Neurofeedback

 

Neurofeedback, also known as EEG Biofeedback, is a non-invasive and totally painless approach to improve brain functioning, without any known side-effect. The neurofeedback approach is based on the principle of neural plasticity, i.e. the brain’s biological ability to modify and reorganize its neural connections through learning.

 

This cutting-edge technique is widely practiced, and an increasing number of scientific studies confirm its validity and effectiveness.

In fact, the neurofeedback is a valid and efficient alternative to pharmacological intervention and is tailored on individual characteristics, a peculiarity that makes it effective for treating a wide range of situations:

• Behavioural issues
• attention deficits
• anxiety
• depression
• stress-related problems
• sleep disorders,
• age-related cognitive loss.

But the neurofeedback technique can also be applied to simply achieve a better athletic performance or to improve cognitive functions, at the work or at school.

 

“The literature, which lacks any negative study of substance, suggests that EEG biofeedback therapy should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy, it would be universally accepted and widely used. “

Frank Duffy, MD, Neurologist, Head of the Neuroimaging Department and of Neuroimaging Research at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School Professor.

 

How neurofeedback works?

As the word itself indicates, the Neurofeedback provides the patient with a “feedback” information about its brain activation, in real-time. The brain activity is captured by placing comfortable electrodes on the head. This is a totally safe procedure, both for adults and children, as the brain is not “stimulated” in any way but is simply “recorded” passively.

After, the brain parameters are fed-back to the patient in the form of a sound, an animation or a videogame. In this way the patient becomes aware of its brain activity and learns to self-regulate something that is usually involuntary.

Our emotions, perceptions and thoughts are, in fact, the result of our brain activity, that is, the communication between neurons in the brain, reflected in the so-called brainwaves, each associated with a specific mental state and mood. Changing one’s own brainwaves pattern results in a change in behaviour and mood. When the brain doesn’t produce the “right” brainwaves pattern, problems in behaviour, cognition and mood can arise. An unbalanced brainwave pattern can result in behavioural and cognitive issues, as well as mood disorders. Balance is the key.

We can help you to rebalance your psychophysical state by re-establishing the equilibrium in your brain.

In a typical neurofeedback session, we first “map” the patient’s brain (qEEG), that helps us to assess the localization and power of brainwaves and thus to evaluate the global functionality of the different brain areas. This procedure results in a totally individualized therapeutic plan. Scientific research, in fact, has documented that specific patterns of brain activations or inhibitions are associated to particular psychophysical conditions. In general, reduced activation in specific brain areas has been observed in association with depressive disorders and attention deficits, while excessive activation has been found in anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive behaviours and hyperactivity disorders.

Here at Aequilibria we aim to rebalance the patient’s brain activation to promote a better overall psychophysical stability, with competence and efficiency.