The brain is an amazingly intricate organ. With more than 86 billion neurons, it controls how we think, how we feel, and how we process emotions. When the neurons aren’t communicating correctly, your mental health and intellectual abilities can suffer. If things feel out of balance in your brain, neurofeedback could help restore that equilibrium. If you’re interested in learning more about neurofeedback in Denver, CO, here’s a helpful guide to this promising brain training.
What is neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is a type of non-invasive, drug-free biofeedback treatment for people who want to improve their brain function. The way it works is similar to other types of behavioral training you partake in. Just like breaking a bad habit or learning a new skill, the retraining of your brain requires consistent practice.
During a neurofeedback treatment session, electrodes are placed on an individual’s scalp. Those electrodes measure brainwave activity and provide real-time feedback when abnormalities are detected. Over time, this process helps individuals learn how to better self-regulate their brain function.
What does neurofeedback treat?
Neurofeedback can treat a wide range of neurological symptoms and disorders. In many cases, people leverage neurofeedback therapy to improve their mental health or their overall mental performance.
Mental health disorders
1 in every 4 people will be affected by a mental disorder at some point throughout their life. But as common as mental health disorders are, they’re still incredibly difficult to manage even with medicine and psychotherapy. Neurofeedback can help support treatment for people with anxiety and depression, two of the most prevalent mental health disorders in the United States.
Poor mental performance
Neurofeedback can also be used to enhance memory, focus, and one’s ability to manage daily stressors. Many professional athletes and senior business executives use neurofeedback to ensure their brain and body are working together as efficiently as possible.
Other common neurological disorders and injuries
Neurofeedback can also be used to help manage ADHD, ASD, concussions, memory-related disorders, migraines, PTSD, sleep-related disorders, and traumatic brain injuries.
We should note that neurofeedback is not a cure for any of the above-mentioned disorders. However, this therapy offers a way to help better manage these disorders and their symptoms.
How does neurofeedback train your brain?
Neurofeedback relies on a positive stimulus—usually a movie, song, or video game—to help you avoid unwanted responses to stimuli, like feeling anxious in a crowded room. Similar to Pavlov’s infamous dog study, humans can use operant conditioning to retrain their brains to act in a more desirable way.
When your brain is functioning the way it should, the positive stimulus will play. When irregular brainwave activity is detected through the electrodes, the stimuli will stop. When this happens, your brain has to figure out how to get back to its optimal state.
Once you learn how to do this, you can control your responses to stimuli even after treatment has ended.
Where to find neurofeedback in Denver, CO
If you’re interested in learning more about neurofeedback in Denver, CO, reach out to us at McWhorter CNR. We take a comprehensive approach to mental health treatments, so you can be the best possible version of yourself.
Schedule your initial consultation today to learn if you’re a good candidate for neurofeedback.