Beyond Stress Balls: Technology-Based Therapies

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Beyond Stress Balls Technology-Based Therapies

• Jeff Tarrant, Ph.D., BCN
• Licensed Psychologist
• University of Missouri
• Health Promotion Wellness
• Student Health Center

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Agenda

• Entrainment Technologies
• Audio Entrainment
• Audio-Visual Entrainment
• Questions
• Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback
• Live Demonstration
• Questions

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Auditory Entrainment

• Using auditory signals to influence brainwaves
• relaxation CDs
• 2 (or more) parts
• Frequency tones
• Masking music

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Auditory Evoked Response

• Presentation of a sound (click)
• Brain responds in consistent way
• If sounds are evenly spaced
• Can induce specific frequency

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Isochronic Tones

• Isochronic Tones
• Evenly spaced tones
• Turn on and off quickly
• Produce strong evoked response
• Psychologically appealing
• Tone frequency entrains brainwaves Frequency
  following response

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Binaural Beats

• 2 different tones at slightly different pitches
  into separate ears
• Brain subtracts difference and perceives as sound
  within head
• phantom sound

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Isochronic vs. Binaural

• Binaural is unlikely to produce significant BWE,
  but can by hypnotic and relaxing
• Isochronic tones are strongly entraining

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The Research

• Mixed-Bag
• Audio used binaural rather than isochronic
• Small sample size
• Varied frequencies (3 hz vs. 10 hz)
• Single Session studies
• See Huang, T. Charyton, C. (2008). A
  comprehensive review of the psychological effects
  of brainwave entrainment. Alternative Therapies
  Sep/Oct, Vol. 14, No. 5.

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Binaural Beat Research, Ex.

• Randomized, double-blind
• 104 patients undergoing general anesthesia for
  surgery
• When listening to music CD with binaural beats,
  anxiety decreased by 26.3 (p.001) compared to
  control
• Patients that listened to CD without BB, anxiety
  decreased by 11 (p.15)
• Control group (TV or read), anxiety decreased
  3.8

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Relevance for College Students

• Easily available
• downloadable
• Cost effective
• Costs generally range from free to 20
• Portable
• iPod
• Smart phone
• Applications
• Test preparation
• Sleep

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Where can I find them

• Internet search
• relaxation CDs using isochronic tones
• Hemi-sync.com
• Eoinstitute.org
• Musicmefree.com
• Phone apps
• Brainwave Tuner
• Brain Booster

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Audio Visual Entrainment (AVE)

• Light and Sound Stimulation
• Glasses flash lights at specific frequency
• Tones in headphones at same frequency
• Brain waves match these frequencies
• Entrainment
• Increases or decreases nervous system arousal.

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Audio Visual Entrainment
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Audio vs. Visual Entrainment

• Eyes-closed 18.5 hz photic entrainment
• Increased 18.5 hz EEG by 49
• Eyes-open 18.5 hz auditory entrainment
• Increased 18.5 hz EEG by 27
• Eyes-closed 18.5 hz auditory entrainment
• Increased 18.5 hz EEG by 21
• Frederick, Lubar, Rasey, Brim, Blackburn
  (1999). Effects of 18.5 Hz Audiovisual
  Stimulation on EEG Amplitude at the Vertex.
  Proceedings AAPB Thirteenth Anniversary Annual
  Meeting, 42-45.

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Disassociation Restabilization

• Gently turn off mental chatter
• Stimulus overload leading to mental confusion
• Possibly hypnotic induction
• The brain lets go
• Apply BWE later in session

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Choosing a Frequency

• Beta (14-30)-stimulating, good for ADHD
• Alpha (8-13)-use first, best entrainment, good
  for deep relaxation
• Theta (4-7)-forming new habits, repressed
  memories, sleep
• Delta (1-3)-going to bed
• Dual Stimulation-left/right hemisphere
• Ganzfeld Stimulation-passive, non- entraining,
  repetitive

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NFB and AVE to increase alpha and decrease high
beta for anxiety
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Adult Woman, Excessive Worry, Strong Emotional
Reactions
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Applications of AVE

• Relaxation Training
• ADHD and Learning
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• TMJ
• Chronic Pain/Fibromyalgia

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AVE Research

• Comprehensive Review of Research
• Consistent, positive findings
• Verbal Skills
• Attention
• Memory
• Stress/Anxiety
• Pain
• Behavior (in children)

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AVE and Academic Worry in College Students

• 113 college students
• 4 groups worry exposure, expressive writing,
  AVE, control
• Each practiced 3x/week
• Worry exposure and AVE showed significant
  improvements in all measures compared to other
  groups
• AVE had best follow-through

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Finding AVE Equipment
www.mindalive.com
www.toolsforwellness.com
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Questions???
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Biofeedback

• The process of measuring and displaying
  physiological processes with the goal of
  increased awareness and control.
• Increased awareness of physiological processes
• Voluntary control over body and mind

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Types of Biofeedback

• Muscle activity (EMG)
• Skin Temperature
• Electrodermal Activity (GSR, SCR)
• Respiration/Capnometry
• Heart Rate Variability
• Blood Pressure
• Brain Electrical Activity (EEG)
• Brain Blood Flow (HEG)

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Heart Rate Variability

• HRV heart rate changes with every heartbeat.
• HRV should not be confused with heart rate
• HRV is associated with autonomic nervous system
  functioning
• Balance between SNS and PNS High HRV
• Sympathetic activation Low HRV

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Heart Rate Variability Summary

• HRV is an important indicator of both
  physiological resiliency and behavioral
  flexibility.
• Low HRV is associated as an independent predictor
  of future health problems.
• HRV can be thought of as a general measure of
  adaptability
• Diminished HRV a sign of vulnerability to stress

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Demonstration
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Breathing Rate

• 5-8 breaths per minute for balanced nervous
  system
• Paced diaphragmatic breathing restores synchrony
  between respiratory and cardiovascular systems
  (Gervitz, 1999)
• 6 breaths per min seems ideal for synchrony
• Should feel comfortable and not forced
• Advanced exhale longer than inhalation

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Externally Paced Breathing

• Externally Paced
• 6 breaths/minute
• Coherence Coach
• DoAsOne (www.doasone.com)
• Phone Apps
• BreathBiofeedback (Free)
• Breath Pacer Lite (Free)
• MyCalmBeat (Free)
• DoAsOne (Free through iTunes)

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www.doasone.com
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HRV and RSA Biofeedback Research

• Reduced anxiety immediately after 10 minute
  practice in college students (Tarrant, 2011)
• Reduced anxiety improved mood in highly anxious
  college students after 4 weeks (Henriques, et.
  al., 2011)
• 15 min. of RSA biofeedback resulted in
  significant shifts in brain functioning in areas
  associated with stress response (Sherlin, et.
  al., 2010)

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Access on Campus

• Self-service
• Individual sessions
• Biofeedback Lab
• Classes (3-weeks)
• Embedded in existing classes
• For credit class (1 credit hour)

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Biofeedback and Breathing

• www.Heartmath.com
• (emWave)
• www.resperate.com
• www.stresseraser.com

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Questions???
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Resources

• Audio Programs
• www.hemi-sync.com
• www.EOInstitute.org
• www.musicmefree.com
• Audio Visual Entrainment
• www.mindalive.com
• www.toolsforwellness.com
• HRV and RSA Biofeedback
• www.heartmath.com
• www.resperate.com
• www.stresseraser.com