biofeedback
Biofeedback is a type of therapy that uses sensors attached to one’s body to measure key body functions. It is a way to understand what the body is saying, make an understanding of the knowledge gained. Eventually, alter this information for one’s long-term benefit. Biofeedback is based on the concept of “mind over matter.” There are multiple Benefits of Biofeedback on Mental Health and physical health by being mindful of how our body responds to stressors and other stimuli. Recipients of the feedback are trained to consciously control aspects of their physiology. This could be done using relaxation techniques to slow down heart rate or reducing the sensations of pain. For example—and this learning is used to help manage symptoms of a range of physical, medical, and psychological conditions. Research has shown that the most common disorder where it has been used as a helpful technique is Acute Stress Disorder (ASD). Other areas where it has shown an effect are brain injury, anxiety, depression, digestive disorders, pain, phobias, migraines, strokes, and asthma.

Types of Biofeedback

There are many kinds of biofeedback techniques that are widely used. The following are some of the basic and most common types –
  • Respiratory Biofeedback This type involves wearing the sensor bands around the chest and abdomen to monitor breathing rates, respiration patterns, and also the time taken for different kinds of breaths. With long-term practice and adequate training, an individual can learn various techniques that help them have greater control over their breathing rates.
  • Heart rate Biofeedback This type involves attaching the sensor to the uses finger or earlobe which is then used to detect blood volume changes (photoplethysmograph). In other ways, the sensors are placed on the chest, lower torso, or wrists using an electrocardiograph (ECG) to measure the heart rate, beatings per minute, and also how the heart rate varies in different situations. Research shows that heart rate biofeedback can be useful for a number of different disorders including asthma and depression.
  • Sweat Gland Biofeedback or Galvanic Skin Response In this type, sensors are attached around the fingers, the palm, or the wrist with an electrodermograph (EDG). This device measures the activity of sweat glands and the amount of perspiration on the skin in a variety of situations. There is a lot of research in this area, the biggest being using sweat gland activities and it’s link to one’s emotions. Remember sweating excessively before the most important interview or exam?
  • Blood Pressure Biofeedback In this type, a device is used to measure the blood pressure of an individual under various situations. There is research that supports the link between different ranges of blood pressure and its link with stress levels and the emotional states in that particular range. However, in another recent research, Mahtani et al. used device-guided breathing (DGB) to lower blood pressure (BP) in adults, with no lasting long-term impact.
  • Neurofeedback or EEG feedback This type of feedback uses electroencephalography (EEG) which focuses on the changes in the brain wave patterns. Until around the 1970s, neuroscientists believed that the brain’s structure and function were essentially fixed throughout adulthood. In the last 5 decades, scientists have discovered the amazing ability of the human mind to change and grow at any age. In recent times, neurofeedback as a technique is used to understand and treat various conditions such as ADHD, Anxiety, Chronic Stress, Depression, and even Phobias.
Neuphony believes in the unlimited potential of the human mind and strives toward unlocking it to bring out the best in them. Neurofeedback has been scientifically proven to be a powerful tool to improve the overall health of your brain including improving memory, and sleep quality and reducing stress and anxiety. Neuphony brings you the benefits of neurofeedback at the comfort of your home with the help of an EEG headband and a mobile application. The headband measures the electrical activity of your brain and the mobile app based on the sensor data recommends you meditation techniques to achieve your desired state. Over sessions, it trains your brain on how to achieve the desired state itself.