About Neurofeedback

What is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive therapeutic approach that measures brainwave activity to provide real-time feedback to the patient. Neurofeedback is mainly used in therapy to improve self-regulation skills.

Therefore the EEG signals are derived from the surface of the head (neuro) and influence an audio-visual animation, often like a computer game (feedback). Based on a thorough survey of the patient's symptoms, certain frequency ranges of brain activity are measured and evaluated to control the feedback in the form of an animation on a screen in real time. For example, an animation may move faster, the image becomes clearer or a melody becomes audible. Through this continuous process, patients can learn to improve their ability to self-regulate. As a result of this improvement, symptoms of illnesses can be effectively alleviated.

Neurofeedback is successfully used for a wide range of indications, from epilepsy over ADHD to anxiety disorders, migraine, tinnitus or autism as well as many other possible application areas.

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What happens in a Neurofeedback session?

During a neurofeedback session, 3 to 5 electrodes are stuck to the scalp using paste. This, like the entire treatment, is absolutely painless. Afterwards, the patient can relax and follow an animation, film or video game on the screen.

At the end of the session, the electrodes are removed from the scalp and the paste residues are removed. a neurofeedback session usually lasts 45 minutes. Each case is different, but patients may need between 10 and 40 sessions to achieve the best results.

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What are the benefits of Neurofeedback?

Non-invasive, painless, and does not involve the use of medication, making it a safe alternative to traditional treatments
Highly individualized, treatment is tailored to the specific needs of each person
Uses normative, standardized, and quantifiable measurements which allows treatments to be more precise than other therapies
Helps treat the cause of a problem instead of treating symptoms, which has been shown to produce long-lasting effects

Neurofeedback: State of research

Neurofeedback – which has been scientifically examined for more than 35 years now – shows growing evidence with more than 2.000 published studies. (Pubmed, 2021).

We have compiled a selection of studies on various topics and indications.

Study overview

What is the difference between Neurofeedback & Biofeedback

In conventional biofeedback, body functions such as the pulse or muscle tension are recorded by sensors and can be experienced in real time through acoustic signals or visual displays. For example, a patient can be informed by a sound that indicates incorrect postures that lead to muscle tenseness. Over time, the patient is trained to maintain body functions at a certain level of activity or to be able to change them in a targeted manner. In addition to the treatment of muscular tenseness, the typical areas of application in which biofeedback is used are tachycardia, high blood pressure or incontinence.

Neurofeedback training does not train muscular or organic body functions, but the self-regulating ability of the brain.

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Good to know

Neurofeedback is a treatment that requires complex clinical decision-making and strong clinical skills to be effective, therefore it is imperative that Neurofeedback is only done by mental health professionals. It also requires a comprehensive training curriculum and evaluation process to ensure mental health professionals are prepared to provide Neurofeedback services.

Find out more about Neurofeedback training.

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