Neurofeedback FAQ:

Welcome to EEG Biofeedback

Peter N. Smith, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist with more than twenty-five years of experience in individual, group and family therapy. A diplomate in EEG Biofeedback, Peter has specialized in biofeedback applications to eating disorders, in addition to treating clients with substance abuse, ADD, and brain injury. He received his doctorate from the Florida Institute of Technology.

William Eck, M.D.  Also certified in EEG Biofeedback, Bill currently focuses on treatment of adolescents with eating disorders. He was trained in medicine at the Universidad Central del Este in the Dominican Republic, and he received his B.A. in Biology from Indiana University.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an EEG?

An EEG, or electroencephalogram, is a recording of electrical activity in the brain using sensors (electrodes) on the scalp. The presence of different brain frequencies was first demonstrated by the German psychiatrist Hans Berger in 1929. The EEG has long been a valuable tool of neurologists in the diagnosis of epilepsy and other brain disorders.  

What is EEG Biofeedback?

This is a learning technique by which the brain improves its function by receiving information about the frequencies it is creating. Dr. Barry Sterman, UCLA professor emeritus of neurology and psychology, pioneered this area of operant conditioning while doing animal research in the 1960s. In the decade before, experiments by psychologist Joe Kamiya, Ph.D., at the University of Chicago showed that brain waves were not totally involuntary as had been thought. The brain can be nudged to produce more or less of a certain frequency by the simple feedback of audio tones, for example. Also known as Neurofeedback, EEG Biofeedback enhances the brain’s communication network in a painless and noninvasive way. In some cases, it can reduce a client’s need for medication. The field of EEG Biofeedback has grown rapidly and internationally since the 1980s. Its practioners include neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors.

Who can benefit from EEG Biofeedback?

EEG Biofeedback was first applied as a tool in managing epilepsy, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Today this learning technique is employed to treat a wide variety of conditions, including brain injury, depression, anxiety, addictions and disordered eating. The broad application of EEG Biofeedback stems from its support of the innate regulatory function of the brain.
 
Why would EEG Biofeedback be applicable to addictive disorders?

Supported by current research, addictions may be viewed as a chronic stress-related condition. They begin as an individual’s adaptation to stress, and subsequently gain increased control over a person’s life and choices. Stress chemicals have detrimental physiologic affects on brain structure and function. We also know that the developing brain is positively impacted by emotional nurturing in childhood. EEG Biofeedback is a valuable complement to other stress reduction therapies such as mediation. It supports the formation of the brain’s essential communication pathways and helps clients live more effectively with a variety of emotions. Commitment to a balanced lifestyle that includes healthy nutrition and avoidance of toxic/ addictive substances is necessary in order to reap the maximum benefit from neurofeedback therapy.

What occurs during EEG Biofeedback training?

Sensors on the scalp pick up information about the waves of electrical energy the brain is producing. A computer amplifies these complex signals and displays them on the monitor as small groups of energy at specific frequencies. This information is “fed back” to the client, often through audio tones. Protocols using the electrode cap, developed by Marvin Sams, N.D., do not depend upon a client’s conscious effort to control brain patterns. This novel form of neurofeedback provides reinforcement to the brain when  performing a task that requires attention and concentration, such a playing tetris.
What kinds of brain waves can be displayed?

Beta rhythms reflect “fast” activity—frequencies activated when we are alert, problem solving, or being anxious. Rapid consolidation of information produces frequencies in the highest range, known as Gamma. Alpha rhythms are the most frequent wave patterns, and they occur when we are relaxed and detached. When we close our eyes and begin to feel drowsy, the brain produces Alpha. Theta frequencies reflect even deeper relaxation, occurring as we slip closer to sleep and form mini-dreams or images. The brain during deep sleep produces the slowest waves, known as Delta.  Through training, the brain learns to increase or decrease certain frequencies so that it is functioning in the optimal way for the task at hand. EEG biofeedback produces greater efficiency and flexibility as the brain moves between different states.

What types of training are selected?

The stress of living in today’s culture produces particular wear on the nervous system, but we now know that we can play a role in balancing this stress. Problems of brain self-regulation fall into three general areas: instability (which is the case in epilepsy and other conditions), under arousal, and over arousal. Training Beta activity is often selected to treat manifestations of under arousal such as depression, poor attentional focus, and frequent awakenings at night. Symptoms of over arousal, such as anxiety and difficulty falling asleep, commonly respond to training in a frequency just lower than Beta, called SMR. Alpha training is appropriate for some individuals with anxiety because of its calming effects. Deep relaxation training with alpha-theta brain wave feedback has been used to successfully treat addictions.

Where can I find more information about EEG Biofeedback?

Reliable internet sites include www.greatbrain.com/thesamscenter,  www.eegspectrum.com and the website of the international society of neuronal regulation www.snr.org. See also A Symphony in the Brain: The Evolution of the New Brain Wave Biofeedback (2000), written by Jim Robbins and published by Atlantic Monthly Press.