Home InsightsWhat is Neurofeedback and How Does it Work?

What is Neurofeedback and How Does it Work?

4 Minutes

Edited & medically reviewed by THE BALANCE Team

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Over the past few decades, neuroscience has made huge leaps in understanding the brain and all its complexities. Most notably, the concept of neuroplasticity. At any given moment in our lives, we have the power to change our brains. Now that we know we can, the challenge becomes how we do it. One of the new leading techniques in training the brain is called neurofeedback. The technique is used to treat a variety of mental health issues and is also used by high-performing individuals to enhance their brain function. We sat down with our neurofeedback expert, Eva Larragay, to discuss how it works, the science behind it, and who stands to benefit.

Neurofeedback, also known as EEG biofeedback, is a type of biofeedback that uses real-time monitoring of brain activity to teach people how to self-regulate their brain function. A recording of the electrical activity in the brain is taken using an electroencephalography (EEG), and the practitioner provides feedback to the individual through visual, auditory, or tactile signals. This feedback helps individuals learn how to modulate their brain waves, aiming to optimise its function.

“It’s the gym for your brain,” says expert Eva Larragay. “Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, and painless technique that trains the brain to work in the way we want it to work.” A process begins with an initial assessment of brain activity. A practitioner places a set of electrodes on a patient’s scalp to get information fed back into the EEG scan. Based on the assessment, specific goals are set. The feedback mechanism (auditory, visual or tactile) responds in real-time to the brain’s activity, rewarding specific brainwave patterns and discouraging other ones. We can train the brain to turn on or turn off. We can train specific brain patterns like Alpha waves, which are associated with deep relaxation, creativity and focus. It is important to note that this technique does not require the patient to speak in any way. When dealing with mental struggles, often times the last thing a person wants to do is speak about it. Neurofeedback is one of the ways we can heal silently. Over multiple sessions, the brain can learn to produce desired brainwaves more consistently, leading to improved self-regulation.

Neurofeedback leverages the brain’s neuroplasticity, or its ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections. By repeatedly providing feedback on brain activity, neurofeedback helps to ‘rewire’ the brain, promoting healthier brainwave patterns. Through long term study of EEGs, we know the patterns associated with different states of activity and cognitive functions:

Delta waves (0.5-4 Hz): Associated with deep sleep, transcendence, and restoration.
Theta waves (4-8 Hz): Linked to visualisation, trance, or dreaming
Alpha waves (8-12 Hz): Related to meditation, creativity, and relaxation.
Beta waves (12-30 Hz): Associated with alertness, concentration, and thinking.
Gamma waves (30-100 Hz): Linked to peak experiences, insight, and synchronisation.

Neurofeedback training aims to balance these brainwave frequencies, enhancing overall brain function and reducing symptoms of various mental health conditions.

Neurofeedback can help anyone that is willing to do it! But there are specific populations that it has shown significant promise with in treatment, including:

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Research indicates that neurofeedback can reduce symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in children and adults with ADHD.
Anxiety and Stress: Neurofeedback helps in training the brain to produce more alpha waves associated with relaxation, thus reducing anxiety and stress levels.
Depression: By promoting more balanced brainwave activity, neurofeedback can alleviate symptoms of depression.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Neurofeedback has been used to help individuals with PTSD by promoting stability and reducing hyperarousal.
Sleep Disorders: Training the brain to produce the appropriate brainwave patterns can improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Neurofeedback can aid in recovery from TBI by enhancing cognitive function and reducing symptoms like brain fog and fatigue.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Neurofeedback may improve attention, behaviour, and emotional regulation in individuals with ASD.
Peak Performance: Athletes, musicians, and high-performing individuals like CEOs can use neurofeedback to enhance focus, creativity, and performance by optimising brain function.

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, painless technique that allows us to train brain patterns to achieve optimal results. A picture of the brain’s electric activity is fed through a series of electrodes placed on a patient’s scalp and sent back to an EEG. A practitioner can read the brain patterns and provide feedback to the individual through visual, auditory, or tactile signals to train certain brain patterns. It’s “the gym but for your brain,” says our expert. While research remains ongoing, neurofeedback has shown significant promise in certain populations like those with ADHD, depression and anxiety, and high-performing athletes. Though it stands to benefit anyway looking to train their brain. As the field continues to grow, it holds the potential to unlock new levels of human potential.

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