Research

Now consider how this might apply to brain function. Under typical conditions, we can neither directly experience our brain function, nor can we place it under our direct voluntary control. We tend to accept that a state of depression is either there or not. We don’t expect to be able to influence it directly. Here biofeedback can again be applied, because the very same feedback principles apply to our brain. This is not so strange, really. After all, even in the case of incontinence one is also training brain function, not just the musculature! But in order to train brain function directly, we must make “brain behavior” visible. This is where the EEG, or ElectroEncephalogram, comes in. It gives us a very direct and at the same time very simple method to learn something about the brain’s ongoing activity. 

Even though the recording of brain signals of a millionth of a volt on the body surface can be compared to a microphone attached to the outside of a big office building, the information that is obtained here is sufficient to bring the brain or parts of the brain into a feedback loop and to train it.

For example attention: Whoever does not pay attention in school will either come to hear or feel it sooner or later. Unfortunately such feedback is always much too late to be effective. In the EEG short phases of inattention can be detected immediately and reported back. Up to 2000 times within one neurofeedback training session. By and by the brain is supposed to sustain the attentive state.

The aim of the neurofeedback training is to teach the brain to attain an appropriate state and to be able to maintain that state. When we succeed, we can say that we have enhanced the brain’s capacity for self-regulation, and that we have done this with the help of neurofeedback.

Referring to the office building again: If the boss of the thousand people working in there complains about too much noise, that people are talking too loudly or trampling, one could measure the present noise level on the outside of the building with the microphone and every time it is less loud, send pleasant music through the loudspeaker system of the building. After some time people would get used to being more quiet and would keep this state for a time even after training is finished. Eventually, of course, there may be “extinction” of the training effect. So one might ask, is there a problem of extinction in neurofeedback as well?

The short answer is no. It can happen, of course, but that’s very unusual. This is because our training has produced better brain function. Why would the brain ever give that up? Life itself reinforces the learning that has taken place and sustains it for the long term. It is more likely, actually, that the brain will use its new capabilities to build on, and eventually the person should function even better than was the case at the end of the training.