What is neurotherapy?

Neurofeedback is a noninvasive procedure that involves monitoring and analyzing EEG signals read through surface electrodes on the scalp, and uses the EEG itself to guide the feedback.  The feedback signal from FNS is of profoundly low power but produces measurable reaction in the EEG. The EEG signals influence the feedback, and the feedback, in turn, changes the EEG pattern.

Why is changing the EEG pattern necessary? EEG-slowing is present in people who are symptomatic with problems such as post-concussion syndrome, PTSD, depression, learning disabilities, fibromyalgia and autism. A recording of an EEG that has slowing present shows an excess, or imbalance, of energy measured in micro volts in the slowest waves, the delta and theta bands. (1-8 Hertz) "An adult should not have theta or delta patterns in the waking record and if they appear, they are called slow wave abnormalities. The slower the frequency and the more often it appears, the greater the degree of abnormality. Abnormal slow waves appear when the brain cells are damaged regardless of the cause of the damage." "One other form of abnormality in EEG is the depression (decreased amplitude) of any normal rhythms. These depressions can be seen during wake or sleep." (Hughes J.R., 1994. EEG in Clinical Practice, 2nd Ed. Butterworth-Heinemann, Newton, MA.)

EEG abnormalities are associated with mild, to severe brain trauma, and can be the result of a variety of causes such as blunt force, whiplash, toxic exposure or infection. With regard to TBI, "Major lesions tend to occur predominantly in the frontal and temporal poles, the brain stem, and the corpus callosum, that thick band of neural tissue that maintains the most efficient and the fastest connections between the brain hemispheres." "Diffuse damage to these areas causes attentional deficits, slow thought processing and diminished bilateral integration." (Lezak, M., 1988. "The Waking Wounded of Head Injury: when subtle deficits can be disabling." Trends in Rehabilitation, Vol. III, #3.) Pain and headache are also common results of brain dysfunction.

Quantitative data from treatment document reduction of EEG slowing, in response treatment. Dr. Ayub Ommaya, George Washington University neuro-surgeon and TBI researcher, supports this treatment for the problems of TBI. He concurs with current thinking about treatment effects: the feedback disrupts the EEG activity and this interruption of the brainwave state leads to behavioral and symptomatic changes. Because the feedback speed is offset from the dominant brainwave frequency, the imbalanced EEG amplitude begins to normalize. The result is lower amplitude slow waves, more comfortable and flexible functioning.

Clinically what is observed is that the shift in amplitude reflects a reduction of symptoms such as pain, headaches, depression, as well as cognitive, mood, and energy problems that are a major part of fibromyalgia. Stroke patients recover movement and clarity to various degrees, depending on the areas damaged. The more severe the problem, the longer the treatment. For severe damage requiring many treatments, families have been trained to use the equipment at home and administer it regularly. The results have been very good.

Barring a new trauma there have not been reports of relapses or regressions after treatment. Three instances occurred in which patients were very near the end of treatment and new traumas caused a return of symptoms. These were more easily treated than when treatment began, and they regained their former level of good functioning. 

A study of neurofeedback was on treating EEG slowing in fibromyalgia. [Canadian Journal of Clinical Medicine, June 1998]. An NIH-funded study of Neurofeedback treatment for mild/moderate brain injury will be in the June 2001 issue of the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. Co-Principal Investigators are Dr. Nancy Schoenberger, of the Kessler Rehabilitation Institute, West Orange, NJ and Dr. Mary Lee Esty of the Neurotherapy Center of Washington, Chevy Chase, MD. Dr. Len Ochs, developer of FNS, was consultant to the study. Preliminary results were presented at the First Federally Funded Interagency Conference on Brain Injury in December, 1999. The spectral characteristics were measured by Lawrence Livermore Laboratories. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of neurofeedback on EEG slowing associated with fibromyalgia is underway in Chevy Chase and Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Expected completion: Summer, 2001. We are finding a virtual remission of fibromyalgia symptoms (pain, energy, cognitive, mood, balance-coordination problems) in over 70% of people who complete treatment. This clinical observation is supported by an unpublished doctoral dissertation, Marcus, L., 2001 "EEG Amplitude and Variability Changes Following Low-Intensity Neurofeedback-Based Stimulation for Fibromyalgia", Western Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto, CA. The Dana Foundation included coverage of Neurofeedback-TBI work on National Public Television.