Showing posts with label #neurofeedback. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #neurofeedback. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Peak Performance in Northport, NY – Training Your Brain to Win



In this video, Dr. Jason Pape of Northport, NY discusses peak performance training. Specifically, Dr. Pape shares how this training can greatly influence the outcomes that both athletes, and business professionals achieve. As you’ll discover when you watch this video, peak performance is about more than just physical training. In fact, 90% of your overall success will come from an improved ability to focus and concentrate.

What makes Dr. Pape so qualified to discuss this topic is his work with BrainCore Neurofeedback Therapy. Using this cutting-edge and scientifically validated therapeutic protocol, Dr. Pape and his group at the Northport Wellness Center in New York are able to train their clients to improve mental and cognitive performance without the use of any drugs or medications.


To learn more about how neurofeedback can help with your Peak Performance, schedule a consultation with Dr. Pape today by visiting: http://braincoreny.com/the-northport-wellness-center/

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

What Causes Insomnia? Dr. Keri Chiappino of Smithtown, NY Explains.


While many people struggle with sleepless nights, fewer understand what causes insomnia. In this video, Dr. Keri Chiappino of BrainCore New York explains the science behind insomnia.

As you watch, you’ll discover how the brain regulates sleeping patterns, as well as what happens when those brainwaves get “out of whack.” Dr. Chiappino also discusses some important alternative options for those suffering from insomnia – including BrainCore Neurofeedback Therapy.

BrainCore Therapy is a drug-free approach to the symptoms of insomnia, and it’s backed by more than forty years of university-based research.


To learn more about what causes insomnia, or to schedule an appointment to speak with Dr. Chiappino directly, visit her online at: http://braincoreny.com/new-life-wellness-center/

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Biofeedback History and How It Works

Biofeedback History
The methods in the first steps toward biofeedback have really existed for nearly 150 years. In those days, it was initially recognized that systems - especially individuals of humans - often regulate themselves to be able to maintain stability. This idea is known as homeostasis. Building with that theory, the medical science behind biofeedback once we presently realize it has advanced in a remarkably rapid pace. Starting in the second part of the twentieth century, scientists and researchers launched into a mission to have the ability to eventually make use of the precepts of homeostasis to enhance the lives and health of individuals all around the globe. Within the last two decades we've finally become there, and we're all lucky to become alive at any given time such as this.
Generally, the biofeedback looks something similar to this: instruments are utilized to measure specific physiological activity inside our physiques, whether it's brainwaves, breathing, the center, or any other individual function. Measurement gives us feedback (thus the title biofeedback) that enables us to create choice about how exactly effectively things are carrying out. After we determine if a particular body process needs some training or retraining to obtain look out onto speed, professionals can guide patients through treatment with the aim of fixing health issues without surgery, drugs, or long term therapy. Essentially, biofeedback can help you feel free.

The Astonishing Mind

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to discover which kind of biofeedback can take advantage drastic changes. In the end, our brain can serve as the mind in our nervous system and also the director for essentially every vital bodily function. Biofeedback coping with the mind is known to as neurofeedback, which therapy has created some truly astounding results during the last decade approximately. Studies have proven that neurofeedback could be especially effective being an intervention for a number of nerve conditions, including headaches, insomnia, anxiety, autism, and many more.
As pointed out before, fundamentally of biofeedback treatments may be the proven notion the body really wants to operate like a highly-functioning whole. The mind, particularly, adheres for this principle. It's amazing how little of the start working at the receiving end it requires to obtain our minds normal again, and neurofeedback can serve as the very best type of catalyst. Although it appears just like a process as potentially existence-altering as neurofeedback could be absurdly strenuous, it is extremely the alternative.
Neurofeedback is completely noninvasive, and targeted at supplying lengthy-term tools for coping with nerve issues so patients do not have to help keep returning. Correction from the problem typically takes the type of a led brain exercise, and patients won't have to see any discomfort or discomfort to reap invaluable benefits. If you've been battling with the aforementioned nerve issues, medication, and therapy with simply limited success, it might be time for you to start thinking about new approaches.

Stick to the linked text o find out more about biofeedback and BrainCore’s dynamic neurofeedback therapy.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

How Dangerous Are the Side Effects of Insomnia Medications?

Insomnia Medications
Although doctors in Farmingdale often recommend improved sleep hygiene, such as adhering to a regular sleep schedule, as a first line treatment of insomnia, more severe or chronic sleeplessness is often treated with prescription or over-the-counter medications. Sleeping pills are known for having unwanted side effects, but usually these effects are fairly benign, although they may be inconvenient or uncomfortable. However, there are occasional risks associated with insomnia medication side effects.


Over-the-Counter Insomnia Treatment Medications

Most over-the-counter sleeping pills, such as Tylenol PM, include diphenhydramine as the active ingredient. Diphenhydramine is perhaps better known under the brand name Benadryl, and is primarily marketed as an antihistamine for allergy treatment. However, diphenhydramine also causes drowsiness and somnolence, so it is marketed as a sleep aid as well. Diphendydramine is known for having side effects including dry mouth, dizziness, cognitive “fogginess,” and urinary retention. The side effects are generally tolerable at low doses; however, tolerance to diphenhydramine develops very quickly. After only a few days of continuous use, it becomes no more effective as an insomnia treatment than a placebo. This can cause insomniacs in Farmingdale to increase their dose, which increases the drug’s side effects. At higher doses, side effects are more likely to occur, including hallucinations, delirium, confusion, dizziness, irritability, and increased body temperature in the extremities. Although unpleasant, these higher-dose side effects are not truly dangerous; however, a diphenhydramine overdose can be fatal.


Prescription Eszopiclone (Lunesta) for Insomnia Treatment

Eszopiclone, better known by the brand name Lunesta, is a type of drug in the sedative-hypnotic class used for treating insomnia in Farmingdale. Most side effects of eszpiclone are fairly benign; they often include dry mouth, daytime drowsiness, mildly upset stomach, and reduced sex drive. However, Lunesta can also cause confusion, agitation, or aggressive behavior in some patients. Eszopiclone also carries a risk of dependency or abuse.





Prescription Zolpidem (Ambien) for Insomnia Treatment

Zolpidem (Ambien) is a drug related to Eszopiclone that is also used for insomnia treatment in Farmingdale. It has a similar side effect profile, including:
·         Headaches
·         Nausea
·         Dizziness
·         Vomiting
·         Increased appetite
·         Changes in sexual libido

However, other side effects, which are more rare or are more likely to occur at higher doses, can be problematic. Zolpidem can cause psychological side effects, including:
·         Hallucinations
·         Delusions
·         Anterograde amnesia
·         Altered thought patterns
·         Impaired judgment and reasoning
·         Decreased social inhibition
·         Increased impulsivity

Although the side effects listed so far are not particularly dangerous, there is one reported side effect that is. There are numerous case reports of patients on Zolpidem sleepwalking, without a prior history of this. Some of these patients have been injured or killed while attempting activities like driving their car as they are sleepwalking. When Zolpidem is discontinued, it can cause rebound insomnia and even a withdrawal syndrome similar to benzodiazepine withdrawal.


Conclusion

Both over-the-counter and prescription drugs for insomnia in Farmingdale produce side effects. Most sleep medication side effects are benign, although they may produce mild to moderate discomfort; however, occasionally they can be more serious.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Neurofeedback for Peak Performance

Neurofeedback for Peak Performance:
Training Your Brain to Enhance Your Abilities

Neurofeedback
Much of the news and scientific literature surrounding neurofeedback therapy in the broader New York area has been focused on its promising applications for treating a range of brain-based conditions, including ADHD, autism, anxiety, insomnia, and more. However, treating abnormalities and pathologies is not the full extent of neurofeedback’s usefulness. Neurofeedback therapy can actually be used to enhance a person’s abilities, facilitating what is called peak performance. Neurofeedback has been successfully used for peak performance within a number of disciplines, including sports performance, musical performance, and even to enhance the abilities of surgeons. 

Alpha-Theta Training: Neurofeedback for Relaxation and Optimization 

The form of neurofeedback therapy most often used for peak performance training is called Alpha-Theta Training. This is often carried out using auditory stimulus, rather than the moving image displays used in most neurofeedback therapy. Alpha-Theta training is geared toward increasing and enhancing alpha and theta wavelengths. The protocol for Alpha-Theta neurofeedback training guides users into a deeply relaxed, trancelike state called the alpha-theta crossover state, which is similar to being in the very early stages of falling asleep. In this mentally relaxed state, repressed memories and old anxieties sometimes resurface and can be resolved. Many patients report having deeply transformative internal experiences during the course of alpha-theta neurofeedback training. Indeed, alpha-theta neurofeedback protocol is very similar to both hypnosis and to historically traditional methods of meditation found in Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and other spiritual philosophical systems around the world. The alpha-theta state of calm neutrality has been shown to enhance performance in a variety of areas.  

Applications of Alpha-Theta Neurofeedback Training 

Alpha-theta neurofeedback training in the New York area has numerous implications. Alpha-theta training has successfully helped:
·         Increase endurance and strength for sports and athletics by increasing mental relaxation and attenuating the effects of fear of failure, unpleasant memories of past failures, and other barriers to excellence
·         Musicians perform at their optimal capacity
·         Surgeons perform delicate procedures; in one study, the time surgeons took for microsurgical tasks was reduced by 26%
·         People manage stress and pressure in their jobs

The main benefit of alpha-theta training for these purposes is to facilitate a state of calm mental focus. This helps athletes and performers to avoid “choking up,” and can help reduce performance anxiety and test anxiety, and to enhance memory and recall abilities.


Like other applications of neurofeedback therapy in the New York area, alpha-theta training for peak performance generally begins with a qEEG (quantitative electroencephalography) brain mapping session, as well as a performance test to evaluate reaction time, speed, error frequency, and other parameters. It is usually performed over the course of several weeks, in 45-minute sessions, several days a week. This allows the neurofeedback provider to help you to encourage brainwave states that are associated with better performance, and to discourage states that correlate with reduced performance quality.

NEUROFEEDBACK IN NEW YORK

Monday, April 28, 2014

New York: Biofeedback Therapy for Tension Headaches

A Promising New Approach 

Biofeedback Therapy for Tension Headaches
If you live in the New York City area and suffer from tension headaches, you may want to consider biofeedback therapy. Biofeedback therapy is a technique that uses precision instruments to measure physiological processes, such as heart rate or skin temperature, that are normally unconsciously controlled. The information is then “fed back” to the person, who can then learn to consciously control those processes. There are several types of biofeedback using different devices to measure different processes, and biofeedback therapy can be applied to a wide range of health conditions.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that biofeedback therapy can be effective for reducing the frequency and severity of tension headaches, which are a type of headache that often feels like pressure or like one’s head is “in a vice.” They can be episodic, occurring less than 15 days a month, or chronic, occurring 15 or more days out of the month. They are essentially caused by muscle tension around the head and neck, and can result from stress, hunger, sleep deprivation, and eyestrain. Generally, the first line of treatment for a tension headache is an over-the-counter pain reliever, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or an NSAID like ibuprofen or naproxen, but biofeedback therapy is a promising new alternative for people who struggle with tension headaches. 

What Kind Of Biofeedback Therapy Is Useful for Tension Headaches? 

Electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback therapy has been proven effective for reducing tension headaches. This form of biofeedback therapy uses an instrument called an electromyograph, or EMG, that can detect electrical action potentials from muscles beneath electrodes that are attached to the skin. These electrical potentials reflect muscle tension. Usually an auditory signal, like a particular tone, is used as the feedback. This process can help a person with tension headaches learn to decrease muscle contractions and tension in the relevant muscles of the head and neck to counter headache pain.

EEG (electroencephalographic) neurofeedback is another form of biofeedback therapy that has proven useful in managing tension headaches. Whereas EMG biofeedback addresses tension in the muscles themselves, EEG neurofeedback addresses the neurological component of pain responses. In EEG neurofeedback, electrode sensors are placed on the scalp to measure electrical activity in relevant areas of the brain, which is then “fed back” to the person undergoing the therapy using sounds or images. Neurofeedback practitioners will usually use quantitative EEG (qEEG) “mind mapping” to assess which brain areas should be targeted.  

Does Biofeedback Therapy Have Any Side Effects or Contraindications? 

Neither EMG biofeedback nor EEG neurofeedback has been reported to produce any unwanted side effects. This stands in contrast to many commonly used medications. Pain relievers for tension headaches must be used with care when they are taken frequently or in higher doses. NSAIDs, especially naproxen, can cause stomach discomfort and even stomach bleeding at high doses, and acetaminophen in overly high doses can cause liver problems. Biofeedback therapy also does not interact adversely with medications, and is safe for nearly all individuals, including children and the elderly. 

For those of you in the New York City area, please contact us if you would like more information on biofeedback therapy. Biofeedback therapy is a safe and clinically proven approach to managing tension headaches. EMG biofeedback uses measurements of electrical activity in muscles to assess muscle tension, whereas neurofeedback uses measurements of electrical activity in the brain to assess dysregulation of brainwave frequencies that are often associated with pain in tension headaches. Both approaches have proven useful for many individuals who suffer from tension headaches, either alone or in combination with medication. To learn more about biofeedback therapy and neurofeedback therapy for tension headaches, visit us on the web at [website]. Or, call us today at [phone number] to schedule your consultation.

BIOFEEDBACK THERAPY IN NEW YORK

Thursday, April 3, 2014

What is Neurofeedback Therapy Used to Treat?

 Neurofeedback Therapy
Neurofeedback therapy is a biofeedback procedure in which brain waves are measured via EEG , and a signal is “fed back” to the brain to regulate brainwaves. It has potential applications for treating a number of disorders that are rooted in the dysregulation of brain processes. Neurofeedback works on brainwave patterns to facilitate self-regulation of this mental activity, which can help alleviate symptoms of certain neurological conditions.

Neurofeedback has been used to treat individuals with disorders including:

·         ADHD and ADD
·         Anxiety and other affective disorders
·         Autism
·         Epilepsy
·         Headaches
·         Insomnia
·         Brain damage from injury, stroke, or other causes


What is Neurofeedback for ADHD?


The most comprehensively researched and tested application of neurofeedback therapy is for the treatment of ADHD symptoms.

The electroencephalographic (EEG) models of ADHD brains have found significant differences in brainwave activity when comparing ADHD individuals to “normal” individuals. This model indicates that people with ADHD many have too much slow “theta” brainwave activity, which is associated with states of relaxation, and not enough “beta” brainwave activity, which is associated with mental focus and concentration. The goal of neurofeedback for ADHD is to increase beta activity. This is achieved by showing the individual their own brainwave activity, and then training them to alter it through some sort of active process – often taking the form of a simple “video game.”


What is Neurofeedback for Anxiety Disorders and Other Affective Disorders?


Unlike ADHD, anxiety and related disorders are distinguished by both an excess of beta activity, and asymmetries in the activity between the left and right frontal lobes. Neurofeedback therapy for anxiety disorders is geared toward increasing relaxed alpha wave and theta wave activity. In studies that have been performed, neurofeedback therapy has successfully treated anxiety symptoms, and has even lead to permanent changes in brainwave activity, thereby reducing the likelihood that future instances of this condition will occur.

Additionally, neurofeedback therapy has also been used for symptoms of other affective disorders such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More research is needed to effectively demonstrate the benefits of neurofeedback therapy in these contexts, but so far the results have been very positive.


What Else can Neurofeedback Be Used For?


Although there has been less research into other applications of neurofeedback therapy, there are a number of case studies in which it has proven effective in reducing the symptoms of autism. Other case studies have also showed it to be effective in helping to treat migraines, which are highly variable in their response to medications.