This alternative therapy uses real-time EEG data to help patients work to train their ADHD brains for intense focus, impulse control, and organized executive function. Studies are encouraging, but not conclusive.
The brain is malleable. With frequent, intense practice, we may transform our brainwave activity. Over time, we can work to increase our ratio of faster brain waves, leading to stronger focus and improved impulse control. This is, in essence, the concept of neuroplasticity — and the core principle behind neurofeedback training.
patients with ADHD and other neurological disorders have used neurofeedback in hopes of training their brains. According to proponents, the reported benefits of this alternative therapy are twofold:
- Brainwave alterations are measurable and appear to endure well beyond the therapy’s end.
- Brainwave improvements may lead to behavior improvements — most notably, sustained focus, diminished impulsivity, and reduced distractibility out in the real world.
Neurofeedback is a distinct type of biofeedback. Biofeedback is the process of learning how to change your own physiological activity using real-time monitoring of biological data like breathing rates, muscle activity, and heart function.
In neurofeedback training sessions, practitioners monitor a patient’s brain waves using scalp sensors. These sensors pick up the brain’s activity and relay it so that the therapist and patient can see exactly when and how brain waves reach an optimal level. The trick is then to repeat and practice the behaviors that lead to this ideal brain state until they become second nature.
