Every parent wants to see their child succeeding in school. In order for a child to be set up for academic success in the future, positive skills and habits must be built from a young age, which relies heavily upon optimal functioning of the brain. Neurofeedback is perfect for young children as it is an easy and effective method of training the brain to function optimally without the use of medications. Training a child’s brain to function at its very best from a young age will help set them up for long term success. The three main areas of brain function that are positively impacted by neurofeedback include the following:
Working Memory – For a person to properly complete a task, they must have the ability to hold information in their brain to properly apply the information when needed. For example, if a child is taking an English exam, the child must be able to recall information from the passages provided on the exam to properly answer the questions pertaining to the readings. Working memory will in turn affect overall academic performance. Neurofeedback works to strengthen the brain in areas that control working memory so the child can recall information stored in the brain with greater ease.
- Cognitive Flexibility – In school, students are made to think about various subjects in more ways than one. Being able to build associations between different concepts or relate different information together depends heavily on flexible thinking. For example, a child must utilize various strategies of thinking to answer certain math questions. Being able to think in a flexible way is critical to academic success. If the brain is functioning at an optimal level due to neurofeedback, this type of thinking becomes more accessible to a student and will positively impact performance.
Behavioral Control – Sitting in a classroom for long hours every day can be a major challenge for students. The distractions and temptations to stop paying attention in a classroom could negatively impact how well a student absorbs information day to day in addition to how well they perform on exams. Additionally, a child can be disruptive to the class by exhibiting behaviors such as yelling out answers in class without being called upon or talking out of turn. Neurofeedback works to calm the brain in addition to helping it function at its highest ability. The brain is then able to more easily regulate emotional reactions, helping the child from acting impulsively. The child is then able to focus in the classroom for longer periods, speak in turn, and follow rules with greater ease which allows the child to learn and perform well on exams.
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