Neurofeedback
Once we assess what protocol we need to start with based on the brain map our patients start treatment by coming in for bi-weekly sessions. During the treatment they will sit in a comfy chair facing a television and we connect the electrodes while picking out a movie or television show to watch for the treatment. The first electrodes are placed on the ears for grounding and the second ones are placed in the region of the brain that we want to direct treatment, generally the frontal lobe at the top of the forehead. Once these are set up we hand the patient some glasses which are set to pulse at a certain frequency depending on their protocol. The technician then sets the computer to the protocol we are working on and this will affect the playback on the TV. As the patient sits and watches their favorite show the computer is reading the brain waves through the electrodes. When the patient’s brain goes into a brain wave pattern that is not favorable the screen will get darker and the sound will get quieter. The brain does not like this because it wants the reward of the show so it will start changing patterns until it finds the one we are training for. When it starts firing in the way that we want it to the computer will return the screen and sound to normal function. Soon the brain begins to learn that it gets rewarded when it stays in the range we are training for.