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| "Neurofeedback should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy, it would be universally accepted and widely used. It is a field to be taken seriously by all.’’ Dr. Frank H. Duffy, M.D. Pediatric Neurologist & Professor, Harvard Medical School |
| Additional Links and Resources |
1515 E. Missouri Ave. Suite #110 Phoenix, Arizona 85014 |
To learn how Dr. Baker became involved in neurofeedback & confronted
skepticism
skepticism
| What is Neurofeedback? |
| How Does Neurofeedback Work? |
With individualized coaching, clients navigate games and exercises with their mind to promote
healthy brain function. Neurofeedback can act as a drug-free solution for attention deficits,
learning difficulties, executive functioning weaknesses, anxiety, neurological disorders (e.g.,
traumatic brain injury), and various other issues by improving mental performance, emotional
control, information processing, and memory in people of all ages (e.g., children 3+ years old
through adults). Neurofeedback can also be used by individuals already taking medication, if
desired. We use top of the line amplifiers, combined with Neuroguide Quantitative EEG (i.e.,
qEEG) and Neurofeedback systems. This includes 19-Channel Z-Score Neurofeedback (both
Loreta and Surface), which has demonstrated strong efficacy in the treatment of a wide
variety of conditions. We are also one of only a few NeuroField providers in Arizona.
healthy brain function. Neurofeedback can act as a drug-free solution for attention deficits,
learning difficulties, executive functioning weaknesses, anxiety, neurological disorders (e.g.,
traumatic brain injury), and various other issues by improving mental performance, emotional
control, information processing, and memory in people of all ages (e.g., children 3+ years old
through adults). Neurofeedback can also be used by individuals already taking medication, if
desired. We use top of the line amplifiers, combined with Neuroguide Quantitative EEG (i.e.,
qEEG) and Neurofeedback systems. This includes 19-Channel Z-Score Neurofeedback (both
Loreta and Surface), which has demonstrated strong efficacy in the treatment of a wide
variety of conditions. We are also one of only a few NeuroField providers in Arizona.
We use EEG technology to snapshot brain activity to identify neurologically-based strengths
and weaknesses. Results of the qEEG guide intervention to target specific areas of the brain
and reward positive activity corresponding to improved focus, memory, learning, and positive
mood. In Neurofeedback sessions, clients are reinforced (through game-like or movie formats)
for changing their brain wave patterns. Some clients and/or parents report noticing transient
improvement after only one session. Use of an Audio Visual Entrainment device (see
www.mindalive.com) and/or tACS/tDCS device (see www.foc.us) between sessions can be
helpful for some clients). Sessions last approximately 50 minutes and include time for
preparation and neurofeedback procedures.
and weaknesses. Results of the qEEG guide intervention to target specific areas of the brain
and reward positive activity corresponding to improved focus, memory, learning, and positive
mood. In Neurofeedback sessions, clients are reinforced (through game-like or movie formats)
for changing their brain wave patterns. Some clients and/or parents report noticing transient
improvement after only one session. Use of an Audio Visual Entrainment device (see
www.mindalive.com) and/or tACS/tDCS device (see www.foc.us) between sessions can be
helpful for some clients). Sessions last approximately 50 minutes and include time for
preparation and neurofeedback procedures.
| Neurofeedback and Medication |
Most neurofeedback providers strongly emphasize the use of neurofeedback instead of
psychotropic medication, which has unfortunately resulted in physicians seeing
neurofeedback providers as the "opposition". I feel psychotropic medication can be very
effective in certain cases, either alone or in conjunction with neurofeedback. However, there
are certainly cases where neurofeedback can be much more effective than medication in
treating symptoms. For instance, by treating certain symptoms a person exhibits, it is possible
for medication to actually worsen other symptoms. For example, there are many children and
adults with a combination of both ADD/ADHD and anxiety, which is very difficult for
psychiatrists to treat. When using a stimulant medication such as Ritalin or Adderall to treat
the ADD/ADHD symptoms (which may normalize Theta and Beta waves in the frontal lobes),
at the same time the medication may also speed up areas of the brain that are already going
too fast (excessive Beta wave activity), causing an over-aroused state in which the person
feels keyed up/on edge and uncomfortable. Similarly, when treating children with explosive
anger with medications that tend to have a sedative quality (e.g., antipsychotics or
anticonvulsants), the neurological slowing that helps reduce impulsive anger outbursts
frequently reduces attention/concentration and processing speed. With neurofeedback, it is
possible to slow down fast activity in one area of the brain, while also speed up slow activity in
another area of the brain at the same time. Also, even when the effects of both
neurofeedback and medications are similar, when the person discontinues medication, the
effects often go away. However, with neurofeedback there tends to be long-lasting change
once symptoms have had an adequate amount of treatment.
psychotropic medication, which has unfortunately resulted in physicians seeing
neurofeedback providers as the "opposition". I feel psychotropic medication can be very
effective in certain cases, either alone or in conjunction with neurofeedback. However, there
are certainly cases where neurofeedback can be much more effective than medication in
treating symptoms. For instance, by treating certain symptoms a person exhibits, it is possible
for medication to actually worsen other symptoms. For example, there are many children and
adults with a combination of both ADD/ADHD and anxiety, which is very difficult for
psychiatrists to treat. When using a stimulant medication such as Ritalin or Adderall to treat
the ADD/ADHD symptoms (which may normalize Theta and Beta waves in the frontal lobes),
at the same time the medication may also speed up areas of the brain that are already going
too fast (excessive Beta wave activity), causing an over-aroused state in which the person
feels keyed up/on edge and uncomfortable. Similarly, when treating children with explosive
anger with medications that tend to have a sedative quality (e.g., antipsychotics or
anticonvulsants), the neurological slowing that helps reduce impulsive anger outbursts
frequently reduces attention/concentration and processing speed. With neurofeedback, it is
possible to slow down fast activity in one area of the brain, while also speed up slow activity in
another area of the brain at the same time. Also, even when the effects of both
neurofeedback and medications are similar, when the person discontinues medication, the
effects often go away. However, with neurofeedback there tends to be long-lasting change
once symptoms have had an adequate amount of treatment.
| The Use of NeuroField |
We are one of only several NeuroField providers in Arizona.
NeuroField is a special/advanced supplement to neurofeedback that is highly effective in
treating a wide variety of conditions, with treatment effects being seen very quickly in most
cases. NeuroField is often combined with other neurofeedback techniques (e.g., Z-score
training) to facilitate the brain's ability to produce specific wave forms. One treatment option,
referred to as "Intensives", involves the client coming in for treatment 4-5 days of the week for
2-3 weeks. Nicholas Dogris, Ph.D., the health psychologist who developed NeuroField, has
documented dramatic improvements in symptoms in many individuals receiving intensive
treatment protocols. Following the qEEG/brain mapping, we can discuss whether NeuroField
could be helpful for you or your child.
NeuroField is a special/advanced supplement to neurofeedback that is highly effective in
treating a wide variety of conditions, with treatment effects being seen very quickly in most
cases. NeuroField is often combined with other neurofeedback techniques (e.g., Z-score
training) to facilitate the brain's ability to produce specific wave forms. One treatment option,
referred to as "Intensives", involves the client coming in for treatment 4-5 days of the week for
2-3 weeks. Nicholas Dogris, Ph.D., the health psychologist who developed NeuroField, has
documented dramatic improvements in symptoms in many individuals receiving intensive
treatment protocols. Following the qEEG/brain mapping, we can discuss whether NeuroField
could be helpful for you or your child.
Your first appointment will consist of brain mapping using qEEG technology, in addition to an
interview with the client (and/or the parent of children), and potentially brief cognitive testing.
This appointment will typically last 2 to 2.5 hours. Typically, clients and/or parents are given
feedback on the day of the evaluation to review the results and provide recommendations. If
clients and/or parents decide to proceed with a trial of Neurofeedback, the results of brain
mapping will guide treatment. Give us a call at 602-274-1462 if you have any questions or
would like to schedule an appointment.
interview with the client (and/or the parent of children), and potentially brief cognitive testing.
This appointment will typically last 2 to 2.5 hours. Typically, clients and/or parents are given
feedback on the day of the evaluation to review the results and provide recommendations. If
clients and/or parents decide to proceed with a trial of Neurofeedback, the results of brain
mapping will guide treatment. Give us a call at 602-274-1462 if you have any questions or
would like to schedule an appointment.
| How Do I Get Started? |
| Brain Mapping |
There are many ways qEEG brain mapping findings can be useful. For instance, many
children with ADD/ADHD exhibit signs of cortical underarousal, and these children may
benefit from stimulant medication to speed up cortical activity. However, there are also
children with ADHD symptoms who do not exhibit excessive slow wave (e.g., theta) and/or
deficient fast wave (e.g., beta) activity, but may instead show signs of overactivity in the brain
(which may suggest anxiety). For these children, physicians may choose to treat the same
symptoms differently. Also, receiving a baseline qEEG assessment, with follow-up assessment
following a medication trial, can help determine whether (and to what degree) neurological
functioning has been affected by the medication, which can help inform treatment decisions.
Brain mapping can also be helpful in developing home-based auditory-visual entrainment
and/or neurostimulation protocols.Audio-Visual Entrainment (often in conjunction with cranial
electrical stimulation or transcranial alternating current stimulation) can be very beneficial for
a wide variety of conditions. The David Delight Pro is a very popular Audio-Visual Entrainment
device (see www.mindalive.com), and tACS/tDCS devices (see www.foc.us) can dramatically
improve various symptoms, including inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, academic
difficulties, mood problems, and anxiety. Dr. Baker often encourages clients to use these
devices between neurofeedback sessions. Clients can also be seen for a qEEG evaluation to
determine home-based stimulation protocols to address symptoms and weaknesses (and
often return for a follow-up qEEG in 2-3 months to assess the progress made and revise the
neurostimulation protocol).
children with ADD/ADHD exhibit signs of cortical underarousal, and these children may
benefit from stimulant medication to speed up cortical activity. However, there are also
children with ADHD symptoms who do not exhibit excessive slow wave (e.g., theta) and/or
deficient fast wave (e.g., beta) activity, but may instead show signs of overactivity in the brain
(which may suggest anxiety). For these children, physicians may choose to treat the same
symptoms differently. Also, receiving a baseline qEEG assessment, with follow-up assessment
following a medication trial, can help determine whether (and to what degree) neurological
functioning has been affected by the medication, which can help inform treatment decisions.
Brain mapping can also be helpful in developing home-based auditory-visual entrainment
and/or neurostimulation protocols.Audio-Visual Entrainment (often in conjunction with cranial
electrical stimulation or transcranial alternating current stimulation) can be very beneficial for
a wide variety of conditions. The David Delight Pro is a very popular Audio-Visual Entrainment
device (see www.mindalive.com), and tACS/tDCS devices (see www.foc.us) can dramatically
improve various symptoms, including inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, academic
difficulties, mood problems, and anxiety. Dr. Baker often encourages clients to use these
devices between neurofeedback sessions. Clients can also be seen for a qEEG evaluation to
determine home-based stimulation protocols to address symptoms and weaknesses (and
often return for a follow-up qEEG in 2-3 months to assess the progress made and revise the
neurostimulation protocol).
For additional information about neurofeedback research.
Baker Neuropsychology Jason J. Baker, Ph.D. Phone: (602) 274 - 1462 | Fax: (602) 274 - 7402 | Email: jasonbaker@bakerneuropsychology.com |
Baker Neuropsychology Jason J. Baker, Ph.D. Phone: (602) 274 - 1462 | Fax: (602) 274 - 7402 | Email: jasonbaker@bakerneuropsychology.com |
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Baker Neuropsychology Phone: (602) 274 - 1462 | Fax: (602) 274 - 7402 | Email: jasonbaker@bakerneuropsychology.com |