Memory When I see an adult, especially mid-40s and beyond, with fogginess and memory issues, I would look at levels of frontal alpha and look at alpha frequency distribution. If the alpha levels in the front are relatively high–as high or higher than theta levels–then I would train them down. If the slow alpha to fast alpha ratio is high, indicating a generalized slowing, then I would train up, say, 10-15 Hz and train down 3-5 and 8-10 Hz. Working […]
Menopausal Symptoms Doing an assessment and working from a training plan would be a good guide to dealing with lots of things, but specifically for the hormone-related symptoms. The Othmers claimed to have gotten good results. They did C3/C4 one-channel bipolar training to reduce the amplitude of the whole EEG (squash) and increase amplitude in Sensory Motor Rhythm. Another traditional training for hormone-related issues is SMR training up at C4 or Cz. All SMR training should be done with eyes […]
Migraines Migraines are parasympathetic rebounds of the autonomic nervous system. They occur when a client has experienced (or created) a fairly chronic level of stress over a significant period of time, changing the Tone of the ANS, which is responsible for maintaining the internal environments of our bodies and linking them with our emotional states. Migraines don’t occur during periods of stress. They occur immediately following significant stress. Instead of re-opening the blood vessels to the head by relaxing the smooth muscles, the […]
Motivation I have personally found Fp01 (referenced either to F3 or F7) beta up and theta down in a (relatively) normal adult male can have a galvanizing effect on motivation (one of the functions of the left orbitofrontal cortex). The only negative I’ve experienced doing it has been that I never finish a session–end up pulling the leads off and going off to DO SOMETHING. Slow wave activity and slow alpha are common findings [for procrastination] frontal midline is often […]
Sync Errors in the software Sync error relates to communication between the amplifier and either its dongle or the computer. BE expects 256 bits of data each second to be coming through the dongle. When something less than that comes, BE warns you that something is interfering with the synchronization of the communication. Most commonly this is the trainer or the client. The Pendant and dongle should be able to “see” each other directly. When you lean between them or […]
Narcissism The problem with narcissism is, “what exactly IS it?” A quick run through Google indicates it is “An excessive preoccupation with one’s own personal importance, or with achieving one’s own chosen goals rather than bonding with others, or with associating only with others whom one chooses.” So, what is excessive here? An excessive lack of preoccupation with one’s own personal importance or preoccupation with bonding with others at the expense of self is lack of boundaries or perhaps co-dependency. The […]
Obsessions and Compulsions The OCD patterns in your clients are tertiary–they’re defenses against emotional drive issues. In neurofeedback we would focus on resolving the emotional drive, then the OCD may melt away or be easier to train away. Obsessive thought and compulsive behaviors are often used as a way of covering over either anxiety or depression, so you need to be sure to deal with what is underneath the defense before you just go in and blast it away–if the […]
Night sweats Sweating is an autonomic response–sympathetic rebound. When you are very tired, then it’s easier to go through theta and into delta at the beginning of sleep. The very fast EEG, however, probably results in waking up when your brain tries to enter REM. The beta that characterizes REM can be too much and too fast and result in waking you up. A sympathetic rebound is what happens when the brain suddenly realizes it has been “too relaxed” and […]
Oligophrenia/Low IQ If the IQ score is below about 85, it is very unlikely that neurofeedback will help a person. Joel Lubar told me this many years ago, and I was too smart to believe him until I had tried with three clients. Then I believed him. The US Army has done comprehensive work in comparing intelligence levels (IQ scores) and capacities, to help them be able to accept as many volunteers as possible and place them into jobs where […]
Oppositional Behavior Wolf packs are remarkably stable in their roles, with the alpha male and female maintaining tight control. It is interesting to note that experiments looking at brain activation found that the alpha males produced dramatically higher alpha levels than the other wolves in the pack and, in fact, there appeared to be a direct correlation between alpha levels and pack rank. When the alpha male was temporarily disabled (tying one leg or putting it in a cast or […]