Frequently Asked Questions

• What conditions does neurofeedback help?
• Could you explain more about brain waves?
• How long does the training take?
• Is all neurofeedback the same?
• Will the training last, or is it temporary?
• Can you describe the mechanism that actually trains the brain?
• How can I expect to feel after a session?
• What if I am taking medications?

What conditions does neurofeedback help?

By changing brain waves, the following conditions can be vastly improved and sometimes eliminated: ADD, Dyslexia, Math Difficulties, Performance Anxiety, Anxiety, Emotionality, Migraine, Physical Coordination Problems, Poor Judgment, Addiction, Fibromyalgia, Memory Issues, PTSD, Aspergers, Fear, Motivational Problems, Tension Headaches, Chronic Fatigue, Flashbacks, Nightmares, Tic Disorder, Depression, Insomnia, OCD, Verbal or Visual Processing.

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Could you explain more about brain waves?

Your brain produces four types of brain waves. People usually have a mixture of frequencies at any given time, but the dominant frequency varies depending on the state of consciousness and on individual differences. Beta is a fast wave frequency, measuring 15 Hertz and above; it is the dominant frequency during a normal, focused waking state. Alpha is 8-12 Hertz, and tends to be produced when you close your eyes and relax. Theta is 4-7 Hertz, and is normally produced only briefly when you are starting to fall asleep. Delta is 0.5-3.5 Hertz, which is normally produced when you are asleep. The conditions above (and others) result in abnormal brain wave patterns. By re-training these abnormal patterns in the affected areas symptoms are often improved or eliminated. For example, people who experience frequent anxiety often produce too much Beta, and at inappropriate times. Neurofeedback trains the brain to reduce excessive Beta waves.

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How long does the training take?

Sessions are usually one half hour, two to four times per week, but each person is different. Some receive benefit in a short time while others may need a series of sessions to stabilize their brainwave activity. The number of sessions depends on the type of problem, the age of the person, and many other factors. As an example, uncomplicated ADD frequently requires 40 sessions.

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Is all neurofeedback the same?

Most neurofeedback involves a frustrating task in which the subject is asked to "try" to do something that they feel unable to accomplish. For example, many neurofeedback systems require the client to try to raise a virtual bar on a computer screen. The idea is that, as the client raises the bar on the screen, the proper brain waves are entrained. However, since the client does not really know how to exert "effort", the task feels frustrating and burdensome. Only the highly motivated client can maintain effort under those conditions.

At Lehigh Valley Neurofeedback Center we use Neuro-Integration Training. Through the use of photic stimulation and auditory/visual programs, the brain and nervous system are retrained into a state of balance, producing enhanced speech, improved motor coordination, rapid reasoning, sharpened mental focus, increased learning capabilities, and elimination of brain fog. Clients report increased calm, elevated moods, heightened mental alertness, and improved energy.

Neuro-integration training improves neurological functioning by  reducing the biochemistry of stress and increasing oxygen delivery, blood flow, and energy in the brain. Neuro-Integration Training is a cutting edge, multisensory form of neurofeedback, which does not require the client to "try" to accomplish any specific task. The client simply relaxes in a comfortable chair, wearing photostimulating glasses, and watches a movie or listens to music, while the brain is unconsciously trained to make functional brain wave patterns. There is no frustration, no irritation. In the typical half-hour session, the client has accomplished a brain "workout", much like a body workout at the local gym. The result is, over time, the brain functions at a more optimal level, and many of the previous symptoms are alleviated.

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Will the training last, or is it temporary?

If the appropriate number of sessions is conducted, the type of neurofeedback training we offer here is long lasting and may be permanent.

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Can you describe the mechanism that actually trains the brain?

Neuro-integration therapy works through a mechanism known as operant conditioning. When a part of the brain is operating at an abnormal frequency (too fast or too slow), the brain can learn to normalize the activity of that area. The brain is a learning machine. If you tell it what it needs to do to be normal and give it a reward for doing it, it can learn to make less of the abnormal activity and more of the normal activity. As the brain gets better at producing the normal activity, the threshold for getting a reward is raised. Eventually the brain gets so good at making the normal activity that it no longer needs the feedback, and is able to make the normal activity whenever it is required. The mechanism is thought to be through reorganization of functional pathways in the brain.

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How can I expect to feel after a session?

Depending on what conditions are being addressed, clients generally report feeling more relaxed and focused after their sessions. Occasionally clients experience fatigue after a session. Think of a session as a "workout" for the the brain.

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What if I am taking medications?

Most medications do not interfere with getting results from neurofeedback. With successful neurofeedback training, medications targeting brain function may no longer be needed, or they may be needed at lower dosages, as the brain takes over the role of regulating itself.

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