Neurofeedback

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Neurofeedback

• Brian Wallace
• Advanced Neuroscience
• Yi Zuo
• Winter 2009

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Outline

• Description and uses
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• How does it work?
• Brainwave scanning
• Why is this important?
• Commercially available neurofeedback products

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Neurofeedback Description

• Elaborate EEG scanning of the brain
• Computer feedback
• Operant conditioning of desired brainwave
  patterns

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Therapeutic uses

• Therapeutic entrainment of rhythms to alleviate
• PTSD
• Anxiety
• Addiction
• Depression
• Epilepsy
• OCD
• Bipolar
• Autism
• Phobias
• ADD/ADHD

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AD/HD

• Symptoms include
• Inattentiveness
• Impulsiveness
• Hyperactivity
• Up to 12 of children meet DSM-IV criteria
• Likely to continue into adulthood
• Causes
• Genetic component
• Cultural component
• Neurological component

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AD/HD Brainwaves

• Abnormal Beta1 activity
• Abnormal Theta activity
• Neurofeedback allows patient to learn to shift
  brainwave patterning

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Early 90s Neurofeedback
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Neurofeedback today
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Why is this important?The future of
neurofeedback
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The future of neurofeedback
http//www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/video-mattel-mi
nd-flex-hands-and-heads-on/
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Conclusion

• Neuroscience as an alternative to
  pharmaceuticals?
• Longer length of action
• Less dependency issues
• Neurofeedback toys available to the public
• Technology created at faster rate than policy
• Establish safety guidelines?

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The End