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blog-history-of-neurofeedback

The History Of Neurofeedback And Why It Is Beneficial In Treating ADD And ADHD

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 1950’s-60’s

The two founders, if you will, of Neurofeedback are Dr. Joe Kamiya, at the time with the University of Chicago and Dr. Barry Sterman at the University of California at Los Angeles. Dr. Joe Kamiya was developing experiments concerning consciousness and following on 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 1970’s, 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, it’s 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 the 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 1980’s, 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 1990’s, Neurofeedback had shown significant promise is 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 a direct treatment 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.

To further explore if the alternative medical treatment of Neurofeedback is right for you, contact a treatment provider today.

Always remember one of my mantras., “The more you know about how your body works, the better you can take care of yourself.”


 

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Office Information

Michigan Brain Health
Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC, BCN, DNMSC, FIFHI, FICPA
51735 Van Dyke Ave
Shelby Township, MI 48316

(586) 731-8840

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Hours Of Operation

Monday, Wednesday & Thursday
9:00 AM – Noon, 2:00 – 6:00 PM
Tuesday
2:00 – 6:00 PM
Fri, Sat, Sun
Closed

Call Today!
586-731-8840

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and educational purposes only. The information contained on this site does not constitute the rendering of healthcare advice or treatment recommendations. Browsing this site does not establish a professional relationship with our clinic. The information contained on this website has not been evaluated by the F.D.A. and is not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any disease.

Note: One of the modalities we use to help optimize brain function is neurofeedback. Basic learning theory is the backbone of EEG biofeedback, which is more well known as neurofeedback. Neurofeedback trains the brain to enhance self-regulation and helps the body to find more efficient pathways so the body is better able to manage and heal itself. We do not ‘treat’ conditions with neurofeedback, but assist the nervous system to make adjustments to improve function. Users of neurofeedback learn to regulate their brain activity, resulting in improved brain performance. Michigan Brain Health makes no claims that it can cure any conditions, including any conditions referenced on its website or in print materials, including ADHD, anxiety, autism, depression, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, migraines, headaches, stress, sleep disorders, Alzheimer’s and dementia.  If you take prescription medications for any of these conditions, you should consult with your doctor before discontinuing use of such medications.