Brief History of Neurofeedback
When considering treatment options for ADD and ADHD, understanding the history of a specific treatment and how effective it has been in other circumstances as well as for treating ADD and ADHD, can help you make more informed decisions concerning your treatment. It also assists you in understanding the complex process of Neurofeedback and its overall effect on the patient’s brain. Alternative medical treatments like Neurofeedback therapy have a long history in helping people deal with various disorders.The 1950s-60s
The two founders, if you will, of Neurofeedback are Dr. Joeseph Kamiya, at the time with the University of Chicago, and Dr. Barry Sterman at the University of California at Los Angeles. Dr. Joeseph Kamiya was developing experiments concerning consciousness and following Pavlov’s theories, developed a reward system that would alter the brainwave patterns of participants in his experiment with the real-time results being displayed using an EEG. Dr. Barry Sterman began working with cats to determine if they could self-regulate their Sensory Motor Rhythm (SMR). Using a simple reward system, the cats were rewards when they altered their brainwaves to gain the correct frequency. The results from both these experiments drew the attention of NASA who were having difficulties with Astronauts and their exposure to toxic fuel sources.
The Space Program
Dr. Sterman was contracted by NASA to discover how exposure to toxic rocket fuel caused an epileptic response in humans. During the initial experiments, the negative side effects of the fuel became apparent with the exception of ten of the cats used in his original experiments. It became obvious that the effects of the SMR brainwave training had created stable brains that were resistant to acute epilepsy. By moving this neurofeedback training to the astronauts, he was able to reduce the onset of epilepsy responses in sixty percent of the participants. In addition, the reduction ranged from twenty to one hundred percent, and the effect was long-lasting. As a result, this type of training is still in use by NASA for all astronaut missions, and thus Neurofeedback became an alternative medical treatment for epilepsy.
The 1970’s Dark Ages
In the 1970s, while Dr. Kamiya’s and Dr. Sterman’s work was in the hands of legitimate scientists and further research into Neurofeedback was undertaken, it was also taken up by Spiritualists and Meditators as a means of engaging followers in mystical beliefs. As such, its credibility was damaged as many began to see Alternative Medical treatments as being associated with shams and hokey medicine. However, while the mainstream was focused on negative press from these charlatans, scientists began to explore the role of Neurofeedback in conjunction with the newly understood plasticity of the brain.
The 1980’s To Current
Towards the beginning of the 1980s, scientists concerned with Neurofeedback began experiments to determine how effective this therapy could be used with other central nervous disorders and with ADD in specific. In addition, further research concerning Neurofeedback and epilepsy continued. By the 1990s, Neurofeedback had shown significant promise in dealing with a wide range of conditions, and more experimentation was conducted with the effect on spectrum disorders such as ADHD and even autism. At the turn of the century, and in conjunction with a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms in the brain, Neurofeedback moved from the experimentation aspect to that of direct intervention for various conditions. Now, numerous treatment providers offer Neurofeedback as an alternative medical treatment to ADD and ADHD, as well as epilepsy and more.
The effectiveness of Neurofeedback therapy as a means of assisting those with ADD and ADHD is well established by science and the results have been shown to be long-lasting. This is a significant benefit for those with ADD and ADHD, however, it is not limited to just those with ADD and ADHD.
A very helpful article that offers an in-depth review of neurofeedback entitled, What is Neurofeedback: An Update can be download. Just click on the link and it will download to your device.
To further explore if the alternative medical treatment of Neurofeedback is right for you, contact a treatment provider today.
If you or your child is facing the challenges and difficulties of ADD or ADHD or other signs of brain and body imbalance. Come in for your Free Evaluation or call (586) 488-4818 and see for yourself how beneficial the Michigan Brain Health neurofeedback program can be for your health challenges.
Always remember one of my mantras., “The more you know about how your body works, the better you can take care of yourself.”
For more details about the natural approach I take with my patients, take a look at the book I wrote entitled: Reclaim Your Life; Your Guide To Revealing Your Body’s Life-Changing Secrets For Renewed Health. It is available in my office or at Amazon and many other book outlets. If you found value in this article, please use the social sharing icons at the bottom of this post, and please share with those you know who are still suffering from chronic health challenges, despite receiving medical management. Help me reach more people so they may regain their zest for living! Thank you!
