EEG Biofeedback, or Neurofeedback in Clinical Uses By Peter
Meilahn, M.A., MFT Intern Psychotherapist & EEG Biofeedback
Practitioner Family Life Mental Health Center, Coon Rapids &
The Minnesota Biofeedback Clinic, St. Louis Park and St. Paul
Slide 2
Resiliency Factors in Biofeedback The core concept of
biofeedback is immediate reward with good feelings for increasing
or decreasing brain rhythms. We know from population studies what
is low or high in certain brain profiles, so experiments have been
done to see if changing or improving the brain behavior results in
changed life behavior, mood, etc. And it does. This is another
therapy that adds depth to the field. The feedback is movies,
music, games, or graphs of the brain behavior itself. Sound tools
can also entrain positive brain rhythm change (much more
experimental- so this presentation focuses more on
biofeedback/neurofeedback.
Slide 3
Basic Factors in Biofeedback All research is based on weekly
visits. The sessions are at least 45 minutes and can be twice
weekly at 30 minutes each. Clients can pick the feedback. Clients
also see results right away, but first learn how they change what
they do, and then get better at it while generalizing it. Feedback
change is recognized at 150 milliseconds to 300 milliseconds and
clients change behavior to keep the reward. It typically takes 500
milliseconds to think consciously. Habits are reformed while it
works with other therapies in the room or in partnership with other
therapists.
Slide 4
EEG Spectrum & Common Functions 0.5-4 Hz Delta 4-7Hz Theta
8-12Hz Alpha 13-30Hz Beta 30-100Hz Gamma Rudimentary Problem
Solving Creativity Spacious Memory recall Attention coordination
and to task Focus; Memory processing in motion/tests Abstract
thinking and modeling Hunches and basic problem solving/the
unconscious Watching the mind/inner healer; memory Bridge between
inner world & outer Processing outer information Empathy,
putting away info Blocked information, anxiety/PTSD/ Drifty; Often
high in most ADHD, deficient in depression Checked out if excess,
if low then poor mood or CD issues Too little in ADHD usually,
excess in anxiety and alcoholism Can lead to dissociation if
erratic; synced with lower frequencies.
Slide 5
Learning Styles Gregorc Learning Style Indicator Abstract
Random Concrete Random Abstract Sequential Concrete Sequential
Social learners and emotional connection Stress and individualism
for these learners
Slide 6
The Full Connectivity
Slide 7
Peer Reviewed Clinical Outcomes Depression; Multiple
approaches, primarily to restore right brain regulation and
functioning Anxiety; primary goal is to reduce excess fast
frequencies and restore relaxation response. Chemical dependency;
80% success for Alcoholism compared to 20% of MN Model. These
results have been repeated. PTSD; uses same protocol as CD
treatment.
Slide 8
Peer Reviewed Clinical Outcomes Anxiety, Depression &
Neurofeedback Insurance Supports Biofeedback for Anxiety Because of
the Effectiveness. Most of the research studies use either relaxed
attention or focused attention for high results with performance
anxiety, panic attacks, tension headaches related to anxiety, and
general or other anxiety states. With CBT and other therapies it is
effective for agoraphobia. I have seen panic attacks stop, clients
be able to reduce general anxiety, restore sleeping a full nights
sleep after sleeping 4-5 hours a night, and other things.
http://www.sydney-
neurofeedback.com.au/downloads/Hammond_b,%202005.pdf
http://www.sydney-
neurofeedback.com.au/downloads/Hammond_b,%202005.pdf
http://www.neurofeedbackclinic.ca/journals/depression/dep.pd f
http://www.neurofeedbackclinic.ca/journals/depression/dep.pd f
Slide 9
Peer Reviewed Clinical Outcomes ADHD and Neurofeedback ADHD;
Supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics as of June 2010 and
the state of Minnesota. One study showing it is as effective as
stimulants. One study shows that it is as effective as medication
in improving behavior. On average IQ increases 7 points on
intelligence tests in experimental groups. With underlying
disabilities IQ can increase more- as much as 27 points when there
is information processing cleared up. Results are shown to stay 6
and 12 years after treatment in resaerch by J. Lubar. The corpus
callosum has been shown to become thicker after neurofeedback,
increasing psychological integration and resources for integration
of stimuli. Recent clients include results such as; better
sustained effort while reading, fewer upsets, more tasks completed
http://eegfeedback.org/pdf/o_donnell.pdf
http://eegfeedback.org/pdf/o_donnell.pdf
Slide 10
Peer Reviewed Clinical Outcomes Chemical Dependency Early
research was done in VA hospitals. Often showing 80% success in
preventing relapse in the first year. Traditional 12 step models
show 25-30% prevention. Clients first stabilize their mood and then
reflect on triggers of anxiety while working towards visualizing
positive choices. They learn to enter the hypnogogic state of
relaxation more easily while watching the mind like a movie-
gaining perspective of their angst to not turn to chemicals in the
mind body problem. From a paper on neurofeedback for opiod
dependency, The Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA)
showed that the experimental group, in comparison with control
group, showed significantly more improvement in all three outcome
measures. In the SCL-90-R, improvement was noted with the
hypochondriacs, obsession, interpersonal sensitivity, aggression,
psychosis, and general symptomatic indexes. In the HCQ, improvement
was found in the anticipation of positive outcome, desire to use
substance, and total average score. Finally, the QEEG showed
positive changes in frontal, central and parietal delta, frontal
and central theta, parietal alpha and frontal and central Sensory
Motor Rhythm (SMR) amplitudes.-
http://eeg.sagepub.com/content/41/3/170.short
http://eeg.sagepub.com/content/41/3/170.short
Slide 11
Peer Reviewed Clinical Outcomes Chemical Dependency Clients
develop the calm needed to not drink while restoring brain
connections. Currently I have a client with 1000 hours of blackout
drinking reported and he has done neurofeedback with leading
practitioners for about 55 hours. He recently had an fMRI done at
the U of MN where they saw no lesions in his brain which is
unusual. Personality changes can be highly dramatic as the
reflective aspect of lead to integration and flexibility. The early
research was so effective that the APA sent investigators to look
for fraud. http://drug-and-alcohol-rehab-program.com/Drug-Rehab-
Alcohol-Rehab-Addiction-Study.html
http://drug-and-alcohol-rehab-program.com/Drug-Rehab-
Alcohol-Rehab-Addiction-Study.html
http://morestics.nl/Files/Gruzelier%202009%20Alpha%20theta
%20neurofeedback.pdf
http://morestics.nl/Files/Gruzelier%202009%20Alpha%20theta
%20neurofeedback.pdf
Slide 12
Peer Reviewed Clinical Outcomes Pain and Neurofeedback The
research on chronic pain is mostly in case studies at this point
except for migraines. There are several studies for migraines at
this point. I have seen clients rate their pain changing from 8-2
or 6-0 in a session. I have a current client who was having
migraines twice weekly for the last six months and has stopped them
with only some tension pain in her eye where she recalls how she
does it to reduce the pain. http://neurotopiacentralcoast.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/09/NewInsights.pdf
http://neurotopiacentralcoast.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/09/NewInsights.pdf
http://www.stresstherapysolutions.com/kb_file/BrainMast
er_Migranes.pdf
Slide 13
Frontiers Autism: A handful of studies. I hear reports of
better sleep and a dramatic reduction in tantrums after
neurofeedback. More intensive training is needed with a longer term
commitment. Family Dynamics in the brain: i.e. I and other
practitioners see patterns in family patterns that show up in the
brain. One example is a parent whose anxiety is front brain, goal
oriented or worrisome will over compensate with their child and the
child will take on a more rear brain, cathartic anxiety that is
more dissociative than hyper focused like the parentthen the
pattern may continue. Other patters are mappable. Sounds:
University research at Duke, Cal State-Fullerton, University of
Virginia and hospital research in the NHS in the UK and other
places has shown effectiveness of sound entrainment of brainwave
rhythms for attention, mental task performance, pain, mood, and
other factors. Sounds for sharing with clients can be found at
www.flmhc.org/sound- tool.html or
www.mindvolume.comwww.flmhc.org/sound-
tool.htmlwww.mindvolume.com
Slide 14
Other References Symphony in the Brain, by Jim Robbins How the
Minds Bounce Back Scientific American, March 2011 Fitzgibbon, S.
P., Pope, K. L., Mackenzie, L., Clark, C. R., Willoughby, J. O.
(2004). Cognitive Tasks augment gamma EEG power. Clinical
Neurophysiology, Vol 115, p. 1802-1809. Liu, T., Shi, J., Zhou, D.,
Yang, J. (2008). The Relationship Between EEG Band Power, Cognitive
Processing and Intelligence in School-Age Children. Psychology
Science Quarterly, Vol 50, No.2. p. 259-268. Loo S. K., Barkley R.
A. (2005). Clinical Utility of EEG in Attention Deficit Disorder.
Applied Neuropsychology, 12, No.2. p. 64-76.
Slide 15
More References Zametkin A.J., Nordahl T.E., Gross M., King
A.C., Semple W.E., Rumsey J., Hamburger S., Cohen R.M. (1990).
Cerebral glucose metabolism in adults with hyperactivity of
childhood onset. New England Journal of Medicine, 323, p.
1361-1366.