Why does neurofeedback training work?
• Although the EEG is a very limited indicator of the vast complexity going on underneath the skull, it is better than anything else that is available at low cost. All the other techniques for studying the brain require very expensive equipment and typically are only done at expensive facilities. But with portable and low cost EEG the raw brainwave data is very rapidly and easily processed with today’s powerful microcomputers enabling the ‘results’ to be presented nearly instantaneously to the person in various computer screen and/or sound form (feedback). This enables the person to perceive things about his/her own brain that cannot be known otherwise. The brain (person) thus has information available about its own internal functioning that could not be provided in any other way. Any person’s brain can use that added information to make adjustments and improvements to itself. This is essentially the same process by which we learn to sing, drive cars, hit golf balls, etc.
After the raw brainwave data has been very rapidly processed with today’s powerful microcomputers the results are presented to the person in various ways including on a computer screen and/or sound forms (feedback). This enables the person to perceive things about his/her own brain that cannot be known otherwise. The brain (person) thus has information available about its own internal functioning that could not be provided in any other way. It uses the added information to make adjustments to itself. This is essentially the same process by which we learn to sing, drive cars, etc. It is a form of operant conditioning.
