Increase Your Concentration with Neurofeedback Training

Neurofeedback training is suitable for children and adults. The procedure has proven to be effective in increasing one’s ability to concentrate, pay attention and focus on the tasks at hand. This method has important implications in the treatment of children with Attention Deficit Disorder. In this process, an EEG reading shows the brain activity of specific points on the head, usually twelve. During the session, the patient receives feedback about the brain activity telling him/her what parts are working more than others.

During neurofeedback training the electricity and brain waves are measured. In those with reduced concentration and attention, there are far more slow waves than fast ones. As the professional engages the patient in various tasks during the training, a sudden burst of slow waves tells the professional that the patient’s attention is somewhere else other than the task at hand. This indicates that the patient is now tuned out and is not paying attention. In this training, one learns how to recognize this and channel the thoughts back to where they should be.

Having electrodes placed on the head during neurofeedback training for an EEG reading does not hurt at all. Most people find it very interesting to learn how their brain waves are functioning. The wires from these electrodes send the electrical data to an instrument that analyzes the brain waves coming through them and sends it to a computer.

Neurofeedback training is individual. A professional works with one person at a time. The patient sits in front of a computer screen to receive visual and audio feedback. This feedback is the training in itself-it trains the patient according to the results of the brain waves. The patient is involved in games, academic activities, and listening activities. During each one of these the brain waves measure the amount of attention being paid to each task.

When the patient is not paying attention, this will become visible to him/her on the computer screen so that the attention can then be brought back to where it should be at the time. This helps to train the patient in how to concentrate and pay attention. At the end of the session, which lasts about 40-50 minutes, the therapist will review the scores and graphs and explain to the student how well he/she was concentrating during this session.

Neurofeedback training does not involve the use of medication. It is a form of behavior modification in that it trains a person to recognize when they are not focusing their attention in the right place and to bring it back to what they are working on. The effect of medication is immediate, but it does not teach the patient anything. While neurofeedback training takes longer to see results, often between two and six months, it has a more lasting effect because it teaches the patient skills that he/she can put to use for the rest of the person’s life and apply to many different situations.

With this type of training, the patient learns how to control his/her own attention and concentration. It is a step to reducing or eliminating the need for medication in order to maintain concentration. Before one starts such training, there is a questionnaire that must be completed to diagnose the difficulties and determine how long each session should be. The sessions usually take place twice a week for at least five months.