A comment to a previous blog post got me thinking: it is very reasonable to wonder if neurofeedback can be helpful with performance enhancement. Here at Advanced Neurotherapy, we have helped athletes, composers, choreographers, and business people enhance their performance. There is indeed research on the application of neurofeedback in performance enhancement. Look below for a sample of that research. Please note that the Leveque study demonstrated the improvement of the functioning of neurological systems that support selective attention and inhibition (stopping impulses) in children with ADHD.  It is reasonable to extrapolate from this study that the functioning of these structures is also enhanced in high functioning individuals whose goal is performance enhancement. Improved attention impulse control supports this goal.

In the US, about 30 million cases of migraines are reported each year. Migraines are persistent, pulsing headaches that come with several other difficult symptoms making daily functioning come to a halt. Anyone who has ever experienced a migraine can tell you how intensely painful they can be and how difficult they are to treat. The pain of a migraine typically worsens with exertion. Those suffering often are confined to a quiet, dark room until the pain lets up. Migraines are caused by blood vessels that become enlarged in addition to the release of chemicals from nerve fibers surrounding these vessels.

April is Autism Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness of autistic spectrum disorders in a continued effort to improve the quality of life for those struggling. Nationally, a puzzle piece is known to be a symbol for autism awareness because each puzzle piece is different, representing the diversity of the individuals affected, just as each individual case of autism is unique. The reason for classifying autism within the autistic spectrum is because every individual may have a variety of symptoms while simultaneously lacking other symptoms that are commonly associated with autism. In fact, sometimes autism can be difficult to fully identify for this reason.

In 2013, new diagnostic criteria were developed to identify autism within three levels of support. However, there are no particular criteria that would automatically assign someone to a level as each case varies greatly. The term “high-functioning autism” refers to a person who may have mild symptoms of autism that are significant enough to warrant a diagnosis, yet who’s symptoms do not completely align with classic autism. This makes pinning down a diagnosis difficult at times. The diagnosis of Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to those who are functional yet exhibit symptoms of autism.

For many children, getting through math classes and homework assignments is a daily struggle. No matter how hard the child tries to study, math still does not come easily. Many adults deal with the same issue. Despite years of math classes and exams in the past, many adults still have difficulty doing basic math problems, which can affect day-to-day life and create feelings of embarrassment. These difficulties may be due to a learning disability called dyscalculia, a brain-based condition where a person has trouble processing numbers and math-related concepts. 

In the US today, eating disorders affect 20 million women and 10 million men. The most common among eating disorders is Binge Eating Disorder, or BED, affecting 1 in 35 adults, making it even more common than anorexia nervosa. Although overeating from time to time is common for most people, there is a distinct difference for those suffering from BED. Symptoms include eating unusually large portions of food in a small amount of time. Those suffering often rapidly eat to the point of feeling uncomfortably full, even if they are not hungry. Due to embarrassment, people often eat in secret by themselves to avoid judgment, however soon after a binge, they feel depressed, guilty, and even disgusted with themselves due to their eating.