DR. DEBORAH MURPHY
- Ojai Chiropractor
& Neurofeedback
The Natural Force
in each one of us
is the greatest force
in getting well.
Hippocrates
To Schedule Appointment
805-646-2225
HOW DOES NEUROFEEDBACK WORK?
Theories & Explanations
Brain Self-Correction
When the brain has the opportunity to witness its own timing, it self-corrects. Neurofeedback is like taking our brain to a mechanic, who hooks the brain up to a diagnostic meter, and begins fixing itself!
Our amazing brains are wired with more than 150 billion nerve cells electrically connected in networks, and signals between them are lightning fast! The brain makes pathways and remembers these paths. When the system is disrupted, however, from a traumatic event, like a blow to the head, blood flow problems, emotional trauma, or chemicals, then two things may happen: Pathways may become interrupted, and the timing of the impulses between nerve cells altered, so brain function can become impaired.
Optimal functioning of our nervous system depends upon precise timing of impulses from our brain. So if timing is disregulated or misfires, like an untuned engine, it causes a spectrum of symptoms: sleep issues, tension, headaches, lack of focus, mood changes, negative thinking loops, pain, poor immune system response or feeling unlike one’s familiar self. Retuning the brain returns us to our happy fulfilled authentic nature.
Disregulation can become the brain’s habit. With the magic of Neurofeedback training, the brain receives a fresh opportunity to witness its own activity. It self-corrects as it realizes, “That’s not what I intended to do.” Similar to looking in a mirror, and receiving visual feedback about how we look and move, feedback from witnessing our biological processes is called biofeedback.
With the visual feedback in the mirror, we make adjustments and improvements, like fixing our hair, picking spinach from our teeth, discarding an unflattering shirt, straightening up and smiling. When the positive changes are reinforced “Hey , you look fantastic!,” our self-corrections often become permanent.
Similarly, when the brain corrects its own timing, the results are a reorganization of the whole system. Be the person you were meant to be. Schedule Neurofeedback training today!
Happiness is not a matter of intensity, but of balance,
order, rhythm, and harmony.
-Thomas Merton
WHAT IS BRAIN DISREGULATION?
With over 150 billion neurons, or nerve cells, and over 150 trillion connections, synapses between them, every neuron is connected by only three or fewer connections. This amazing fact shows us how important it is for the brain to have the timing regulation system working efficiently, and when it is not, it is poorly regulating or 'disregulated.' The timing of the firing of networks of nerve cells occurs in our brains within 1/10th of a millisecond, very fast, so slight imbalances in the system affects system functioning as a whole. As timing regulation improves, many systems in our body improve, thus functioning more optimally physically and emotionally, enhanced sense of well-being, is the result.
Did you know the consistency of the brain is very soft, a cross between jelly and pudding-like? There are many nerve cells (neurons) connecting the brain other parts of the brain, and body. There are even more tiny little nerves, "interneurons," connecting the billions of neurons into groupings and networks. The main job of the interneuron is to inhibit or dampen nerve firings. If it weren't for Interneurons, our nerves would all fire at once. That would be quite a sight to see! "Interneurons" are easily disrupted by trauma to the head, medications, high fever, and illnesses, dissregulating the groups of neurons that fire together, and altering timing mechanisms in the brain, thus more impulsive or compulsive behaviors can appear. A common condition characterized by impulsivity, for example, is ADHD, and research studies have proven Neurofeedback to be powerful for re-regulating ADHD, as well as many other conditions.
Neurofeedback assists the brain to become more flexible by exercising timing mechanisms and nerve groupings, electrical signals firing together, so they become more efficient. They can and do re-regulate! A flexible brain is able to break-free of unpleasant "ruts," or habitual patterns it may be stuck in.
Different Neurofeedback systems approach re-regulation from varied philosophical and mathematical approaches, however there is more commonality than differences, as all train to increase flexibility and timing regulation in the brain. All Neurofeedback systems safely exercise the brain to find new pathways, so what once was dissregulated, can become regulated. Brain flexibility means one may easily calm, or relax for rest, repair, or sleep, and be able to focus and energize for productivity and action.
A flexible brain is a well-functioning brain, and a happy person. 100% genuinely You!
"Bio-Feedback"
Reflection in the mirror
When a dancer practices in front of a mirror, studying every nuance of her/his body movement & timing to musical rhythm, visual feedback can be very helpful feedback for the learning process. Consciously & unconsciously the brain makes adjustments, and artistic expression is enhanced.
With Neurofeedback, the brain becomes witness to ebb and flow rhythms of its own activity. By observing moment to moment brain activity, it trains function to be more efficient and flexible, making improvements without our even realizing it.
Sensors placed on a person's scalp with sticky paste. The brains' electrical activity, called EEG - electroencephalogram activity, is streamed into a computer program, then interfaced into a video game or movie, which the person watches. Right away the brain begins making little improvements to timing, also begins finding more efficient pathways. Nothing is being done to the brain. the brain simply responds to information about itself, and self-corrects.
A flexible, stable brain is a well-functioning brain, able to self-regulate. Brainwaves must be slow for a person to be calm, and speed up for a person to be active and alert. Slow brain activity is the sleep state called delta. Theta is the next faster brain state of dreaming, perspective and intuition. Next is meditation's alpha state slow brainwave activity. The quiet alert state of low beta is faster activity, and high beta even faster, for cognitive processes like calculating, reading, and data processing. The fastest brain state is called gamma for 'Ah Hah' moments, and the state Monks and long time meditators associate with blissfulness.
Flexibility between slow and fast brainwave states, coupled with easy access to all parts of the brain, is imperative for perspective, creativity, self-control, and for the enjoyment of being a balanced happy person, able to feel one's most ideal self.
Understanding Brain Timing
Regulation & Dysregulation
If clocks throughout a train system were all set to slightly different times, the disregulated schedule could cause system-wide train delays and even disasters. To fix the train schedule, simple self-correction of the clocks is in order.
By reregulating brain clocks, Neurofeedback teaches the brain to be more flexible yet stable, more easily slowing to calmness, such as sleep or meditation, or speeding up for reading, computations and learning. Flexibility & stability of brain states allows us a wide access to our brain's potential, including creativity, perspective and the feeling of being one's "ideal best self."
