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You could be a superhuman functioning like you secretly get 4 extra hours in a day, or someone who constantly gets lost in loops of daydreams – we’re certain you’ve had this thought at least once in your lifetime.
I wish I could rewire my brain!” (or some rendition of it).
Well, what if we told you recent neuroscientific research suggests brain training and a more-or-less literal ‘rewiring’ of your brain is absolutely possible?!
We’ve got one word for you – Neurofeedback
Generally used as a therapeutic tool, neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback that uses a brain training device to analyse the electrical signals in our brain. While biofeedback helps people gain control over physiological responses to certain stimuli, neurofeedback helps regulate brain waves.
It does so by utilising an electroencephalogram (EEG) to monitor brain activity. In this non-invasive and pain-free procedure, multiple sensors called electrodes are placed on one’s scalp. The EEG is connected to a brain-machine-interface which records and analyses brain waves and provides real-time insights. This information is used by a trained professional to help one regulate mental states and, consequently, optimize brain function.
To grasp the science behind neurofeedback, it’s essential to first understand what brain waves are, and how they relay any sort of information.
Our brain’s most important component is the neurons. They are our nerve cells that carry information to and fro between our organs, muscles, senses and the brain, and also connect different areas within the brain. To communicate, neurons generate a nerve impulse or an electrical event that fires them up, and passes information through one neuron to the next one, on until it reaches the destination. Generally, when neurons consistently fire together, they get associated with each other.
Electrical signals generated by the communication of multiple neurons, which underlie our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, create what we call brain waves.
Brain machine interfaces compute the data gathered from neurofeedback devices. The way it does so is by analysing different brain wave patterns that are responsible for our various mental states. For instance:
Delta waves (0.5-4 Hz): The deep sleep zone which is vital for physical restoration and memory.
Theta waves (4-8 Hz): These waves bridge sleep and wakefulness and link to creativity, intuition, and deep relaxation.
Alpha waves (8-12 Hz): The calm and alert state, essential for mental coordination and relaxation. Deep breathing helps produce alpha waves.
Beta waves (12-38 Hz): Active brainwaves for focus, problem-solving, and alertness. Doing cognitively engaging tasks produces mid-range beta waves. However, when one is anxious, fearful, overwhelmed, excited, they experience high ranges of beta wave production, which can become harmful over time.
Gamma waves (38 Hz+): High-frequency waves connected to higher cognitive functions like learning and consciousness.
Our brain waves control how we feel. When they are out of balance, i.e., if they are under-aroused or over-aroused, we might have a number of responses including feelings of extreme anxiety, insomnia, depression etc. Highly unbalanced brain waves over a long period of time may also lead to certain disorders like ADHD, Anxiety Disorders, Major Depressive Disorders and more.
Neurofeedback devices focus on providing visual or auditory feedback based on a person’s brain wave pattern. This real-time information coupled with instructions from a neuropsychologist helps people to self-regulate their brain activity. It also promotes optimal brain function and mental well-being.
If your smart big brain refuses to believe that a set of instructions could rewire your brain – you’re right and so very wrong at the same time.
The evidence rests in something called neuroplasticity.
Just in case we forgot to mention how absolutely remarkable, and borderline miraculous our brain is – nothing is going to prove it better than this!
Our brain has the ability to alter its connections and functions based on daily experiences and/or cognitive decline. The more it adapts to newer life experiences, the more plasticity it has. How does it do this? With the help of neurons that help create new pathways and associations within our brain.
Neurofeedback therapies and trainings take advantage of this to rewire one’s brain completely. Remember how neurons that fire together become associated with each other? With neurofeedback, the psychologist tries to correct the electrical signals through their ‘instructions’. They teach their patients/clients to synchronise two neurons together to reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, or hyperactivity.
For instance, you’re in a neurofeedback session to reduce your intense fear of spiders. During the session your provider might show you a visual of a spider on the screen. The psychologist will then monitor your brain waves.
Throughout the session they will help you refocus your feelings of fear into a more relaxed state. Repeating this multiple times will ultimately change your reaction to the spider displayed on the screen. Over time, it will create a whole new pathway in your brain, rewiring it to an extent.
Through the years, neurofeedback has gained traction for treating conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and depression. But further research on brain training devices has found a strong link between neurofeedback and peak performance. Athletes, musicians, and students have increasingly reported cognitive enhancements through neurofeedback.
We at Neuphony are a little obsessed with getting you enrolled in the brain gym. And of course, we come bearing multiple brain machine interfaces used particularly to train your brain. We know what you’re thinking – does that include a neurofeedback device? You guessed it!
Click here to get your personal portable neurofeedback device.
Get real time insights on your brain’s activity at the tip of your fingers, and rewire your brain with our help. Let’s choose brain fitness over just your brawns.
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