain areas, networks and regions. 

We can assess progress with brain maps, using the Kaiser Neuromap method. 

Training can be done weekly, or in combination with intensives, where we do more than one session daily for a week.

Neurofeedback training improves functional connectivity

Spectral plots, showing frequency distribution across brain area, are another way of interpreting cortical maturation. 

We gain insights whether physical maturation is commensurate with age level expectations. 

In the graphic shown, ten sessions of neurofeedback training over two months showed a maturation improvement which previous years of development and therapy had not been able to elicit. 

Training results are individual.

 

Cortical maturation measured with spectral plots is improved with neurofeedback training

Case Study - ADHD, Suspected Autism, Teenager, Behavioural Issues

Julian, just turned 11, introduced himself with “I’m Julian.  I have ADHD”.  His self-esteem was on the floor. 

Shy and well-behaved, his demeanour contrasted with the behaviour issues his mother deemed most pressing.  Her altercations with Julian were daily, prompted by incidences where things didn’t go as imagined or hoped for by him, and turning into a self-fuelling rage that would spoil the entire weekend.  His focus was poor, conversations marred by distractions (“jibberish”, in her words), relative maturity low for his age group and he fortunately attended a school that catered for his academic performance and social needs.  

A year of psychotherapy almost landed him with an autism assessment, and he hated the various other therapeutic procedures he had to endure that aimed at helping his physical coordination issues. 

 

Young Person depressed looking down at the ground

Within two weeks, or four sessions, his behaviour had taken a turn; in his mother’s words:

"I wanted to mention that we have noticed improvement with Julian.  

He is calmer, less reactive and when he gets frustrated he manages to calm himself down.  

Not sure if it's a temporary thing, but this weekend was all right :)"

Far from temporary, his maturation accelerated noticeably in the following weeks.  

A family trip was described as “the best vacation we’ve ever had!” by his mother.  While on holiday, he learned to scuba dive, and his parents noticed that he was asking coherent, thoughtful and relevant questions during the instruction.  Anxieties and fears dropped noticeably, attention and focus improved, childish behaviour – such as “class clown” attempts at drawing attention – ceased, and he became involved in extracurricular school activities.  

Child behaviour improved after neurofeedback

Julian’s brain maps confirmed the transition he was going through.  He had skipped years of physical maturation that should have taken place, especially in his prefrontal cortex.  Functional connectivity of brain areas responsible for behaviour, focus and sense of self had improved substantially, as – notably – had his motor skills.  Julian’s trajectory has changed from spiralling into lower depths of special needs diagnoses, to establishing a confident, engaged and healthy risk-taking personality.  With these new acquired powers, he is able to shape his own future in a way that helps sustain his progress. 

Functional connectivity improves with neurofeedback training as measured with a brain map

Does it last?  Yes.  A year later Julian is thriving at school and socially.  

We all evolve, and life throws us challenges.  Key to improvement is being equipped with the right tools – cortical maturity and functional connectivity in this case – that help us create positive feedback loops within our environment.  

Twenty sessions helped liberate this young man immensely.  With neurofeedback training we can address developmental issues.

ADHD

The vernacular description of ADHD has come to include many other issues than its core definition of distractibility and/or hyperactivity.  We often find many other comorbidities, such as behaviour problems, impulsive aggression, rage, excessive stubbornness, various anxieties, mood dysregulation, sleep problems, dyslexia and inappropriate social skills.  

With a brain map, we can assess vulnerability to a host of other possible issues, and then address these with neurofeedback training in a personalised manner.  Furthermore, we have a chance at promoting structural improvements, such as prefrontal brain maturity. 

Focus and Productivity have three core components: 

 – Concentration

 – Planning and Organisation

 – Motivation

 

Drive, Motivation, Focus, Attention and planning and organisation have neural correlates and can be seen on a brain map for neurofeedback

Each of these three components is governed by a different brain area.  When one or more of these regions is dysrhythmic, we are vulnerable to focus issues. 

A brain map lets us identify vulnerabilities to each of these qualities. 

With neurofeedback, we can train the brain.

Planning and Organisation

Planning and Organisation are necessary steps for overcoming ADHD and can be trained with neurofeedback

 – Planning and Organisation: understanding goals, working back to the present and structuring a workflow conducive to achievement, seeing the bigger picture and dividing projects into tasks, prioritising these and being flexible. 

The ability to form an overview of the task at hand, break this down into smaller, manageable steps, and sequence these accordingly, can be trained.

 

Concentration

Child getting distracted from ADHD and learning to focus with neurofeedback training

 – Concentration: the ability not to be distracted and maintain attention on the relevant task at hand.  Distractibility is a function of spatial awareness, and there are brain areas dedicated to this task.  When they are dysrythmic, we become easily distracted.

 

Motivation

Motivation and Drive are an important part of overcoming ADHD and can be helped with neurofeedback

 – Motivation: having sufficient drive, optimism, persistence and endurance to implement plans and overcome setbacks.  Self-esteem, an understanding of one’s own strengths and weaknesses, and the ability to self-soothe, that is, to rationalise thoughts, are key to this.

 

Neurofeedback is Evidence-Based

research shows neurofeedback is a safe, effective and long lasting treatment for ADHD

Researchers conclude that neurofeedback training can be considered “Efficaceous and Specific” (Level 5) for ADD / ADHD. 

Neurofeedback training was shown to produce significant improvement in attentiveness and impulse control. 

It was shown to produce outcomes equivalent to those obtained with stimulant drugs.

The effects were shown to be long lasting.

 

Importantly, neurofeedback training lets us address brain areas responsible for distractibility, motivation, aggression and rage in a non-invasive manner.  We are looking to assist maturation of the cortex, bringing about more pro-social behaviour and improving interpersonal skills and general function.  This can also include motor elements, which we have successfully restored, as seen on brain maps and -remaps.

See here for more information on Neurofeedback for ADHD. 

Dyslexia

"Picked up a book and started reading! Unheard of before, I could never get her interested in reading for herself."

Dyslexia often presents together with ADD/ADHD and other behavioural issues.  With a Kaiser Neuromap, we can assess vulnerabilities, and then train these with Personalised Brain Training.

Dyslexia is an impaired ability to understand written and printed words or phrases and affects 10-20% of the population in both males and females.  The disorder can result in learning difficulties, poor academic performance, stigmatisation and ensuing behavioural issues.  

While often classed as a disability, there are associated strengths:  creativity, the ability to solve complex problems, unorthodox approaches to ideas and projects, and a more detached ability to apply logical thinking are some of these.  Nonetheless, the condition can impair school and social functioning, slow maturation and significantly affect self-confidence and -esteem.

There are multiple types of dyslexia and neurofeedback can help with many aspects

There are neural correlates with dyslexia which we can train with neurofeedback.  

Reading and comprehension involves multiple brain areas as well as their seamless communication.  We have Wernicke’s area for comprehension, and Broca’s for speech generation.  Additionally, there are regions involved in sequencing, visual recognition, focus and attention, and contextualisation or syntax recognition of subject matter along with various memory-related areas. 

It is important to note that there are different types of dyslexia.  A brain map shows us which brain areas are dysrhythmic.  

With neurofeedback, we train brain areas involved in visual and auditory processing; memory; focus and attention; syntax and context; sequencing and organisation.  We also train the connections between these areas.  The approach is holistic:  we work on core networks, and their integration with each other.   

Research has shown that neurofeedback training can improve reading ability and phonolocigal awareness deficit in children with reading disabilities, as well as improvements in spelling

Anxiety

There are many manifestations of anxiety, including social anxiety, panic attacks, excess body awareness (body dysmorphia), emotional hypersensitivity, fears and phobias.

Neurofeedback is an established, evidence-based treatment for anxiety. 

It was found that neurofeedback training for anxiety and depression “results in enduring improvements approximately 80% of the time” 

Confidence and social integration tend to improve accordingly, resulting in a positive feedback loop that helps shape new trajectories.  

A brain map will reveal overactivity of brain areas responsible for monitoring consequences of actions (timidity, general fright and reticence); watching out for an abuser (bully); body and face awareness; and excessive self-monitoring.  This helps us understand the potential presence of real threats and fear factors.  We can also detect possible tendencies to develop unhealthy body awareness.  Neurofeedback training lets us address this issues.

 

Anxiety can have multiple facets, including intrusive thoughts and social anxiety, and the feeling of everything coming at oneself all at once

There are multiple types of anxiety, each correlating with one or more brain areas being dysrhythmic:

When we’re in a situation with other people and our understanding of the social dynamics and complexities is overwhelmed.  

Our brain is made for social interaction.  Unlike, say, reptiles, we have a cortex that repurposes basic drives into pro-social behaviour.  The ability to make friends and form alliances is a key differentiator between our species and less neurologically evolved animals.  Like a muscle, we need to exercise these brain functions continually.  Exclusion, whether developmental or incidental (e.g. lockdowns), can cause us to have to learn or relearn certain skills.  With neurofeedback we can help this process. 

 

Hypervigilance as a result of avoiding a bully or abuser is another form of anxiety.  We can detect vulnerability to this with a brain map.

Our brain interprets all sensory stimulus as directed to ourselves.  We lose the ability to discern what is directed at us, and which matters or interactions are of no concern to us.  This sets us up for panic attacks and ultimately psychosis.  It also means we become singular in our perspective, unable to take on other points of view. 

Ideally, we would like to have a healthy sense of detachment and the ability to take on other perspectives while being free to develop and defend our own.  This contrasts with a state where we feel that every sensory stimulus is aimed at us.  It is also different to dissociation, where we don’t feel part of the situation or even our body.  Rather, it is about being able to discern between what is directed at us, and which are other dynamics in the room that don’t concern us.  We also want this process to be instinctive, that is, pre-conscious and efficient, so we don’t have to waste conscious resources, and time that takes us away from the moment.  

 

An extreme example is when we feel that too much is going on around us and we respond by having to turn the music down, explode at our environment or, potentially worse, retreating into tacit acceptance and self-deprecating thought.  We can even feel that people are talking about us, and are convinced that we are the centre of every situation.  This is highly stressful, resulting in anxiety and often deep depression.  With neurofeedback, we can restore the brain’s ability to self-regulate efficiently.

Our episodic understanding of the situation, how we got there and what happens next, is impaired, and we are unsure of where we are and where we’re going.  This hyperactivates our amygdala, and the sensation is highly emotional

We become prone to overly interpreting the emotional content of words and sounds, creating an air of prickliness and pushing people away without knowing it

Our Ascending Reticular Activating System (ARAS)  is responsible for setting the right level of physiological arousal, or wakefulness, for the situation, and to remain stable there.  When this is on overdrive, we are pushed further into fight-or-flight mode than necessary, thus heightening sensory sensitivity.  Panic attacks are an extreme manifestation.  We may also feel trauma-like body sensations.  

Our brainstem controls both our autonomic nervous system as well as our ARAS.  It has strong direct and indirect cortical connections, and we can thus train self-regulation with neurofeedback.  This can also have positive implications for impulsiveness and general calming.

An inability to self-nurture – creating an emotional safe-space around us – and self-soothe – being able to talk ourselves down rationally from a situation, thus resulting in mood instability.  This can also manifest in dissociation and heightened pain perception, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.  We ruminate about the past and worry about the future, instead of being able to enjoy the present.  

Our autonomic nervous system is primed to produce sympathetic nervous system responses, or fight-flight-freeze mode.  This wears us down, as it is more energy intensive, our recuperation periods are shortened and we can even become used to the adrenalinergic buzz of being in hypervigilant overdrive.  It becomes a safe space.  Our pain perception is altered and fluctuates between numbness and hypersensitivity.  Deprived of a ‘calm’ reference state, we become vulnerable to overattributing emotions to sensations.    

Dissociation is another phenomenon that can ensue, and this can be subtle and paroxysmal.  Engagement of defensive mechanisms is triggered pre-, or subconsciously.  This can compromise our ability to rationally self-soothe – the role of our prefrontal cortex.  Instead, our limbic system is primed.  We also lose our emotional sense of safety.  The integrity of our Default Mode Network is challenged, as is the natural transition between its activation and that of the Task Positive Network.  We are less able to regulate engagement with our environment and the neurological basis for our sense of self is under threat.

There are distinct brain areas regulating pain, physical sensations and our self-awareness, and we can train these with neurofeedback.  We can also train brain areas with strong connections to sub-cortical structures that regulate our autonomic nervous system, including the amygdala and our reticular activating (or limbic) system.  Our brain is ultimately in charge of trauma response, and with neurofeedback we can assess vulnerability to its various submodalities, and address these with training.  This is evidence-based and effective. 

See here for more information on Neurofeedback and Trauma.

Self-criticism overshadows motivation and confidence, and we become self-aware and distracted by negative thoughts and feelings.  Some use acquired habits to distract from this. Our confidence, motivation and social interaction suffer as a result. 

With a brain map, we can identify vulnerability to various mechanisms of self-deprecation, ranging from thought, habits and mood regulation to actions and self-acceptance.  With neurofeedback, we train core networks responsible for our sense of self, as well as brain areas related to adverse behaviour and sensory interpretation. 
Clients report feeling more grounded, calm and optimistic.  Neurofeedback takes a holistic approach, and we are usually also working on areas related to productivity and motivation. 

Over-attentive with regard to bodies, shapes and faces, and excessive monitoring of our own in relation to others, our self-confidence and social interactions suffer.  There are neural correlates for this which we can train.

Sleep is adversely affected by trauma and anxiety.  First, the mind needs to ‘let go’ in order to enter deeper sleep cycles, which is a challenge for many.  Excessive rumination and intrusive thoughts can hinder this, as does the loss of our ability to rationally calm ourselves down.  The depth of our sleep is governed by our ability to self-nurture and create an emotional ‘safe space’.  Homeostasis during various sleep stages is governed by other parts of our brain, some still involving the cortex.  With a Kaiser Neuromap we can detect dysrhythmia in the relevant brain areas and train these accordingly with Default Network Training (together, Personalised Brain Training).  

Focus and organisation suffers as a consequence of sleep issues.  This time, different brain areas are affected, which we can also train.  When we are unable to concentrate and produce our best output, we become demotivated and our mood and sense of self suffer.  Again, there are brain areas responsible for these aspects of being, for which we can again detect dysrhythmia and provide neurofeedback training.  The process is holistic – many components have to work together effectively for us to function optimally.

Mood regulation suffers when we lose social integration, sleep and focus. Neurofeedback training found to significantly help 80% of people with depression by aiming to restore motivation, improving sleep and focus, and reducing anxiety.  

There are numerous potential cortical contributors to depression, and with a brain map we can see vulnerabilities.  

Neurofeedback training lets us address these as well as establish a generally improved sense of well-being in a holistic manner.  The positive effects of neurofeedback training have been shown to be lasting.  Neurofeedback is non-invasive and medication-free.

Motor Issues, Dyspraxia, Facial Tics, Stutter, Tourette's Syndrome

Our brain controls our movements.  

There are various cortical, and sub-cortical brain areas involved in motor coordination.  With neurofeedback, we are training the cortex.  Many cortical areas have deep connections to the basal ganglia and cerebellum, and it appears that we are training these deeper structures implicitly. 

In our experience, the following issues can resolve with neurofeedback training:

 – motor issues, such as dyspraxia and lack of coordination

 – stutter and speech production

 – facial tics

 – uncontrolled, compulsive movements and actions. 

 

Neurofeedback can help with stutter, motor coordination issues, facial tics and dyspraxia

Before and after brain maps corroborate these findings; research has so far focused on neuromarkers for these phenomena, and suggest neurotherapy as an adjunct to traditional therapies. 

Tourette’s Syndrome can involve many of the above issues, as well as lack of executive control, again an aspect we have seen improve substantially with neurofeedback training.

Anger and Behavioural Challenges

Mood regulation, self awareness and inhibition contribute to anger management and behavioural issues. 

Anger, rage and aggression have a neural basis.   Such behaviour patterns are complicated and vary by individual.  Multiple brain areas contribute to impulsive aggression, self-fuelling rage, physiological arousal, ‘acting out’ and conversely calming down and rationally understanding one’s behaviour and even showing regret, remorse, understanding and insight, or not as the case may be.  

 

A Kaiser Neuromap shows us possible vulnerabilities to such behaviour patterns, and can help us form a more nuanced understanding of a person’s preconscious drivers, that is, their ‘wiring’.  There are multiple contributors which we can address: 

 – impulsive aggression, e.g. in response to being denied something

 – rage, a continued unconsolable stage

 – lack of empathy or understanding of others’ feelings

 – inability to see different perspectives

 – turn taking, self/other differentiation, shared authority

 – monitoring and understanding consequences of actions

With neurofeedback training we can work on these preconscious processes, which occur before a person is able to apply conscious control or inhibition.  The aim is to reduce or eliminate the person’s propensity to exhibit such adverse and undesirable behaviour in the first place, freeing up the mind to enjoy the moment in constructive synchrony with others.  

Neurofeedback helps us stabilise the Default Mode Network, and reduce impulsive aggression and physiological arousal control.  We have seen success within a few sessions in clients from 8-15 years of age. 

Research confirms that neurofeedback can “markedly improve anxiety, mood-repair and self-regulation ability for emotional distress”; reduce cortisol levels within a single session; improve amygdala regulation (susceptability to anger); and reduce anger and irritability.

 

Mood Regulation: Depression and Motivation

There are numerous contributors to depressive tendencies from a neural perspective.  A brain map lets us identify possible cortical contributors, and we can train important neural hubs that affect our ability to regulate mood.

In this sense, neurofeedback is a next-generation treatment for depression.  We seek to avoid reliance on medication, especially from an early age.

The effectiveness of neurofeedback training in treating depression is well-documented.  Effects have been shown to be strong and lasting.  Working on depression helps us re-establish our sense of safety in the world, and often correlates with our ability to fall asleep. 

 

There are multiple components to Depression, including among other: 

 – mood regulation and stability

 – motivation and productivity

 – sleep and effective recuperation

With Personalised Brain Training we take a holistic approach:  Key neural networks responsible for our sense of self, for focus and productivity, and for mood regulation are addressed during neurofeedback training.  The process is non-invasive and medication free, as well as enjoyable as we use movies to embed the feedback.

Bipolar disorder affects one in five people with depression.  Again, we can address brain areas responsible for maintaining stability, and help calming, particularly important during manic episodes, thus seeking to avoid psychosis.  Also, given that more than two-thirds of bipolar disorder sufferers are misdiagnosed initially, identifying the presence of non-specific neuromarkers can aid (but not replace) the diagnosis process.

 

Trauma, Abuse, PTSD

Trauma and abuse leave scars.  

When the viability of our existence has been subjected to threat, our behaviour adapts.  We become primed for hypervigilance, sensitive to triggers, and our physiology responds accordingly.  A heightened sense of awareness now confers safety, and we can even become addicted to this.

 

Trauma and Abuse can be detected by a brain map and treated with neurofeedback

Our brain keeps the score:  Areas responsible for defence and vigilance are activated, even when there is no objective reason.  Sensory stimulus is amplified, and we dedicate value energy resources to the monitoring of others’ intentions.  Anxieties are rekindled, and the strain on our system leaves us exhausted while unable to switch off and effectively recuperate.  Our focus and productivity drop, as does our self-esteem.  We can feel detached from our bodies, dissociating.  Our social capacity is impaired.

Neurofeedback helps us break this cycle:  we equip the brain to get over it, to get on with it, re-establish our sense of self-worth, and the ability to constructively engage with our environment.  We gain a healthy sense of detachment, which allows us to process the past more efficiently and look forward to the future. 

With a brain map, we can identify which parts of our system are being particularly stressed.  Neurofeedback training helps us bring these brain areas into better alignment.  

 

Typical Symptoms of Trauma and PTSD

Abuse can take many forms.  Less obvious forms of emotional abuse are often hidden or masked, and might seem unlikely to the outside observer.  It is important to realise that trauma is a subjective experience, and what counts is the person’s interpretation.  

Abuse is not confined to neglect.  In fact, overbearing parents can have a similar effect neurologically.  An example of this is Bette Davis in “Now, Voyager”, where Charlotte Vale learns to escabe the debilitating tyranny of a domineering mother with “Cigarettes and medicated sherry and books my mother won’t allow me to read!”.  Parental over-involvement can impair a child’s ability to learn to find emotional nurture in its environment.  This can have devastating effects on character development and stability, and indeed lead to addiction issues.  With a brain map, we can detect how this form of maturity is evolving in a person, and use neurofeedback to correct a negative trajectory.  We can also tell if a person has a perceived abuser, such as in the form of a school bully, or just someone they feel necessitated to avoid for self-preservation reasons.  

 

 The first indication that we are experiencing trauma / PTSD is when we find ourselves not living in the present.  Enjoyment of the moment and social interaction is clouded by constant ruminations about the past, and worries about the future.  We are unable to ‘let go’, relax, and grasp opportunities as they present themselves in the Now.  

We are plagued by intrusive thoughts that bring us back to events in the past, which needn’t even be related to a traumatic event, but which remind us of some inadequacy and amplify our self-doubt.  Feelings of shame and guilt come into the picture as well, further eroding our self-confidence.  “How can I be happy and enjoy this after what has happened?”.  Similarly, our perception of the future is shrouded in worry and fearful anticipation.  Uncertainty is our greatest foe, our perception of safety is unhinged by any doubt as to what could happen next.  

The absence of a plan becomes a concern, the lack of clarity as to what’s around the corner a burden.  Negativity associated with the past deprives us of hope.  We are thus unable to see uncharted territories ahead as an opportunity, and much rather dwell on impending threats.  

Indeed, our system is primed to protect us, and we are in survival mode.  This process becomes self-feeding as we become addicted to the hyper-arousal our sense of fear induces.  Our sense of joy and looking forward to fun becomes clouded to the extent we forget and no longer yearn it.  Detachment sets in, further isolating us from feelings that previously motivated us.  This process can even start slow and subtly, yet the cycle is self-fulfilling and deprives us of the necessary perspective to break and get out.

In Personalised Brain Training, our definition of trauma is wider.  We include for example perceived loss of social standing, which can be either the cause or the consequence of a traumatic event or development.  The perceived loss of social position results in us feeling judged.  We become hypersensitive to how people approach us, talk to us, deal with us.  

This is a subjective concept, as it should be, given that trauma should be recognised as an issue of perception by the affected person, rather than a concept being ‘awarded’ by an unrelated party, though external affirmation can help and medical advice should be sought in any event.  As humans, social recognition is a critical component of our biological drive to propagate.  Attraction relies on this, which ultimately leads to bonding.  

Consequently, there are numerous brain areas devoted to, or involved in, the assessment of our position with regard to others.  When our self-perception is assailed, or even the viability of our self is questioned, we are naturally shaken.  Various brain areas become dysrhythmic.  These include areas responsible for our body control and awareness, and many therapies focus on engaging the body and somatosensory system with a view to inducing cerebral changes.  

However, this is only a part of the picture – there are many, arguably more powerful neuronal centres in the brain that are affected by trauma, and with a Kaiser Neuromap and Default Network Training (together, Personalised Brain Training), we can assess the issues more accurately, completely and efficiently, as well as then successfully training the brain to overcome trauma and setting ourselves on course for a positive trajectory.  

Another consequence of trauma is that we may feel unable to rationally assert a sense of safety.  This is different to self-nurture, or an emotional sense of safety.  When we are unable to talk ourselves down from a situation we lose the ability to effectively regulate our moods, to switch off when we need to, and ultimately can become excessively paranoid.  

There are neural correlates for this behaviour, and we can asses this with a Kaiser Neuromap.  Safety and assurance are core needs we are programmed to seek to fulfil.  Authority and role models help us in this quest.  When we become dysregulated in our ability to self-soothe, we are also compromised in our ability to find paternal guidance.  As a result, we tend to over-idolise figures who seemingly exude strength and power, or disobey completely and become unnecessarily rebellious – both immature behaviour patterns.  Resetting this balance is crucial to achieving calming, regulated emotions, reduced hypervigilance and controlling impulsiveness.  Personalised Brain Training lets us achieve this. 

When hypervigilance persists untreated, we face further problems.  

Physically, our heart beats faster and harder, more of the time, which is a clear stress on our system.  

Mentally, we become prone to developing intrusive thoughts, even when we are able to relax, and more so when we are stressed, where these can take on third-person character, a voice in our head.  This can have a destabilising effect, not least because we are now spending energy ‘defeating’ other perspectives we are internally engaged with, and thus distracting us from the ‘now’.  Being on hyper-alert can also make us more susceptible to feeling relational to sensory input, in that we feel that everything is directed at us, which can set us up for psychosis.  

As we lose our ability to enjoy the moment, our social interactions suffer.  Exercising our social brain keeps us alive and forms the basis for sound mental health.  Our brains are adaptive, and we need to provide stimulus to maintain connections and sustain flexibility.  Isolation deprives us of many necessary exercises.  For example, brain areas that deal with face recognition also respond to affective interactions and the ability to discriminate between emotional content of faces.  We need to keep training these brain areas through social interaction in order to maintain emotional recognition – it is not a surprise that perpetual mask-wearing heightens our social anxiety (aside from adverse physical effects).  

Social recognition, a key component of our biological need to attract and bond, is driven by sensory interpretations.  Again, we need to exercise brain areas that contribute to this, including language and speech generation and comprehension, auditory sensitivity, and monitoring rewards for actions, both directly and vicariously.  Our mirror neuron system contributes towards learning from others’ mistakes or examples, and consequently the storage of social rules necessary for constructive functioning in a society.  

Inclusion is imperative to establishing a healthy self-image or sense of self.  This in turn is crucial to forming stable relationships with friends, family and forming healthy alliances necessary for personal and professional progression.  When we lose our sense of belonging to a group or cause, we may become unstable in our self-perception and our relationships with others.  The effect may snowball into perceptions of abandonment, feelings of emptiness and dissociation; this in turn correlates with mood dysregulation, impulsive and often dangerous behaviours, intrusive thoughts and potential self-harm.  

With Personalised Brain Training, we can assess vulnerability to these traits as they manifest in functional brain area dysrhythmia that shows in a Kaiser Neuromap; with Default Network Training, an advanced form of neurofeedback, we can train these brain areas and networks in a holistic manner to help re-establish balance.  This enables us to reconnect with our environment and re-enter a positive feedback loop.

Sleep is adversely affected by trauma.  First, the mind needs to ‘let go’ in order to enter deeper sleep cycles, which is a challenge for many.  Excessive rumination and intrusive thoughts can hinder this, as does the loss of our ability to rationally calm ourselves down.  The depth of our sleep is governed by our ability to self-nurture and create an emotional ‘safe space’.  Homeostasis during various sleep stages is governed by other parts of our brain, some still involving the cortex.  With a Kaiser Neuromap we can detect dysrhythmia in the relevant brain areas and train these accordingly with Default Network Training (together, Personalised Brain Training).  

Focus and organisation suffers as a consequence of sleep issues.  This time, different brain areas are affected, which we can also train.  When we are unable to concentrate and produce our best output, we become demotivated and our mood and sense of self suffer.  Again, there are brain areas responsible for these aspects of being, for which we can again detect dysrhythmia and provide neurofeedback training.  The process is holistic – many components have to work together effectively for us to function optimally. 

Mood regulation suffers when we lose social integration, sleep and focus. Neurofeedback training found to significantly help 80% of people with depression by aiming to restore motivation, improving sleep and focus, and reducing anxiety.  

There are numerous potential cortical contributors to depression, and with a brain map we can see vulnerabilities.  

Neurofeedback training lets us address these as well as establish a generally improved sense of well-being in a holistic manner.  he positive effects of neurofeedback training have been shown to be lasting.  Neurofeedback is non-invasive and medication-free.

There are multiple types of anxiety, each correlating with one or more brain areas being dysrhythmic:

  • Social anxiety: When we’re in a situation with other people and our understanding of the social dynamics and complexities is overwhelmed. 
  • Sensory overload: our brain interprets all sensory stimulus as directed to ourselves.  We lose the ability to discern what is directed at us, and which matters or interactions are of no concern to us.  This sets us up for panic attacks and ultimately psychosis.  It also means we become singular in our perspective, unable to take on other points of view
  • Loss of narrative: Our episodic understanding of the situation, how we got there and what happens next, is impaired, and we are unsure of where we are and where we’re going.  This hyperactivates our amygdala, and the sensation is highly emotional
  • Auditory sensitivity: we become prone to overly interpreting the emotional content of words and sounds, creating an air of prickliness and pushing people away without knowing it
  • Activation: Our ARAS is responsible for setting the right level of physiological arousal, or wakefulness, for the situation, and to remain stable there.  When this is on overdrive, we are pushed further into fight-or-flight mode than necessary, thus heightening sensory sensitivity.  Panic attacks are an extreme manifestation.
  • Trauma: an inability to self-nurture – creating an emotional safe-space around us – and self-soothe – being able to talk ourselves down rationally from a situation, thus resulting in mood instability.  This can also manifest in dissociation and heightened pain perception.  We ruminate about the past and worry about the future, instead of being able to enjoy the present. 
  • Intrusive thoughts: Self-criticism overshadows motivation and confidence, and we become self-aware and distracted by negative thoughts and feelings.  Some use acquired habits to distract from this. Our confidence, motivation and social interaction suffer as a result. 

Anxiety results from hypervigilance and indeed this cycle feeds itself.  There are numerous forms and sources of anxiety, which are visible on a Kaiser Neuromap.  

With Default Network Training we can achieve calming, and furthermore assist change in functional connectivity of brain circuits that keep us in a primed, anxious state.   

The primary issue of trauma affects brain areas that are activated during empathy and forgiveness.  With these two qualities impaired, our emotional life suffers, as do our social capacities.  With neurofeedback training, we can restore functionality of these brain areas.  Another reason this is important is because we do not want to become oppressors ourselves.  As we lose our sense of emotional investment in our surroundings, we become careless with regard to others’ feelings and needs.  

Implicitly, we are now capable of unintended yet real behaviour patterns that can harm others, as we become deaf to feedback.  Not only has trauma affected us, it now makes us perpetrators that pass it on. 

Besides reduced social interaction and a less meaningful emotional life that is now more self-centred – and with the wrong type of therapy, becomes self-indulgent and self-perpetuating – we can experience a physical withdrawal from our environment.  Dissociation can be momentary and intense, or subtle and ongoing to the extent that we are not even cognisant of it.  Either way, our bodies retreat from sensations, analogous to our emotional withdrawal.  

Many therapies aim to revive our sense of ownership of our bodies, and thus ultimately our life and future, by training our body awareness in various ways.  Realising that our bodies are steered by our mind, specifically our cortex, we can train the relevant brain areas that govern our body perception and movement execution.  

Neurofeedback training effectively complements these approaches by directly treating the areas involved in perception and interaction with our surroundings.

One of the first manifestations of trauma is in our bodies.  Aside from heightened physiological arousal, a form of paralysis can override our natural motions and postures.  Stress, and pain ensue, which can often be felt all around the body.  Fibromyalgia is a variant of this phenomenon, as are headaches, chest pains, and chronic fatigue.  

There are many techniques for combating this form of physical dissociation.  Neurofeedback complements these by training the brain areas that instruct the body to behave in this undesirable way.  It is a holistic approach, and we restore overall calming while providing the brain with rational and emotional capacity to overcome its challenges.  

Sleep

"I felt so calm last night! And slept like there were magnets between me and the bed.  10 hours straight."
"Slept like a log."
"Since I started neurofeedback training, my dreams have come back!"
Client testimony.

Sleep is where we recover – physically, mentally, emotionally.  

It is a complex process whereby the brain enters different behaviour patterns in various stages.  Slow wave sleep is where our body recovers; REM sleep is where we digest the day’s experiences, consolidate what we’ve learned and let our brain process memories and impressions.  

Ideally, we would like to be able to switch off once comfortable, enter a deep sleep and wake up restored and energetic.  If our sleep suffers, so do our concentration, productivity, physical abilities and emotional flexibility. 

 

Neurofeedback improves sleep and restoration, both REM and slow wave sleep

Neurofeedback has also been successful in treating other sleep disorders, such as somnambulism (sleepwalking), obstructive sleep apnea (to the extent the cause is not physical), confusional arousals, sleep terrors, nightmares, nocturnal enuresis (bed-wetting), delated sleep phase disorder, insomnia and restless leg syndrome.  Evidence is provided at practitioners’ conferences and has yet to be manifested in published research.  The above disorders have EEG correlates, which provides an intuitive basis for understanding that we have a chance at treatment with neurofeedback training. 

Different neural hubs are responsible for sleep onset and depth of sleep.  We can identify vulnerabilities with a brain map, and train these with neurofeedback to help restore healthy sleep hygiene.  

We find that sleep is usually one of the first things to normalise during neurofeedback training.  

We have also seen improvements in other sleep conditions, such as enuresis and sleep apnea.

 

Self Harm

Neurofeedback calms the mind and we can address brain areas contributing to suicidal ideation and intrusive thoughts. 

We look to improve sense of self, reduce anxieties and strengthen inhibition levels while reducing self-directed impulsive aggression and anger. 

‘Self-harm’ can take many forms, and beyond physical manifestations (e.g. cutting, suicidal thought or even action) it can be more subtle: 

 – Accepting less than what we’re worth, overly and unnecessarily acquiescing to the perceived demands of others when not at all in our own self-interest, self-deprecation 

 – an inability to defend one’s own stance and needs are often overlooked and can be very harmful to a person’s development, especially when repeated and consolidated into a character trait.

With a Kaiser Neuromap we can detect vulnerability to such behaviour, including suicidal tendencies or ideation.  

This is not diagnosis and it is non-specific in that dysrhythmia of the brain area(s) responsible for this is a necessary, but not sufficient condition.  Nevertheless, it is a worthwhile finding that can help prevent worse outcomes by prompting awareness and intervention.  

With neurofeedback training, we have helped self-harming adolescents transition from ‘cutting’ and dissociation to becoming engaged young individuals who are able to stand their ground, maturely deal with setbacks and embrace the sense of being part of a community.

Neurofeedback is a complementary therapy and medical attention should be sought in cases of self-harm.

Autism, Obsessive Compulsive Behaviour, Intrusive Thoughts

Neurofeedback for Autism has been shown to be safe, feasible and effective therapy approach to ASD across all ages. 

Autism / ASD is a developmental disorder, and symptoms and comorbidities vary substantially across individuals.   With a Kaiser Neuromap we can assess individual challenges and address these in a personalised manner with neurofeedback training.  Aside from overall calming, which the Othmer method of neurofeedback training can address, Personalised Brain Training (Kaiser Neuromap – based Default Network Training) can train functional connectivity, making it a significantly more effective treatment method in our experience. 

 

In particular, we can identify and train vulnerabilities to behaviour patterns: 

– sensory integration:  sensitivity to sound and touch, motor coordination,  bodily and spatial awareness

– social functioning:  social cues, taking turns, collaboration with others, social rules and boundaries

– self-regulation: mood and impulse control, impulsive aggression and rage, fear and anxieties, ability to self-soothe / self-nurture

The result is a calmer, better integrated child, who can maximise their true social and productive potential.

See here for more information on Personalised Brain Training for Autism / Asperger’s / ASD.

Autism is among other a result of functional connectivity issues between brain areas, and brain maps with neurofeedback training seek to address this.  

Sensory integration can be improved with neurofeedback training.  

 Neurofeedback training has been shown to be a safefeasible, and effective therapy approach to Autism Spectrum Disorder across all ages

 Multiple studies confirm improved cognitive flexibility, improved facial recognition,  better behaviour in every-day life, and reduced anger and irritability as functional connectivity in the social brain regions improved. 

9 point improvement in IQ was reported alongside decreased ASD symptoms including attention, anxiety, aprosodias, social functioning, as well as academic and intellectual functioning. 

 Sensorimotor behaviour (posturography) improved in children.

Neurofeedback Training - Case Studies

Anna, age 9, had recently changed schools due to bullying, and presented with various challenges: 

– sensory integration: sensitive to rash movements and loud noises; scared of heights

– social functioning: turn-taking, understanding social cues, interrupting, working in teams

– impulse and rage control, especially when things don’t go as expected

– stimming / rocking in seat, mild repetitive habits for self-regulation

A brain map confirmed these vulnerabilities, as well as signs of trauma, fear and hypervigilance.  

We did twelve neurofeedback sessions in seven consecutive days, involving two sessions per day watching her favourite movies, which she greatly enjoyed. 

After a week of having returned to school, her parents noticed substantial positive changes in her behaviour: 

– definitely calmer and less explosive, not ‘losing her rag’ when parents were conditioned to expect this

– spontaneously picked up a book and started reading, which was unheard of before

– showed patience and persistence, for example tried and completed difficult jig-saw puzzle, laughing when it became particularly hard

– healthy assertiveness and improved interoception / ability to express feelings

– successfully negotiated inclusion into a playgroup which had previously been hostile towards her 

Tamy, 3.5 years of age, was suspected of having autistic traits by her parents.  She was not interested in playing with other children, solved hundred-piece puzzles and recognised chemical formulae.  Shy and sensitive to music, she would only want to watch one particular cartoon on her ipad and entered a state of rage in response to disturbance or change.  The family GP had told her parents to wait another year or two before applying for a diagnosis, saying that the symptoms were too mild to tell – she could speak already after all. 

Concerned, her parents decided to try neurofeedback.  A brain map revealed numerous and prominent sources of anxiety and fear, as well as auditory hypersensitivity, focus issues, impulsive aggression and mood dysregulation.  These features are common in autistic children, though non-specific with regard to categorisation.  

We worked on relevant brain areas in one hour stints, which Tamy became more and more accepting of.  Soon we were able to change the content from her favourite (and only) cartoon to comprise a variation of content.  She became calmer, more engaged and started interacting with others in ways her parents were positively surprised by.  Ten sessions had made a tremendous difference, and reshaped a trajectory that sufficiently reassured a young family.

Psychosis and Schizophrenia

Psychosis is a state of mind where all sensory stimulus is interpreted as being directed to oneself.  

While it is natural for infants and children to interpret the world this way, we grow out of this mode between the ages of 3-5.  We can assist this important maturation step with neurofeedback training.

As we mature, we start to learn that not everything that’s happening in the world is directed at ourselves.  

Feeling as if everything is directed at us results in anxiety and / or deep depression, and clouds our interactions with others.

It also reduces our ability to take on other perspectives, consider different views and be accommodating of others’ stances.  This reduces people’s self-awareness and thus insight into the need for change and improvement, providing another obstacle to betterment.

Shocks, such as trauma, drug use (in particular, cannabis and cocaine) and isolation (such as lockdowns) can cause us to revert into this child-like state, without us noticing. 

Psychosis is a state that can occur, and recur, in persons diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Trauma and neurodegenerative conditions.  Note however that it is not a necessary condition for any of these.

Schizophrenia comprises a wide range of thought disorders, which ultimately affect an individual’s ability to share a reality with others.  Causes can be trauma, emotional or physical; drug use; stress; genetics.   

With neurofeedback training we aim to restore a healthy sense of self; flexibilise the social brain; and ameliorate comorbidities such as intrusive thoughts, mood disorders, focus and attention issues, paranoia and anxieties; and psychosis.  

Each person is different:  with a Kaiser Neuromap we assess individual vulnerabilities and train these with neurofeedback.  Personalised Brain Training enables the person to unfold their genius in a socially reciprocal manner.  

Neurofeedback is medication-free, non-invasive and evidence-based. 

Schizophrenia is an elusive term: its definition allows for wide subjective interpretation, and resembles almost an ‘other’ category for mental health disorders not elsewhere defined more strictly.  Whether overlap and/or comorbidity, the following addresses the phenomenon resulting from dysrhythmia of key Default Mode Network nodes and thus a disintegration of the neurological definition of ‘self’.  Labelling can have deleterious consequences for a person’s self-esteem, and it risks association with worse symptoms and manifestations than experienced.   

Neurofeedback can achieve fast and impressive results, as seen here comparing brain maps of a client with a schizophrenia diagnosis after one week of intensive neurofeedback training

In Schizophrenia, the formation of a neural basis for a ‘self’, the Default Mode Network, is impaired, as is its ability to anti-correlate with the Central Executive Network.  Key nodes of these networks are often dysrhythmic, impacting the ability to self-sooth and self-nurture.  

Thought disorders, delusions or hallucinations are signs of not engaging sufficiently with the outside world.  These have neural correlates which we can detect with a Kaiser Neuromap and then train with neurofeedback.   

Many other pathologies ensue, including trauma, mood dysregulation, sleep and focus issues, and other personality disorders are at risk of developing as the social brain breaks down. 

With neurofeedback, we aim to restore social functionality, launching the person back into a virtuous cycle of affirmation and productivity with others.  

Daniel Webster has done week-long intensives with clients, where substantial progress was made in reducing psychosis and trauma symptoms.  This was ascertainable with before and after Kaiser Neuromaps, corroborating positive functional connectivity changes.  These were confirmed cognitively by the clients and their families. 

Neurofeedback is a form of complementary therapy and works alongside medication and psychotherapy, as well as calm-inducing approaches aimed at re-socialisation and maximising of interpersonal function.  

 

SpectralMaturityJulian

Our brain continues to mature with age, though this process slows.  There is still neurogenesis in our hippocampus into our 90s (!), and prefrontal maturity is arguably reached in our 40s and 50s, though connections are shaped at a slowing rate through our 20s and 30s.  Later in life, we face the prospect of neuro-degeneration.  

Neurofeedback training has been shown to strengthen white matter tracts, with resultant cognitive improvements.

With a Kaiser Neuromap, we can assess relative maturity in multiple ways.  

Structural maturity is indicated by spectral plots of frequency distributions within different brain areas.  This can reveal thalamo-cortical maturation relative to peers, as well as potential immature behaviour patterns.   

Functional connectivity shows us the level of cortical contribution to behaviour mechanisms, that is, how well different brain areas communicate with each other.  There are over 40 different functional brain areas, each with their own contribution towards our interpretation of our environment, our decision-making and action implementation.  Dysrhythmia, or lack of maturity, can result in various pathologies or inefficient behaviour patterns.  Maturity is a function of cortical contribution, resulting in prosocial behaviour, as opposed to the prevalence of limbic (or reptilian) drives initiated by phylogenetically older and thus lower level brain structures (e.g. the limbic system).  With a Kaiser Neuromap, we can assess this in a granular manner. 

We can then train the brain with neurofeedback to guide it towards optimal cortical function.  Functional connectivity is improved and we have a chance at strengthening structural features, such as thalamo-cortical associations, particularly in early (pre-teen) stages of development, and also well into adolescence and adulthood. 

Furthermore, a qEEG brain map can be comfortably done with children as young as two, helping to find issues that cognitive assessments are less likely to detect in early or pre-verbal stages of character development.  This way, we can pick up on potential issues at a crucial time, which gives us substantially more options for intervention. 

Traditional interventions include psychotherapy and medication.

is relatively non-specific and can include substantial adverse side effectspotentially harming physical development, sleep and behaviour patterns, and even disrupt healthy formation of functional connectivity between important neural hubs.  Our understanding of its mechanisms are still evolving, with chemical imbalance theories called into question regarding usefulness and outcome, and even recently debunked with regard to depression.  With neurofeedback training we have successfully eliminated, reduced and avoided medication use in clients, in accordance with the prescribing authority.  

 

relies on rapport and subjective understanding of a young mind; if this barrier can be crossed, we still have the potential for adverse interpersonal dynamics, misdiagnosis, and contra-productive engagement.  A young man’s search for male role models is not helped by the extreme gender imbalance in the industry, with over 80% of clinical psychologists being women.  

With neurofeedback training, we help build a neural basis which other forms of therapy can build on as necessary.  Coping mechanisms and rational self-awareness are conscious concepts that can be taught; it’s important to note that by exerting cognitive control, we are no longer living in the moment.  Thought intervention takes time and distracts us from synchrony and flow achieved in our natural interactions.  This can be helpful and necessary at times, yet we would prefer our brain to be wired in such a way that this isn’t necessary.  Neurofeedback targets these preconscious processes and provides us with a stronger foundation on which to build our character. 

 Psychotherapy is a useful access point to more specialised treatment, such as neurofeedback, and can benefit from the insights gained by looking into the brain and its functionality through the use of a brain map, as we see how the preconscious mind is wired to perceive issues and events, rather than constructing assumption-based external models that can be wildly tangential and even serve to create an unnecessary and counterproductive identity.  Informed psychotherapy on the other hand may help clients reshape their external environment to reflect and consolidate the internal journey promoted with neurofeedback.

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.

Neurofeedback training lets us address a wide range of mental health issues from an early age and helps guide a growing brain in a non-invasive, medication-free manner.  It is a complementary therapy that can target cortical sources of behavioural imbalance in a holistic way – brain areas work together in networks, and we can help strengthen and mature these connections across the entire brain.  Moreover, we are simply showing the brain more efficient ways of behaving, and the young person is free to integrate this guidance into their development themselves, thus respecting their integrity and growing sense of self.  

Neurofeedback is evidence-based, effective and can produce lasting positive results.  It has been proven to work with numerous pathologies, and in the US it is a widely accepted complementary therapy modality.  The case studies below show how we take a holistic, non-diagnostic approach to help brain and thus character maturation, while in the process resolving many issues that otherwise result in stigmatising classification.  By training the brain, we can help shape new trajectories in a young person’s development.  The cost of this early intervention is easily eclipsed by the value generated in improved life quality, emotional capacity, ability to collaborate with others, and new potentials for existence-building.  Neuroplasticity is highest in young brains, making this investment its most efficient at this stage. 

Neurofeedback Explained

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 is preconscious brain training aimed at enhancing our mental, emotional and spiritual health

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. 

Neurofeedback is evidence-based complementary therapy with over 2000 PubMed peer-reviewed research reports

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.

The Process Explained

Step 1: Brain Map

A qEEG recording takes about 45minutes for a 20 minute recording.

A cap with 19 sensors is is fitted to our head and gels inserted to ensure connectivity.  The sensors only read – there is a tiny voltage on the surface of our head that these pick up.  The gels are easily washed out later.  This is also the last time we wear the cap (until a remap after ten sessions); training is done with single sensors. 

We analyse the data with Kaiser Neuromap software which gives us a unique view into character traits and vulnerabilities.  

Findings are presented in a separate one-hour conversation where we discuss the key elements.

Step 2: Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback process explained, illustrating real-time analysis of brain waves and feedback given

 We use a movie of choice as the feedback mechanism – our conscious mind engages with the film, and feedback is delivered by small changes in volume or picture size.  

Our pre-conscious mind adapts its behaviour to preserve the more comfortable volume and picture size, and learning occurs. 

Volume changes are slight, not stop-start, and the process is enjoyable. 

Key is that we are interested in the movie – our conscious mind is engaged with the content, which forms the reward, and our preconscious mind – without our conscious effort – changes its behaviour in response to the feedback.

Capturing the ultradian cycle with neurofeedback Personalised Brain Training using Kaiser Neuromap

A two hour training session allows us to do 90-110 minutes of neurofeedback training during which we can work on various brain sites. 

This captures an entire ultradian rhythm cycle and corresponds to the approximate duration of feature film movies.  

We can start with shorter sessions as appropriate, mainly with children. 

Ideally, we do two or more sessions per week to start with.  

We would expect to see responsiveness within the first few sessions and remap after twenty hours or about ten sessions.  

Generally, we would expect to doing twenty sessions over two months, though this can vary substantially. 

We can also accommodate intensives, where we do two sessions per day over a number of days, and have had good results with these.

 

Summary

Neurofeedback is a safe, effective, non-invasive and medication-free method to improve mature development, focus, motivation and mood self-regulation in children and teenagers. 

Training is an enjoyable process – the client watches a movie of choice.  The brain is given feedback through slight changes in volume and picture size, and adjusts its behaviour pre-consciously in response.  An advantage of personalised brain training is that we do not rely on talk therapy or counselling, and the individual learns in a non-authoritarian setting.

By training specific brain areas, we can help the maturation process in many ways:

– emotional self-regulation:  mood swings, depression, hyper-activity, motivation, sense of self

– focus and attention:  distractibility, ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, reading difficulties

– mature development:  Default Mode Network connectivity, dominant alpha rhythm, relational thinking (“It’s all about me” vs. “I’m not part of anything”)

– social engagement: understanding intention of others, desire to interact and communicate, approach / avoidance,

– anxiety

– sleep:  ability to fall asleep easily, quality of sleep, enuresis, apnea

– working memory

– language:  comprehension and speech generation, stutter, motivation to communicate, sense of situational appropriateness

– early trauma

– headaches and migraines

– developmental disorders: autism, Williams’ Syndrome, learning disabilities

Daniel Webster has extensive experience working with children, teenagers and adolescents.  He holds an enhanced DBS check.

Consultations can be scheduled with Daniel – phone +44 (0)7966699430 or email daniel@neurofeedback.io