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With
electronic sensors attached to your head, advanced
brain imaging technology shows you your brain at
work. Intently watching the computer display, you
begin to alter this activity. You see the changes on
the screen milliseconds after they occur in your
brain, and hear or see as the computer signals the change
the moment you succeed. This instantaneous
information helps you gain increasing control and
mastery. You are changing your brain.
This is not science fiction. Rather, it is the
current culmination of the neurosciences, a
research-supported way to train ones brain.
Depending upon ones goal and training techniques
such training may be quite specific in nature. That
is, research
has shown that many kinds of psychological
difficulty are associated with problems in
activation in various areas of the brain. Patterns
of under activation, over-activation, or disturbed
coordination of brain activity have been found with
many kinds of symptoms in brain imaging studies.
This is true of attention deficits, anxiety,
depression, autism spectrum disorders, tics, and
learning disabilities.
On the
other hand, neurofeedback may be more general in
nature with personal improvement goals including such areas as improved
organization, task accomplishment, problem solving
and general more efficient daily functioning as well
as sleep patterns. Athletes, also, ranging from
weekend golfers to professionals have found
performance improvement as a result of improved
brain efficiency.
Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback in which the
electroencephalograph (EEG) is used to show and
measure brain activity. The EEG shows momentary
increases and decreases in activity only
milliseconds after they occur and over the past
several decades neuroscientists have shown that we
are able to alter these patterns of activation in
the brain if we can see the momentary changes the
instant they occur. This process is called
biofeedback - getting immediate information about
our biological processes.
With
electronic sensors attached to ones head, advanced
brain imaging technology shows a person their
brain at work. When watching a computer display, one can see
changes on the screen milliseconds after they occur
in your brain and learn to influence and direct
these changes. This instantaneous information helps
you gain increasing control and mastery over your
brain function. You
are changing your brain.
A
simplified example of how
ONE MAY CHOOSE to
change their brain functioning may be found by
examining the information presented below, regarding
“Brain Wave Frequencies”. That is, through
Neurofeedback one may choose to learn to increase
one type of frequency so as to enhance the
behavioral characteristics associated with it, one
may learn to suppress a frequency that is
interfering with efficient function, or, one may do
both simultaneously.
Brain Wave
Frequencies
Delta (0.1 to 3 Hz)
The lowest frequencies are delta.
These are less than 4 Hz and occur in deep sleep and
in some abnormal processes also during experiences
of "empathy state". Delta waves are involved with
our ability to integrate and let go. It reflects
unconscious mind.
It is the dominant rhythm in infants up to one year
of age and it is present in stages 3 and 4 of sleep.
It tends to be the highest in amplitude and the
slowest waves. We increase Delta waves in
order to decrease our awareness of the physical
world. We also access information in our unconscious
mind through Delta.
Peak performers decrease Delta waves when
high focus and peak performance are required.
However, most individuals diagnosed with Attention
Deficit Disorder, naturally increase rather
than decrease Delta activity when trying to focus.
The inappropriate Delta response often severely
restricts the ability to focus and maintain
attention. It is as if the brain is locked into a
perpetual drowsy state.
Another way to look at Delta is to imagine you are
driving in a car and you shift into 1st
gear....you're not going to get anywhere very fast.
So Delta would represent 1st gear.
Delta (0.1-3 Hz):
Distribution: generally broad or diffused may be
bilateral, widespread
Subjective feeling states: deep, dreamless
sleep, non-REM sleep, trance and unconscious.Associated tasks & behaviors: lethargic, not
moving, not attentive
Physiological correlates: not moving,
low-level of arousal
Effects of training: can induce drowsiness,
trance, and deeply relaxed states
Theta (4-8 Hz)
The next brainwave is theta. Theta
activity has a frequency of 3.5 to 7.5 Hz and is
classed as "slow" activity. It is seen in connection
with creativity, intuition, daydreaming, and
fantasizing and is a repository for memories,
emotions, and sensations. Theta waves are strong
during internal focus, meditation, prayer, and
spiritual awareness. It reflects the state between
wakefulness and sleep. This frequency relates to the
“subconscious”.
It is abnormal in awake adults but is perfectly
normal in children up to 13 years old. It is also
normal during sleep. Theta is believed to reflect
activity from the limbic system and hippocampus
regions. Theta is observed in anxiety, behavioral
activation and behavioral inhibition.
When the theta rhythm appears to function normally
it mediates and/or promotes adaptive, complex
behaviors such as learning and memory. Under unusual
emotional circumstances, such as stress or disease
states, there may be an imbalance of three major
transmitter systems, which results in aberrant
behavior.
Back to our car example, Theta would be considered
2nd gear. Not as slow as 1st gear (Delta) but still
not very fast.
Distribution: usually regional, may involve
many lobes, can be lateralized or diffuse;
Subjective feeling states: intuitive,
creative, recall, fantasy, imagery, creative,
dreamlike, switching thoughts, drowsy; "oneness",
"knowing"
Associated tasks & behaviors: creative,
intuitive; but may also be distracted, unfocused
Physiological correlates: healing,
integration of mind/body
Effects of Training: if enhanced, can induce
drifting, trance-like state. If suppressed, can
improve concentration, ability to focus attention
Alpha (8-12 Hz)
Alpha
waves are those between 7.5 and 13(Hz). Alpha waves
will peak around 10Hz. Good healthy alpha production
promotes mental resourcefulness, aids in the ability
to mentally coordinate, and enhances overall sense
of relaxation and fatigue. In this state you can
move quickly and efficiently to accomplish whatever
task is at hand. When Alpha predominates most people
feel at ease and calm. Alpha appears to bridge the
conscious to the subconscious.
It is the major rhythm seen in normal relaxed adults
- it is present during most of life especially
beyond the thirteenth year when it dominates the
resting tracing.
Alpha rhythms are reported to be derived from the
white matter of the brain. The white matter can be
considered the part of the brain that connects all
parts with each other.
Alpha is a common state for the brain and occurs
whenever a person is alert (it is a marker for
alertness and sleep), but not actively processing
information. They are strongest over the occipital
(back of the head) cortex and also over frontal
cortex.
Alpha has been linked to extroversion (introverts
show less), creativity (creative subjects show alpha
when listening and coming to a solution for creative
problems), and mental work.
When your alpha is with in normal ranges we tend to
also experience good moods, see the world
truthfully, and have a sense of calmness. Alpha is
one of the brain's most important frequencies to
learn and use information taught in the classroom
and on the job.
You can increase alpha by closing your eyes or deep
breathing or decrease alpha by thinking or
calculating.
Alpha-Theta training can create an increase in
sensation, abstract thinking and self-control.
In our car scenario, Alpha would represent neutral
or idle. Alpha allows us to shift easily from one
task to another.
Distribution:
regional, usually involves entire lobe; strong
occipital w/eyes closed
Subjective feeling states: relaxed, not
agitated, but not drowsy; tranquil, conscious
Associated tasks & behaviors: meditation, no
action
Physiological correlates: relaxed, healing
Effects of Training: can produce relaxation
Sub band low alpha: 8-10: inner-awareness of
self, mind/body integration, balance
Sub band high alpha: 10-12: centering,
healing, mind/body connection
Beta (above 12 Hz)
Beta
activity is 'fast' activity. It has a frequency of
14 and greater Hz. It reflects desynchronized active
brain tissue. It is usually seen on both sides in
symmetrical distribution and is most evident
frontally. It may be absent or reduced in areas of
cortical damage.
It is generally regarded as a normal rhythm and is
the dominant rhythm in those who are alert or
anxious or who have their eyes open.
It is the state that most of brain is in when we
have our eyes open and are listening and thinking
during analytical problem solving, judgment,
decision making, processing information about the
world around us.
Beta would represent overdrive or hyper drive in our
car scenario.
The beta band has a relatively large range, and has
been divided into low, midrange and high.
Low Beta (12-15 Hz), formerly "SMR":
Distribution:
localized by side and by lobe (frontal, occipital,
etc)
Subjective feeling states: relaxed yet
focused, integrated
Associated tasks & behaviors: low SMR can
reflect "ADD", lack of focused attention
Physiological correlates: is inhibited by
motion; restraining body may increase SMR
Effects of Training: increasing SMR can
produce relaxed focus, improved attentive abilities,
Midrange Beta (15-18 Hz)
Distribution:
localized, over various areas, although for training
it may be focused on one electrode.
Subjective feeling states: thinking, aware of
self & surroundings
Associated tasks & behaviors: mental activity
Physiological correlates: alert, active, but
not agitated
Effects of Training: can increase mental
ability, focus, alertness, IQ
High Beta (above 18 Hz)
Distribution: localized, may be very focused.
Subjective feeling states: alertness,
agitation
Associated tasks & behaviors: mental
activity, e.g. math, planning, etc.
Physiological correlates: general activation
of mind & body functions.
Effects of Training: can induce alertness,
but may also produce agitation, etc.
Gamma (above 36 Hz)
Gamma is measured between 36 – 44 (Hz) and is the
only frequency group found in every part of the
brain. When the brain needs to simultaneously
process information from different areas, it’s
hypothesized that the 40Hz activity consolidates the
required areas for simultaneous processing. A good
memory is associated with well-regulated and
efficient 40Hz activity, whereas a 40Hz deficiency
creates learning disabilities.
Gamma (40 Hz)
Distribution:
very localized
Subjective feeling states: thinking;
integrated thoughts
Associated tasks & behaviors: high-level
information processing, "binding"
Physiological correlates: associated with
information-rich task processing
Effects of Training: not known, although
there are some fledging indications that deep
meditation states such as are achieved by Buddhist
monks occur at or above this level. As an
aside, the closer one approaches 60 Hz, the
frequency that pervades our environment as a result
of our electrical usage, the more spurious signals
confound both measurement and training. Regrettably, Faraday Cages are
generally impracticable in most settings. ;-(
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