BIOFEEDBACK AND NEUROFEEDBACK

Biofeedback involves measuring signals from the body and training clients to control the behaviour of their bodies. Signals include heart rate (electrocardiography or EKG), muscle tension (Electromyography or EMG), sweating (Galvanic Skin Response or GSR), skin temperature, breathing rate, and brain activity (Electroencephalography or EEG).

Using feedback about the bodies functioning it is possible to alter muscle tension and train you to relax muscle groups, reduce heart rate, and lower a range of stress responses. Biofeedback is used to treat:

• Migraine headaches
• Tension headaches
• Other types of chronic pain
• High blood pressure
• Cardiac arrhythmias (abnormalities in the rhythm of the heartbeat)
• ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)
  and other conditions

Neurofeedback is a specific form of biofeedback. It is an approach to train the brain, helping it to improve its ability to regulate all bodily functions and to take care of itself. Using EEG (Electroencephalogram) feedback it is possible to detect problems in the functioning of the brain, and to show you how to use your brain to improve your functioning.

EEG feedback is obtained by placing electrodes on the ears and scalp. This process is totally non-invasive and carries no risk of harm. Electrodes detect the activity of the brain, which is then fed into a computer. The software then converts the signals into output that can be viewed on screen. It can also be fed into specialized computer "games". These games are set by the therapist to reward the types of brain activity that will best help you improve your functioning.

Neurofeedback can:

• Improve sleep
• Increase mental alertness
• Assist in the treatment of depression, anxiety, migraine, and chronic pain
• Help manage problems with attention, like Attention Deficit Disorder
• Help you keep emotions more stable and manageable (eg. Managing temper outbursts)
• Enhance performance of executives, athletes and performers