What is the Science Behind Neurofeedback?

If this is your first time exploring Sober Brains and the unique type of therapy that we offer for recovered addicts, you probably have a lot of questions. Questions like, what is neurofeedback? What is the science behind it? Is it backed up by studies, or is it just a lot of hooey?

As always, we’ve got answers to all your questions in the article below!

 

What is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is a process during which we measure the activity in your brain and then give feedback to the parts of your brain that could use a tune-up.

We start neurofeedback by placing sensors called electrodes on your scalp. These electrodes are connected to a computer, and a program on the computer uses them to measure your brain activity. It is through these electrodes that your brain can retrain, create new neural pathways, and leave behind pathways that are part of an addiction or compulsive behaviors.

 

What is the Science Behind Neurofeedback?

Neural pathways? Electric activity? These may sound like mysterious and complex scientific terms, but don’t let that scare you. They’re really quite easy to understand.

You don’t feel it, but your brain is constantly pulsing with electric signals. These signals travel from one part of your brain to the other using neural pathways. It is this system by which your brain sends messages to the rest of your body.

Let’s say you want to lift up your right arm. Before that can happen, a signal has to pass through your brain to the part of it that controls the nerves in your arm. It sounds like a long process, but it happens in nanoseconds. It’s a beautiful system.

Unfortunately, this system can become corrupted just as a matter of living, leaving us addicted to something. Addiction further disrupts these pathways and causes a lack of communication between the different parts of your brain. It prevents you from being able to react to stressful situations in a calm, rational way. Instead, it hotwires your neural pathways so that when you’re faced with something that triggers you, you feel compelled to resort to your addiction as a coping mechanism.

Once your brain is changed to respond to your addiction triggers in this compulsive way, some of your brain waves show up as “abnormal” on a brain map called a QEEG. At Sober Brains, we believe that a quick path to fix those neural pathways is to bring balance back to your brain through training.

That’s where neurofeedback comes in.

During a neurofeedback session, while the electrodes sit harmlessly on your scalp, you’ll watch a video or listen to some audio. Whenever your maladaptive brain signals start to show themselves, the video or audio will stop or grow dim.

This causes your brain waves to adapt in response, and once they do so, the video or audio will continue as normal.

The video or audio stopping and then returning to normal are both forms of neurofeedback. They’re training your brain to think and respond in a certain way to different types of stimuli. Being able to return to and enjoy the visual or auditory experience is a reward for your brain, so it works hard to change its electrical activity in response.

You see your brain really wants that video to play, it wants the reward!  Our brains adapt to rewards all the time, so let’s show it how to do it the right way!

Thru the process, you rewire your brain to support your new addiction free lifestyle. The more you undergo neurofeedback sessions like these, the more new, beneficial neural pathways you’ll create and leave the old ones behind.

 

Is Neurofeedback Backed by Scientific Studies?

If you feel a little skeptical about the efficacy of neurofeedback as a treatment for addiction, you needn’t worry. You’re not going to be the guinea pig for some kind of experimental procedure. Neurofeedback is backed by many scientific studies and clinical trials. In fact, over 20,000 peer-reviewed research studies exist in the field.

 

Is Neurofeedback Approved by the FDA?

Another reassuring thing about neurofeedback is that it’s been approved by the FDA. You can rest assured that this process is completely safe and non-invasive. The only equipment that will be touching your body is the electrodes, and more than likely, you won’t even feel those. They don’t hurt, and neither does the neurofeedback process.

 

Where Can I Learn More About Neurofeedback Therapy?

If you’ve recently completed an addiction treatment plan or have been sober for 30 days, know that neurofeedback therapy by Sober Brains is a holistic, science-backed option for supportive therapy. To learn more, check out our Services page.