Psychology and health

What is biofeedback and what are its benefits?

What is biofeedback and what are its benefits?

Biofeedback is a therapeutic tool that uses the principles of applied psychophysiology. It is a novel and non -invasive type of technology, through which programs are presented to the user training protocols to optimize physical, cognitive and behavioral performance.

Through this technique the person learns and establishes certain programs through conditioning, which help the self -regulation of vital functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Likewise, the application of strategies contribute to emotional regulation, therefore they are widely used within psychology to treat many disorders, with excellent results in a short time.

The APP (American Academy of Pediatrics), has granted level 5 of effectiveness -It is the highest level-children can be treated from the age of 4, showing good results. Even some Olympic athletes use this type of high performance training. It is not an "alternative therapy" as many believe, it is rather: "complementary", since its benefits are potentiated by combining it with other psychological treatments; It has several decades of research, this because it has turned out to be an effective tool as training to learn to regulate vital functions and to improve some skills, so it has been used for military training since its inception.

Likewise, it has shown to have benefits in the area of ​​health, since it can help improve the status of many conditions and Thanks to its rapid results it contributes to the optimization of the patient's quality of life from the first sessions.

Content

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  • Biofeedback and neurofeedback: non -invasive technologies
  • What is neurofeedback
    • Biofeedback software: novel and laptop
  • How are training sessions?
  • What bodily functions can be learned to regulate?
    • Training programs
    • Application areas
  • Neurofeedback and its application in psychology
    • Treatment of psychological, neurological and psychiatric disorders
    • Conclusion
    • Links

Biofeedback and neurofeedback: non -invasive technologies

The system has a "hardware”, Which has training decoders in different modalities, sensors to measure physiological functions such as: breathing, muscle tension, sweating and blood flow, among others. Being a non -invasive technology, it does not generate side effects and can be used for pregnant women, with prior neuropsychological assessment, like all candidates for type of training require.

Some models have electrodes that are placed on the scalp, and currently there are very novel bands with sensors (Dry-Sensors), which are more comfortable, widely used today for neuromarketing research. There are also wireless electrodes helmets that are comfortable for the user. Frequently, thorax bands are used to measure breathing.

What is neurofeedback

The system consists of several parts, depending on the model, it is the type of technology it has, it can range from the simplest to the most modern, ergonomic and versatile: a record of the somatic system is carried out by means of the Thermal biofeedback which is a temperature sensor placed on the middle finger of the hand or foot, the Electromyography Biofack (EMG), provides information on muscle tension in different body regions (EMG-FEEDback) and heart rate are recorded by ECG-FEEDback (electroencephalogram of feedback).

He Neurofeedback, It focuses on the electrical activity of the brain, the subject learns to control the brain waves through training modify mental states, behaviors and cognitive processes in general.

Biofeedback software: novel and laptop

Through these technologies, records the emotional and physiological effect that different stimuli have on the person, To ensure validity and coherence, the system gives a feedback or "feedback" To the user, this is presented by means of visual, auditory or combined signals. The exercises are displayed on a screen while the patient modulates their physiological processes through breathing and other techniques taught.

The system's "software" measures the electrical activity, the driving on the skin, through it, can be learned to stabilize part of the physiological activity, is increasingly being used to optimize various brain functions, together with the help of cognitive strategies, also to contribute to Emotional regulation, as for other bodily functions, as it measures physiological parameters during training or session.

The program records what the person learned or the aspects that were reinforced, which is the "feedback" or the feedback given by the system, according to the advances; which must be completed by the psychological assessment. It also quantifies the frequencies, which are recorded depending on the mental state, generating different types of brain waves: alpha, beta, gamma, delta and Theta.


The alpha level, for example, is a state of rest for the brain that represents the power of the present, the "here and now" in a contemplative state. Users are taught to use better relaxation techniques, which can induce them for example, a repairing dream, it is very beneficial in people who have intense activity as high -performance athletes, senior executives, students, multifunctional mothers who play several roles in society and people who have sleep disorders, stress and anxiety, among others. High performance optimization was reported in various activities after relaxation training.

At beta waves They dominate our vigil, they are attributed to the mental activity focused. There are specialized programs that help direct attention to cognitive tasks and the outside world, require highly complex thought, integrate new experiences and can contain high emotion or anxiety, so it also works at this level. Neurofeedback is used with excellent results for patients with care deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD), memory problems, learning, with a lack of emotional regulation and general improvement of cognitive processes.

You can work with the different range of brain waves, as there are specific training programs that health professionals can adapt to the specific needs of this service.

A great advantage, is that the user can carry some exercises that can help him reinforce his training, there are programs called ”Home practice”(Household practices or“ tasks ”), the person can carry on your mobile devices, to practice at any time and place that can or wish to be training.

These aspects of the system call the attention to patients who like technology, those of the new generations that show resistance to go to another type of therapy and Technology lovers can find a good therapeutic and training option, which can even be playful and somewhat funny, Like a video game to potentiate your skills!

Capgras syndrome and Cotard syndrome, two strange disorders

How are training sessions?

Usually works with one or two training sessions per week, optimally complementary to psychological therapy, Behavioral cognitive is widely used in combination with neurofeedback for the good results it has shown. Users can learn strategies to modulate their brain activity, they are given the tools to develop self -confidence and their skills, as well as their management.

The person learning to control many of their processes, both physiological and psychological. Through these programs, The user manages to recognize and make some autonomous functions of his system aware, to find a better response or a more adaptive and learn to execute it. Finally you can "automate", with the aim of restoring self -regulation.

What bodily functions can be learned to regulate?

The system also carries a registration of the autonomic nervous system, regarding the involuntary functions that the body performs, this type of training contributes to stabilize or modify certain bodily functions such as: breathing, temperature, sweating, brain waves, muscle tension, heart rate and Blood flow.

Training programs

Learning that is based on conditioning That include biofeedback training programs, there are specialized in different areas, for the treatment of psychological, psychiatric disorders and for rehabilitation purposes it is usually called neurofeedback, through research the gradual nature of behavioral modifications through behavioral modifications has been demonstrated This type of training.

Application areas

Given its functionality, it covers several areas, as its use for high performance training in different fields is being popularized.

It is generally used in the Sports area for high performance athletes; They use it to improve their performance, they can benefit from high performance training; Some Olympic players use this technique to obtain better results, taking this therapy as part of their integral training.

Within organizations it has great boom, especially among senior executives, as well as people who wish to have better performance and greater productivity, It contributes to adequate decision making under stress situations, improves planning capacity, working memory, flexibility and balance in general. Management techniques for performance anxiety, emotions management and others are learned to achieve it.

In the clinical area, I have already cited some of its applications that have proven to be highly recommended for the improvement of the user's well -being with different disorders, as well as the potentialization of cognitive processes.

The electroencephalogram (EEG): a window to the brain

Neurofeedback and its application in psychology

It is recommended that these therapies be carried out with psychologists, as initial neuropsychological evaluation is necessary, as well as other specialized tests throughout and during training or treatment, these evaluations can be supported with quantitative electroencephalogram (EECG).

In patients with psychological and psychiatric disorders, it has been observed that the results are favorable when other types of psychological therapies of the patient's preference are received together, so it is called: "complementary therapy".

It helps the patient learn to be more observer of himself and their processes both mental and physiological; When you learn to identify, you can start applying the strategies granted in training, in order to change to a state of calm and still, very useful for example, before a Attack of anger, anxiety, panic or epilepsy, because the patient begins to detect his altered breathing and blood flow, as well as other physiological and cognitive signals so he can begin to apply the strategies learned in his training.

Treatment of psychological, neurological and psychiatric disorders

Has been tested as a effective treatment for many neurological and psychiatric disorders, Because of the ability of users to evoke the status of training outside the sessions, for their progress in the ability to control stimuli during training and strategies learned in different programs.

Among them, epilepsy, especially in non -photosensitive cases, since if necessary, the relevant adjustments must be made in the program (Sterman and Fraile, 1992 and Kotchubey, 2001); Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD; Kaiser and Othmer, 2000; Fuchs, 2003) Kropotov); Schizophrenia (Gruzelier 1999, Surmeli 2012), and even in the traumatic brain injury and the rehabilitation of stroke (Yucha and Montgomery, 2008). In healthy subjects, it has been applied with observation and improvements of cognitive behaviors and processes (Arns 2008, Reiner 2014), also for the treatment of Parkinson, since it has proven to be support for the cognitive performance of older adults,  (Becerra 2012; Staufenbiel, 2014).

People can learn to modulate their brain activity and some physiological processes through learned strategies, subjects generally declared that their ability to control the response to different stimuli increased during the course of training and after them.

Disorders that can be treated complementary with neurofeedback
  • It helps reduce the Hyperactivation states and to control states of: anxiety, stress, anguish and panic, it is useful for treating phobias and the Anxiety associated disorders.
  • Bipolar disorder. Patients can be very benefited as training results as a behavior modulator without health.
  • Depression and others mood disorders, since patients learn to evoke positive emotions.
  • Learning problems.
  • Attention and hyperactivity deficit (ADHD), Training in care processes is very promising, since an increase in this disorder is given both in children and adults.
  • Migraines and headaches.
  • Selective mutism.
  • Substance abuse, alcoholism, dependencies and eating disorders.
  • Control of epileptic attacks Through the operant conditioning paradigm.
  • Modify unwanted behaviors, as those that are self -limit or destructive to others.
  • Leave unhealthy habits, Teach to create more consistent behavior patterns.
  • The people that have asthma And other respiratory problems, they can benefit from this type of training, since one of the key parts of this type of tools is breathing control.
  • Help patients who have diseases associated with chronic pain, because the subject can be trained to control the pain and modify the subjective perception of the same.
  • People who have some visual or auditory weakness, They can also receive benefits as there are specialized software for them.
  • The older adults They can benefit a lot with this type of therapy since it helps to train cognitive processes that can be deteriorated with age such as: sens perception, memory, attention, learning, language and thought.
  • Within physiotherapy, it has a function of Rehabilitation therapy for Motor problems, hemiplegia, parstesthesia, etc. It also helps recover neuromuscular integration, Well, it serves as an adjuvant for problems that have to do with muscle contraction, such as: hypertonic or hypotonic muscles.
  • Patients with cardiovascular problems and diabetes.

Conclusion

Cardiovascular problems represent the first cause of death within the world population; At the same time, psychiatric, neurological and psychological problems go to the rise in an accelerated way, so they represent a delicate health problem globally; Biofeedback has proven to be an excellent technological tool complementary to psychological therapy, the strategies that users learn during training can be applied by them in different circumstances achieving modular emotions, behaviors and certain type of cognitions, which contribute to their balance and good health.

Training protocols should be evaluated and designed by psychologists, also because constant neuropsychological and other specialized evaluations are required. Users of this type of training have shown improvements in several parameters of measures used to evaluate: speed, efficiency, productivity, precision, focus on work and for the improvement of their cognitive processes in general; Upon receiving feedback or "feedback" the patient, finds easier to learn to potentiate skills and achieve changes quickly through established programs, the result can be reflected in The improvement in the performance of their daily activities.

Links

  • Of Zambotti m., Bianchin m., Magazzini l., Gnesate g., Angrilli a. (2012). The EFFICACY OF EEG Neurofeedback AIMED AT Enhancing Sensory-Motor Rhythm Theta Ratio in Healthy Subjects. Exp. Brain Res. 221, 69-74. 10.1007/S00221-012-3148-Y [Pubmed]
  • Egner t., Gruzelier J. H. (2001). Learned Self-Regulation of Eeg Frequency components Affects attention and event-relaced brain potentials in humans. Neuroreport 12, 4155-4159. 10.1097/00001756-200112210-00058 [Pubmed]
  • Wang x.-J. (2010). Neurophysiological and Computational Principles of Cortical Rhythms in cognition. Physiol. Rev. 90, 1195-1268. 10.1152/Physrev.00035.2008 [pmc free article]
  • https: // www.APA.Org/Research/Action/biofeedback
  • http: // www.APA.Org/Monitor/2016/03/Cover-FEEDback.ASPX
  • https: // www.APA.Org/Research/Action/biofeedback
  • https: // www.NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV/Pubmed/26994421
  • https: // www.ISNR.org/