Who's had neurofeedback?

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What's it like? Back up; what is it?

I'm actually doing it right now. I find it really fun, but I've only just started.

Basically, you have electrodes placed at specific points on your head. They measure brainwave frequency and intensity. This data is fed to a computer, and represented on a screen in graphical or numerical format. In my sessions, I am trying to decrease my theta to beta wave ratio. Today I got to 1.07! There is usually some kind of animation or music to focus on. You are rewarded with continuity (in the animation or sound) when the ratio is at the desired level. It is a brain-training program; the goal being to learn proper processing pathways, and methods to focus when distractions would otherwise overwhelm.

This might help you: http://www.eegspectrum.com/IntroToNeuro/

I might try it for fun.

If you can do it for free, or at least inexpensively, go for it! I would do it even if I didn't have to. It's so fun to think... oh, hang on, I'm manipulating pictures and sounds WITH MY BRAIN WAVES.

I have a co-worker who gets it done regularly. He's not on the spectrum, but he's had brain damage. The way he talked about it, well, let's just say it brought the skeptical point of my mind to the forefront. Does anyone know if there's data/research out there about the effectiveness of neurofeedback?

The reason I haven't done it is because the established companies that provide something that seems like it might have good response that I feel I could trust charge a LOT.

There are a bunch of GSR(Galvanic Skin Response) type products, but I can't see those as being accurate.

singularitymadam,

what brand are you using?

I'll let you know after tomorrow; I can't remember right now.

Your avatar is a fantastic album. :]

2ukenkerl: http://www.thoughttechnology.com/bioinf.htm

What's it supposed to be accomplishing if it works?

For sensory integration training, neurofeedback is training the brain through habitual pathways. The visual feedback shows you which pathways are most functional, and reinforces their use. For instance, fluorescent lights really bother me. So in some training sessions, my doctor will leave the lights on. I have to focus on focusing (it sounds ridiculous, but it seems to work so far), and by doing so, I learn how to ignore--or redirect--the way my brain reacts to painful and irritating stimuli. Ideally, I will be able to sit in classes with the horrible lights and concentrate (without wearing sunglasses). Or even go to a video game arcade without enduring the symptoms of overload, but that seems a bit too optimistic. Either way, I enjoy the process, which in itself is therapeutic.

There's something called LENS neurofeedback that is fairly new and supposed to work faster because the electrodes actually have some type of low-level electric current going through them to the brain.. There's a book out recently on that too, but I haven't read it...

I had thought about trying that, but figured it would be better to wait a while until they worked out the "kinks" with the new system... I thought maybe after it had been around for a few years that I might try it and hopefully, it wouldn't cost so much either...

Anybody else heard of LENS neurofeedback or have any experience with it?

So I guess it's mostly to help with sensory issues? I don't think mine are generally just too bad (compared to a lot of people on the spectrum). This definitely sounds interesting though.

I know a guy that does this and I did do it a couple of times and I actually thought it really helped a lot. The guy really knew what he was doing and I found it to be very relaxing and helped me feel less overwhelmed and I noticed a lot of improvement in my daily life the next couple days after each treatment.

But then this guy moved his practice to arizona, and he had to refer me to the other nearest guy that did it, which was some ADD center. For some reason (the settings were different?) I was really upset and unhappy and feeling really bad after I finished the first session. I assumed the guy just didn't know what he was doing, so I never went back.

I still think it was such a great thing, and I'd like to try it again, but I've never looked into it more.

It does sound interesting. I'd love to try it, even if just for curiosities sake about how it works.