NEUROFEEDBACK

Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback that is used in the treatment or rehabilitation of many neurological disorders such as ADD/ADHD, seizures, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and many others. The primary form used is EEG, or brainwave, biofeedback.  Various forms of EEG may be used including power spectral analysis, compressed spectral array, density spectral array, Fast-Fourier Transform, and "raw" EEG. EEG activity is analyzed and compared with normal EEG activity in order to get baseline information to base the actual neurotherapy on. A computer analysis quantifies the EEG activity which is compared with the overall qualitative appearance of EEG. Various factors are then used to determine which type of "feedback" will be most useful for the patient. For example, a child may be motivated more with a "Pac-man" or happy face feedback video screen while a woman may enjoy making a flower open up or have the sun rise or set on the ocean and a man may enjoy landing a spaceship or compete in a boat race or dart throwing competition. In order for the patient to accomplish the task selected on the video screen, they must generate a certain (more normal) EEG pattern. In other words, the controller for the video game becomes their brain. As they begin to master the video game at a certain level, the game continually becomes more difficult until normal (or best possible) EEG activity is achieved. In the case of ADD/ADHD, successful treatment comes from reducing slow wave (theta) activity which is normally only found during drowsiness and sleep and normalizing alpha and beta activity which are associated with relaxed, alert wakefulness. In the case of seizures, by training patients to generate a sensorimotor rhythm in the brain, it is often possible to prevent the onset of seizures. Neurofeedback is often a very effective component of brain injury and cognitive rehabilitation. Usually, the number of sessions required is comparable to that with physical therapy and the results are considered permanent. Patients may be seen 1-3 times weekly and are usually seen at three, six, and 12 months post discharge to ensure that the results are permanent and provide any intervention that may be required to ensure permanency of recovery.