NEUROTHERAPY

Neurotherapy refers to various treatments that are designed to treat an illness or disease through the nervous system. There are many types of neurotherapies available. Some of the main types of neurotherapies used at Hopper Institute are discussed below.

Brain Entrainmant

 This type of neurotherapy involves the use of photic stimulation. The patient wearsphoto-goggles that resemble sunglasses but do not have a lens. Instead, they have lights on the inside of where the lens would go that blink at a specified frequency and brightness. The color of the flashing lights can be varied as can the frequency and brightness. The patient relaxes in a comfortable position with eyes closed and wears the glasses for 30 or more minutes. The light is received by the brain which becomes synchronized to the frequency of the flashing lights. Gradually, the entire brain becomes entrained to the frequency of the lights which produces the desired effect (e.g., decreased pain, relaxation, sleep, etc.). This can be done daily or several times a week.

Cranial Electrical Stimulation

This form of brain stimulation has been around for over a half century. It was originally referred to as electrosleep therapy and was pioneered by Russian scientists. It has been refined and study in great detail and is now used in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, and substance abuse among other conditions. CES involves the clipping of electrodes to the ear lobes or to the base of the back of the skull. A light tingling is felt at the site of the electrodes and the patient remains in a relaxed position for 30 or more minutes. After being exposed to a specific electrical stimulation, the brain releases various neurotransmitters producing a very relaxed state. This can be done daily or several times a week.

Neurofeedback

This form of biofeedback involves the application of electrodes to the scalp to record brain waves of various types. The EEG is broken down into various frequency bands at different sites along the brain to help the patient learn to control brain activity to help sleep, addictions, control seizures, headaches, pain, attention deficits, or other neurological-related conditions. Neurofeedback is discussed in more detail under the Patient Education section.

Psycho-Acoustic Therapy

This type of therapy involves the use of sound to stimulate the brain and produce a desired effect. Music therapy is a well known form of treatment for a variety ofpsychological and medical conditions. Certain types of music can relax or energize and can even stimulate the immune system and promote healing. At Hopper Institute, various forms of PAT are used to treat a wide range of conditions using music and other forms of acoustic stimulation to help the brain synchronize to certain frequencies. This is often used in conjunction with photo stimulation to enhance brain entrainment.