Rewiring the Brain: Neurofeedback Insights from The Body Keeps the Score

Transcription

1 Rewiring the Brain: Neurofeedback Insights from The Body Keeps the Score Lois A. Ehrmann PhD, LPC, NCC Certified EMDR Consultant; Certified IFS Clinician Certified Attachment Focused Family Therapist Certified in Clinical Hypnosis & Trained in Neurofeedback Founder and Executive Director The Individual and Family CHOICES Program 2214 North Atherton Street, Suite 4 State College, PA (814)

2 Learning Objectives By the completion of this training participants will have: Describe at least three important findings in the historical origin of neurofeedback as a treatment for trauma. Observe an actual real time demonstration of neurofeedback showing the three different brain waves that are indicative of trauma in the brain.

3 Research on Neurofeedback 1924: Hans Berger- different brain wave patterns reflected different mental activities. 1938: EEG patterns in behavior problem children; Hyperactive and impulsive children had slower than normal waves in their frontal lobes; This finding has been reproduced innumerable times and in 2013 slow wave prefrontal activity was certified by the Food and Drug Administration as a biomarker for ADHD Page 310: Slow frontal lobe electrical activity explains why these kids have poor executive functioning: Their rational brains lack proper control over their emotional brains, which also occurs when abuse and trauma have made the emotional centers hyperalert to danger and organized for fight or flight s Joe Kamiya associated Alpha waves with states of relaxation.

4 Research on Neurofeedback Continued 1970 s Barry Sterman at UCLA: cats trained with neurofeedback were found to be resistant to brain seizure activity when exposed to rocket fuel while cats who were not trained had seizures. Produced increased research on neurofeedback and epilepsy and sleep disorders. This experimentation was stunted by 1976 due to burst in use of newly discovered psychiatric drugs. McFarlane et.al, (2000): In the normal group key parts of the brain worked together to produce a coherent pattern of filtering, focus and analysis; Traumatized subjects brains were more loosely coordinated and failed to come together into a coherent pattern

5 Neurofeedback: What is it? Neurofeedback (NFB); neurotherapy, neurobiofeedback or EEG biofeedback A therapy technique that presents the user with real-time feedback on brainwave activity, as measured by sensors on the scalp, typically in the form of a video display, sound, or vibration. The aim is to provide real-time information to the Central Nervous System (CNS) as to its current activity. Based on a form of operant conditioning. When brain activity changes in the direction desired by the therapist/technician, a positive "reward" (feedback) is given to the individual. Different protocols promote different brain wave regulation for different reasons. Rewards/Reinforcements can be as simple as a change in pitch of a tone or as complex as a certain type of movement of a character in a video game. 5

6 Neurofeedback: What is it Used For? Addiction ADHD Attachment issues Depression PTSD Stroke/ TBI Migraine Headaches Anxiety Seizure Disorders Chronic pain Auto-immune disorders Chronic Fatigue Conduct Disorders Tourettes Syndrome Current research is being done on the improvement of Parkinson s Disease, Alzheimer Disorder and other brain based issues 6

7 Neurofeedback: How does it Work? First some important definitions: Each brain wave has its own frequency which represents the rhythm of the wave. Frequency is measured in hertz. One hertz means 1 cycle of the wave. Slow brain waves have frequencies less than 10 Hz Faster brain waves have frequencies greater than 13 Hz Brain waves are also measured in micro-volts µv which represents the amplitude or height of the wave. Amplitudes change but frequencies do not change. 7

8 Neurofeedback: How Does it Work continued Cycles per Second Amplitude Peak to Peak Slow (4 Hz) Frequency Fast (16 Hz) 8

9 Neurofeedback: Common Frequency Bandwidths John Demos (2005), Getting Started with Neurofeedback Common Bandwidth Name Frequency Range (Hz) General Description or Characteristics Delta 1-4 Sleep, repair, complex problem solving Theta 4-8 Creativity, insight, deep states Alpha 8-12 Alertness & peacefulness, readiness, meditation Beta Thinking, focusing & sustained attention SMR Mental alertness, physical relaxation High Beta Intensity, hyper-alertness, anxiety Gamma Cognitive processing, learning 9

10 Sensor Placement Chart: The International System 10

11 Neurofeedback: How Does it Work? SMR/Low Beta Protocols Promotes calm and focused state. Training with eyes open Theta: Imagination, creativity, but if amplitude is too high also distractibility, day -dreaming, dissociation; So we want to decrease high amplitude Theta waves at frequency 4-8 hertz Low Beta/ SMR: Calm focus, sustained effort and attention, concentration; So we want to increase SMR frequency hertz and increase Low Beta frequency hertz High Beta: Anxiety, agitation; Frequency hertz full blown panic. So we want to decrease the amplitude for less anxiety 11

12 How does it Work Continued? Alpha/Theta Protocols Deep State training for trauma resolution with eyes closed. Accelerates psychotherapy and helps stimulates a self healing state which seems to boost creativity, visualization and the ability to process deeper emotional issues. Lots of research showing efficacy for individuals with alcoholism, addictions, PTSD. Penniston Effect Warnings 12

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14 Here is what it looks like!!! Children and adults play video like games with their brainwaves. When the waves are in a more regulated rhythm the person wins at the game. The brain wants to move toward better regulation. 14

15 ADHD Continued The ADHD affected brain can be either over-aroused or under-aroused or a combination of both. For over-aroused ADHD brains the protocol is: CZ-A2: Reward HZ; Lo Inh 4-7 HZ and Hi Inh HZ C4-A2: Reward HZ; Lo Inh 4-7 HZ and Hi Inh HZ For the under-aroused ADHD brain the protocol is: CZ-A1 Reward HZ; Lo Inh 4-7 HZ and Hi Inh HZ C3-A1: Reward HZ; Lo Inh 4-7 HZ and Hi Inh HZ 15

16 Mood Disorders Affective Dysregulation Limbic System Sites: T4- P4 over aroused Limbic system due to trauma T4- PZ Anxiety 16

17 Autism Increase hemispheric communication T4-A1 17

18 Demonstration 18

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20 Helpful Information