What is Neurofeedback: Meaning, Benefits, and Applications

9.28.2022 0 comments

Author: Trisha Houghton, CNS, ASIST
Medically reviewed by: Tricia Pingel, NMD

You may have heard the saying “Thoughts are real things.” It suggests that the way we think can directly affect our health – for better or worse.

Scientists have taken this idea and turned it into a life-changing scientific approach called neurofeedback, a form of therapy intended to help rewrite your brain, so it functions using healthier patterns.

To many, it seems too good to be true. Is it?

Read on to find out everything you need to know about neurofeedback, including how it works, who it can help, and any risks to consider.

By the end of this page, you’ll have a better understanding of this fascinating form of therapy, and you might even consider trying it for yourself!

What is Neurofeedback? 

Neurofeedback, also called neurofeedback therapy or EEG biofeedback, is a form of therapy that allows you to see your brain activity in real time.

This therapy solution is computer-assisted and is in no way invasive. Sensors are painlessly placed on the patient’s scalp; they measure brain activity and send it to a computer that analyzes the brain function measurements live.

As the computer program takes in information on how your brain functions, it responds by producing images, sounds, and other forms of stimuli to positively influence the brain through operant conditioning.

Over time, your brain will be essentially trained to more easily achieve positive states, and you’ll feel better as a result.

Fair warning: Neurofeedback isn’t just a one-session treatment. Typically, a course of therapy will last anywhere from 6 to 20 sessions, all of which last from 30 minutes to as long as an hour. This is because your brain needs repeated neurofeedbacktraining in order to learn self-regulation and reorganize patterns and responses.

It’s a slow, steady progress that, over time, can help you gain exponentially greater voluntary control over the way your brain responds to any given situation or to any stressor or stimulus. It can also enhance your processing speed.

How Neurofeedback Works

Those who are new to this type of therapy might feel apprehensive, especially when it’s their first time. Below, we’ll share step by step information on how neurofeedback works in practice.

Step 1: You’ll Prep at Home

The night before a neurofeedback session, you should get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep. If you’re feeling drowsy, that could skew your results. Ensuring you’re properly rested reduces the risk of this happening.

You’ll also eat before your session to ensure you aren’t so hungry that you’re distracted. You can have either a full meal or a snack.

And before setting off for your planned neurofeedback session, put on any prescribed eyewear (glasses, contact lenses). You will be looking at a computer screen for at least part of the session.

Step 2: After Arriving, Relax Your Mind

During a neurofeedback therapy session, you’ll likely start off with some relaxing activity in a calm setting to “set the mood”.

Ideally, you want to enter the session as serene and comfortable as possible.

Step 3: Prep for Brain Activity Measurement

You’ll be connected to a special cap, headband, or helmet with built-in electroencephalography electrodes. These highly delicate sensors are wired to detect your brain wave patterns and transmit them to a computer. Don’t worry, there are no needles involved.

Here are the brainwave patterns/electrical impulses that the EEG will measure: 

• Alpha waves – Alpha brain waves mean you’re in a conscious yet relaxed state.
• Beta waves – Your brain is engaged when these waves are produced. When your technician sees these waves, they’ll know you’re either mulling something over in your mind, excitedly engaged in an activity, or experiencing mental tension or unease.
• Gamma waves – When you’re highly stressed or deeply focused on something, your technician may see more gamma brain patterns. These are the faster brain waves.
• Delta waves – Your brain produces these slower brain waves when in a deep sleep but not actively dreaming. These waves come from the brain’s thalamus and they create a feeling of tranquility in the mind.
• Theta waves – These waves indicate that you’re in a very relaxed state of mind. They’re often seen when someone begins to zone out or when their mind is wandering or at ease while doing something creative.

As therapy begins, and the patient’s brainwaves are studied, they’ll be exposed to different audio and visual stimuli, such as a video, video game, or a series of images. They might even prompt the patient to listen to music or participate in a game or activity.

Step 4: Your Technicians Will Give You Feedback

All throughout, you’ll receive immediate feedback from the technicians watching the monitors displaying the electrical data recorded by the electrodes. They’ll tell you what your emotions are, how your mood is changing in response to certain activities or stimuli, if you’re feeling more stressed or relaxed, and so on.

Your goal is to focus on how you’re feeling throughout the session and keep your emotions trending toward the positive.

You will be able to see how your attempts to regulate your emotions are working. For example, when you receive positive feedback and experience positive emotions, the screen color will grow lighter. And the screen will grow darker if you experience a negative emotion.

By getting this direct feedback, you become more consciously aware of what you’re feeling moment by moment, and your being more conscious of your feelings allows you to have more control over them.

During these training sessions, your central nervous system will be taught how best to respond in different situations.

Who Can Benefit from Neurofeedback Therapy? 

Could neurofeedback work for you?

The first thing to know is that adults, teens, and even children can benefit from neurofeedback therapy. But it’s especially helpful for certain groups, specifically those who struggle with emotional regulation or stress.

These groups are as follows:

• Neurodivergent youth. Adolescent psychiatry research has suggested that children with ADHD can benefit from neurofeedback treatment [1]. One study found that just 4 weeks of neurofeedback therapy led to a drastic reduction in “ADHD core symptoms” among the children participating.
• Those with PTSD and GAD. A 2017 study found that, when compared to a control group with no treatment at all, neurofeedback treatment was shown to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
• Individuals with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. An open-labeled pilot study conducted in 2019 found that neurofeedback was a potentially effective augmentation treatment for (1) depressive symptoms, and (2) functional recovery for those with treatment-resistant depression.
• Those who don’t sleep well. If you don’t get 7 to 8 hours of restful sleep, neurofeedback could improve your sleep quality. Of 12 retained studies evaluated in this systematic Canadian review, all of the neurofeedback studies have shown improvement of subjective sleep.

*This is not an exhaustive list of people who can benefit from neurofeedback therapy.

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Conditions Treated by Neurofeedback 

Neurofeedback therapy is regularly used to treat a wide variety of conditions and psychiatric disorders, including [2]:

• Post traumatic stress disorder;
• Brain injuries;
• Anxiety disorders;
• Depression;
• Seizure conditions;
• Developmental delays;
• Age-related cognitive loss/decline;
• Sleep problems, including insomnia and other disorders related to sleep;
• Behavioral disorders;
• Traumatic brain injury;
• Autism spectrum disorder;
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms;
• Chronic pain;
• Seizure disorder;
• Learning disorders/learning disabilities;
• Other mental health disorders.

If you’re wondering whether neurofeedback is suitable for you, you can discuss with your healthcare provider who will offer personalized insight and recommendations.

The Potential and Limitations of Neurofeedback Therapy 

One important thing to note is that neurofeedback therapy is still a very much emerging discipline, and research into its effectiveness and utility remains “inconclusive”.

Typically, it’s recommended alongside other established therapies (talk therapy, for example) or medications that have been proven more effective at managing and treating the conditions listed above.

More research is needed to determine the extent of its true usefulness in clinical settings.

The Risks and Side Effects of Neurofeedback Therapy 

You might be thinking, “If this therapy is tinkering around with my brain, there’s got to be some kind of downside, right?” “Is neurofeedback safe?”

You’ll be glad to know that the non-invasive therapy is “considered a safe practice and is associated with minimal risk.” [3]

The minor risks associated with this therapy are: 

• Discomfort caused by the headset;
• Drowsiness (which was actually perceived as a positive effect among PTSD, insomnia, and TBI sufferers who struggled to sleep);
• Agitation, irritability, and anxiety (among patients with CNS impairment and depression).

However, these side effects were far from common, and they tended to be fairly mild and short-lived.

Really, the greatest “risk” of neurofeedback therapy is that it doesn’t work for you, and the money you spent on the sessions will be “wasted”.

Otherwise, it’s mostly a safe form of therapy that may help your brain achieve optimal functioning.

Conclusion

As you’ve seen above, neurofeedback has the potential to be a truly effective solution for re-wiring your brain and training it to respond differently to the typical stressors and stimuli that you face on a daily basis.

If you’re looking for a solution to change the way you react, it may be a fascinating option to consider. If nothing else, at least you can learn how you respond in a wide range of situations, and even if it doesn’t cure your mental health problems, it will give you a better understanding of yourself.

That alone is invaluable information that can help you make changes in your life that will improve your mental, emotional, and physical health!

And since healthy brain function is closely tied to quality sleep, supporting your nervous system at night can further enhance the benefits of therapies like neurofeedback.

We hope these tips will help you get a deep relaxing sleep. However, if you need further help, you should try magnesium supplementation. Restore Sleep magnesium formula contains the 7 most powerful forms of magnesium that support optimal brain function, help achieve deep restorative sleep and promote total body relaxation. 

Click here to learn more about Restore Sleep and how it can change your life for the better through providing your body with the best magnesium complex to improve your brain function, sleep quality and relaxation response.

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is neurofeedback?

There is no single price for neurofeedback; it varies based on where you go, what’s included in a session, and more). However, on average, a single neurofeedback session will cost $50 minimum but can cost as much as $150 or more. Many times, you’ll see neurofeedback services bundled into packages that can save you money ($800 for 10 sessions or $1500 for 15 sessions). Remember that it usually takes more than one, or even a few, sessions to get results with this therapy type.

Can neurofeedback go wrong?

If you’re concerned that neurofeedback could go wrong, rest assured that this is unlikely. So long as you choose a clinically-trained professional and use the treatment for conditions outlined above, it should go off without a hitch. It’s not invasive, and it’s performed by an expert trained in basic and clinical neuroscience and the administration of this type of biofeedback. The Biofeedback Certification International Alliance certifies individuals in this area – if your provider holds this distinction, that’s fantastic. As we mentioned before, there are some side effects to look out for, but they don’t typically last long, nor are they particularly bothersome in most cases.

How long does it take for neurofeedback to start working?

Depending on what you’re using neurofeedback for, you may begin to see results within your first few treatment sessions. You won’t usually have to wait long. It may improve focus, brain fog, mood, or sleep early on, whereas others’ changes unfold more gradually over several weeks of consistent sessions. It’s important to remember that everyone’s neurofeedback experience will be different, so it’s best to think of this as a personal journey rather than a quick fix.

Sources

Neurofeedback of Slow Cortical Potentials in Children

Neurofeedback and Biofeedback for Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Neurofeedback Treatment on Depressive Symptoms and Functional Recovery in Treatment-Resistant Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: an Open-Label Pilot Study

Neurofeedback for insomnia: Current state of research

Neurofeedback

Types of Brain Waves

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