MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'biofeedback'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:58:44 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069843&cid=t_92602_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F26%2Fmanaging-migraines-without-medication%2F Ahhh, migraine – psychedelia without the high… nausea without the alcohol… The diagnostic criteria: A) At least 5 attacks fulfilling B-D; B) lasting untreated 4-74 hours; C) two of the following: unilateral, pulsating, moderate or severe pain intensity, worsening with physical activity; D) one of the following: nausea and/or vomiting, photophobia or phonophobia; E) not attributed to another disorder. (International Classification of headache disorders, 2004) (go here for one of the most comprehensive sites on migraine) The main treatment for migraine is to use medication – best evidence to date suggests:  “Only two pharmacological treatments have been shown to be effective in placebo-controlled randomized trials: topiramate and local injection of botulinum to... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069843 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 01:42:59 +0100 5069843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5007402&cid=t_92602_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Ffighting-insomnia-with-your-brain.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5007402 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:36:00 +0100 5007402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723943&cid=t_92602_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F17%2Ffeeling-anxious-here-are-3-iphone-apps-to-help-you-relax%2F Photo credit: Helga Weber Digital distractions are everywhere. You’re only two sentences into this blog post, but I’ll bet you’re already thinking about switching tabs to see if you have any comments on that new Facebook wall post you just made. Now you’ve reached the second paragraph, and I know you want to — have to, in fact — refresh your Gmail just one more time. Or check your @replies on Twitter, again, just like you did five minutes ago. Or pull up Reddit, again, hoping to see that red/orange envelope all lit up to notify you of a brand new message. Wait — did you hear something vibrate from across the room? Was it your phone? Maybe you should go and check your texts. Technology can scatter our attention into about a million directions at onc... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723943 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:49:00 +0100 4723943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4327074&cid=t_92602_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F01%2F10%2Fits-really-all-about-the-brain%2F Neuroscience is such a geeky area to study. And I have to say I didn’t really study the brain all that well in my undergraduate training all those years ago – but oh, how the worm has turned! It’s so exciting to see how basic science directly influences treatments that we can use for people who don’t have many pharmacologic options for their pain. While I don’t have really up-to-date papers today, I think the 2008 paper by Herta Flor presages some of the approaches we’re starting to use in clinical settings now, a scant three years later. Flor’s work has always been impressive – she has often looked at what happens when brains are deprived of their normal feedback because of trauma or amputation, and (really exciting!) she is coming to Austra... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4327074 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 03:02:46 +0100 4327074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294631&cid=t_92602_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-biofeedback-pen-for-managing-stress%2F2010.12.27 Miguel Bruns Alonso, a graduate student at Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands, has developed a pen that detects how much twitching and twirling it’s being put through. People under stress tend to move and shake a pen more than someone who is calm. In order to try to get a therapeutic effect out of the pen, Bruns built in counter motion feedback that makes the pen a bit more difficult to move around. Though initial experiments have shown a marginal benefit, further studies and development may prove the benefit of the technology. From TU Delft: Bruns, who studies industrial design, carried out various experiments during the course of his research, which showed that people tend to play with their pens in their hands when they are tense. It also seems that when they are en... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294631 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:00:10 +0100 4294631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152304&cid=t_92602_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F09%2Fbroaden-and-build%2F Readers may be wondering why I’ve come over all happy clappy and jolly joy germ – well, I realised I’d been writing a lot about experimental and theoretical factors found to influence vulnerability to chronic pain, but I had been writing less about ways to help people cope more effectively with chronic pain. I do have a soft spot for positive psychology because, as we can see in most of the major journals, psychological studies have primarily been interested in what goes wrong, why people may struggle to cope with their pain, and other aspects of vulnerability. Yet more people than not live well with their chronic pain, and rarely seek help for their pain – maybe we can learn something from how these people cope, and in doing so, help people who do need treatment de... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152304 Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:40:11 +0100 4152304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139349&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FxLZj9ZGW-Rg%2F Discussions >Industry Activity from October 2010 (Posit Science, Dakim, Zeo, NovaVision, Lumosity) >Pearson starts to promote Cogmed working memory training (press release) Research & Policy Discussions >New report on workplace mental/physical health >Non-invasive electrical stimulation of the brain can improve numerical abilities >JAMA trial finds no evidence of DHA Supplementation impacting on cognitive decline in Mild to Moderate Comment of the week Philip Toman on the potential of computer-administered CBT and heart-rate variability (HRV) biofeedback Idea of the week We now have a very fun Ideas feature that allows Council Members to submit and to vote on ideas and suggestions on anything that crosses your mind. Please visit the new Ideas section and challenge you... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139349 Sat, 06 Nov 2010 04:28:40 +0100 4139349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031369&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FNPfq3hdmzOk%2F Neurofeedback Gains Popularity and Lab Attention (New York Times) The treatment is also gaining attention from mainstream researchers, including some former skeptics. The National Institute of Mental Health recently sponsored its first study of neurofeedback for A.D.H.D.: a randomized, controlled trial of 36 subjects. The results are to be announced Oct. 26 at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In an interview in the summer, the study’s director, Dr. L. Eugene Arnold, an emeritus professor of psychiatry at Ohio State, noted that there had been “quite a bit of improvement” in many of the children’s behavior, as reported by parents and teachers. Comment: The article provides a good overview, and points out one of the main bottlenecks for w... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031369 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 07:26:16 +0100 4031369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907672&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2010%2F08%2F26%2Fheart-chamber-orchestra.html The Heart Chamber Orchestra consists of classical musicians who use their heartbeats to control a computer composition and visualization environment. To my best knowledge, this is the first example of "group biofeedback". The musicians are equipped with ECG (electrocardiogram) sensors. A computer monitors and analyzes the state of these 12 hearts in real time. The acquired information is used to compose a musical score with the aid of computer software. It is a living score dependent on the state of the hearts. While the musicians are playing, their heartbeats influence and change the composition and vice versa. The musicians and the electronic composition are linked via the hearts in a circular motion, a feedback structure. The emerging music evolves entirely during the performance. The ... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907672 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:02:00 +0100 3907672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3827188&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FmoCgaTUZUos%2F In conclusion, results from this follow-up study provide evidence that neurofeedback can yield enduring benefits for some children with ADHD. As suggested by the authors, it may be an important component of a multimodal treatment program but its consistent use as a stand alone treatment does not seem to be supported by the findings reported here. – Dr. David Rabiner is a child clin­i­cal psy­chol­o­gist and Direc­tor of Under­grad­u­ate Stud­ies in the Depart­ment of Psy­chol­ogy and Neu­ro­science at Duke Uni­ver­sity. His research focuses on var­i­ous issues related to ADHD, the impact of atten­tion prob­lems on aca­d­e­mic achieve­ment, and atten­tion train­ing. He also pub­lishes Atten­tion Research Update, a com­pli­men­tary online newslet­ter that h... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3827188 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:24:15 +0100 3827188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3530051&cid=t_92602_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F04%2Frelaxation-how-why-the-evidence%2F Over the weekend a discussion about relaxation and the how’s and why’s came up in a discussion group I belong to. Several members of the group, including me, contributed our ‘list of do’s and don’ts’, much of it based on years of clinical experience – until I thought (as I do!) what about the literature? What does research tell us about precautions and effectiveness of relaxation? I have to say that my searches in the literature so far have failed to consider many of the practical tips that the group came up with, but I have found some really helpful reviews of relaxation that support its use in pain management.  One of those more recent references is the one I’m focusing on today. At the same time as wanting to briefly look at the evidence ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3530051 Mon, 03 May 2010 19:28:35 +0100 3530051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3508316&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fl3ddrIAAg9w%2F In light of the current BBC-led controversy on whether “brain training” works, we believe it is critical to spend some time discussing the basics of brain functioning and brain-healthy lifestyles, what “brain training” is and isn’t (to be accurate, the BBC didn’t test Brain Training as a category, only the new games that their researchers chose to build from scratch and designate as “brain training” ignoring previous research), what methodologies for brain training are in fact backed up by science (meditation, cognitive therapy, biofeedback, computerized cognitive training) as valuable for a variety of populations and goals, and how consumers and professionals can learn to navigate the growing array of claims. SharpBrains wants to contribute ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3508316 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:14:00 +0100 3508316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3487396&cid=t_92602_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F04%2F20%2Fhow-does-it-work-pick-your-theory%2F I’m working with a man who has neuropathic pain in his right (dominant) hand.  He developed his pain some 8 years ago after he caught it in a woodworking machine and basically mashed it, damaging most of the carpal tunnel area.  After numerous orthopaedic, and plastic surgical procedures, he’s now left with nasty scarring, and even nastier neuropathic pain with some central sensitisation elements.  While he has almost full range of movement in his wrist and fingers, he rarely uses his hand and instead, cradles it or leaves it sitting half-curled, palm up. We’ve been working together for a month or so, along with physiotherapy and psychology, and my parts of this programme have been to help him develop a personalised model of the factors that contribute to his pain; hel... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3487396 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:28:27 +0100 3487396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3429255&cid=t_92602_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2F31Tn-nvxqt4%2F           Headaches are really a ‘pain’.  Almost everyone gets them.  You may have experienced one with the flu, with a cold or even with a hangover.  Some people get pain in the temples and the back of the head from a busy day at work – referred to as a tension headache.  Most of these headaches produce a dull pain around the front, top and sides of the head.  But a migraine is different.  Migraine sufferers are generally very sensitive to light and sound during an attack and this is why it has been traditional to lie down in a quiet and dark room until an attack passes.  In addition to symptoms associated with the head, migraines can also be accompanied by a variety of other symptoms including nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, a pale facial color and cold hands and... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3429255 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:14:52 +0100 3429255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3314714&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FvQdT93mR9RQ%2F (Editor’s Note: by popular demand, following goes the Spanish translation of an excerpt from The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness, available in English by clicking on Debunking 10 Brain and Brain Fitness Myths) 10 MITOS SOBRE EL CEREBRO Y EL ENTRENAMIENTO MENTAL: VERDADERO O FALSO? Extraído del libro electrónico “La guía de SharpBrains para un cerebro en forma” (The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness). Con permiso de sus autores Alvaro Fernández y Dr.Elkhonon Goldberg. Mito 1. Mis genes determinan el destino de mi cerebro Realidad. La neuroplasticidad hace que nuestro estilo de vida, acciones y experiencias tengan un rol importante en la evolución física de nuestro cerebro a lo largo de toda la vida, especialmente dado el incremento de la esperanza de vida. Mito ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3314714 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:21:32 +0100 3314714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3108429&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F12%2F20%2Fhead-chaise-couching-one-s-thoughts-into-a-brain-wave-sofa.html From Scientific American Two European designers, Dries Verbruggen and Lucas Maassen used their alpha waves as a source of inspiration for their design work, which resulted in a piece of furniture, the Brain Wave Couch. “The process is a wink to a rather futuristic design process,” the couch creators wrote in a press release, “for which a designer merely has to close his or her eyes, or merely rest, to have the brain do all the work, and create the data needed to have the CNC machine cut the shape of the sofa.” The x-axis of the couch represents Maassen’s brain waves in hertz, while the y-axis shows the amount of alpha activity as a percentage, and the z-axis is the time in milliseconds. Once the foam core of the sofa was completed, the designers covered it by hand in soft gray fe... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3108429 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:44:32 +0100 3108429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3059819&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F1-zIraMoooo%2F Our inaugural SharpBrains Summit continues to grow momentum – here goes a quick update. New Speakers: Thomas M. Warden is Assistant Vice President and Leader of Allstate’s Research and Planning Center (ARPC). He helps sets ARPC’s research agenda and manage its execution by 60-member ARPC staff, leading the development of significant innovations that contribute to Allstate’s profitable growth. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and has an M.B.A. from Harvard University. Dr. Laurence Hirshberg directs the NeuroDevelopment Center and serves on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior of the Brown University Medical School as Clinical Assistant Professor. The NeuroDevelopment Center is one of the 20 research sites worldwide participating in the largest study ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3059819 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:28:53 +0100 3059819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3052229&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F12%2F02%2Fneurofeedback-outcomes-in-clients-with-asperger-s-syndrome.html Authors: Thompson L, Thompson M, Reid A This paper summarizes data from a review of neurofeedback (NFB) training with 150 clients with Asperger's Syndrome (AS) and 9 clients with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) seen over a 15 year period (1993-2008) in a clinical setting. The main objective was to investigate whether electroncephalographic (EEG) biofeedback, also called neurofeedback (NFB), made a significant difference in clients diagnosed with AS. An earlier paper (Thompson et al. 2009) reviews the symptoms of AS, highlights research findings and theories concerning this disorder, discusses QEEG patterns in AS (both single and 19-channel), and details a hypothesis, based on functional neuroanatomy, concerning how NFB, often paired with biofeedback (BFB), might produce a change in sympto... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3052229 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:46:44 +0100 3052229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927588&cid=t_92602_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F26%2Fhypnosis-for-chronic-pain-management-how-it-works-maybe%2F There are plenty of people who look at me as if I’m stepping right into woowoo when I start to talk about hypnosis for managing chronic pain. I’m happy to say that science has provided some good evidence that not only does hypnosis have a neurophysiological basis, but it also has some good effect. What exactly is hypnosis? Well, contrary to popular belief, it is NOT about a ‘hypnotist’ doing something to someone else – and most especially NOT about making people do things that they wouldn’t ordinarily consent to. This is the misconception that stage hypnotists perpetuate in an attempt to keep their mystique. Hypnosis is ‘an induction followed by a suggestion (or set of suggestions)’ - now that has a lot of mystique, doesn’t it?! ‘... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927588 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:59:23 +0100 2927588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2923146&cid=t_92602_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fbiofeedback-to-treat-insomnia.html A recent article from Health magazine describes the use of “biofeedback” to treat insomnia.What’s biofeedback? It’s a form of therapy that gives you visual or auditory feedback for certain body signals. Cues may give you details about your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing or body temperature. Then you learn to control the body in a way that promotes sleep.Author Leslie Goldman describes how for eight years she struggled with sleep. Then she gave biofeedback a try.“The change has been dramatic,” she writes. “After nearly a decade of sleeping for no longer than two hours at a time, I can sleep for four hours straight and doze off again after I wake up.”The AASM recommends biofeedback as an effective treatment for chronic insomnia.Often biofeedback will be combined with o... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2923146 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:16:00 +0100 2923146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2814513&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F09%2F21%2Fthe-use-of-biofeedback-in-clinical-virtual-reality-the-intre.html Authors: Repetto C, Gorini A, Algeri D, Vigna C, Gaggioli A, Riva G In our protocol for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorders we use Virtual reality (VR) to facilitate emotional regulation and the relaxation process. Using a biofeedback biomonitoring system (GSR, HR, Thermal) the patient is made aware of his or her reactions through the modification of some features of the VR environment in real time. Using mental exercises the patient learns to control these physiological parameters and using the feedback provided by the virtual environment is able to gauge his or her success. To test this concept, we planned a randomized controlled trial (NCT00602212), including three groups of 15 patients each (for a total of 45 patients): (1) the VR group, (2) the non-VR group, and (3) the wai... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2814513 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:54:38 +0100 2814513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2814514&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F09%2F21%2Fneurofeedback-based-motor-imagery-training-for-brain-compute.html Authors: Hwang HJ, Kwon K, Im CH In the present study, we propose a neurofeedback-based motor imagery training system for EEG-based brain-computer interface (BCI). The proposed system can help individuals get the feel of motor imagery by presenting them with real-time brain activation maps on their cortex. Ten healthy participants took part in our experiment, half of whom were trained by the suggested training system and the others did not use any training. All participants in the trained group succeeded in performing motor imagery after a series of trials to activate their motor cortex without any physical movements of their limbs. To confirm the effect of the suggested system, we recorded EEG signals for the trained group around sensorimotor cortex while they were imagining either left o... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2814514 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:53:19 +0100 2814514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2814515&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F09%2F21%2Fneurofeedback-and-brain-computer-interface-clinical-applicat.html Authors: Birbaumer N, Ramos Murguialday A, Weber C, Montoya P Most of the research devoted to BMI development consists of methodological studies comparing different online mathematical algorithms, ranging from simple linear discriminant analysis (LDA) (Dornhege et al., 2007) to nonlinear artificial neural networks (ANNs) or support vector machine (SVM) classification. Single cell spiking for the reconstruction of hand movements requires different statistical solutions than electroencephalography (EEG)-rhythm classification for communication. In general, the algorithm for BMI applications is computationally simple and differences in classification accuracy between algorithms used for a particular purpose are small. Only a very limited number of clinical studies with neurological patients ar... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2814515 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:46:00 +0100 2814515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2814516&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F09%2F21%2Fis-neurofeedback-an-efficacious-treatment-for-adhd-a-randomi.html CONCLUSIONS: Superiority of the combined NF training indicates clinical efficacy of NF in children with ADHD. Future studies should further address the specificity of effects and how to optimise the benefit of NF as treatment module for ADHD. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2814516 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:44:00 +0100 2814516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511515&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F06%2F24%2Fneurofeedback-based-motor-imagery-training-for-brain-compute.html Authors: Hwang HJ, Kwon K, Im CH In the present study, we propose a neurofeedback-based motor imagery training system for EEG-based brain-computer interface (BCI). The proposed system can help individuals get the feel of motor imagery by presenting them with real-time brain activation maps on their cortex. Ten healthy participants took part in our experiment, half of whom were trained by the suggested training system and the others did not use any training. All participants in the trained group succeeded in performing motor imagery after a series of trials to activate their motor cortex without any physical movements of their limbs. To confirm the effect of the suggested system, we recorded EEG signals for the trained group around sensorimotor cortex while they were imagining either left o... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511515 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:48:12 +0100 2511515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2390010&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2009%2F05%2F03%2Fqeeg-guided-neurofeedback-therapy-in-personality-disorders.html This study provides the first evidence for positive effects of neurofeedback treatment in antisocial personality disorders. Further study with controls is warranted. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2390010 Sun, 03 May 2009 19:36:24 +0100 2390010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2386953&cid=t_92602_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F03%2F6-ways-to-prepare-for-withdrawal-from-an-antidepressant%2F This year, I celebrated my 2nd anniversary of being Paxil-free. (The “hurray!” I feel compelled to type here is a complete understatement of my joy.) Back in 2004, I started taking the drug under the advice of my primary care physician for panic attacks and anxiety. After growing (very) disenchanted with its frustrating side effects, I decided to quit. A row of split and shaved Paxil fragments, lined up in descending size, that I took near the end of my taper. Here’s the CliffsNotes version of my withdrawal attempts. First attempt: Cold turkey. (Bad idea.) Second attempt: Wean by 50% each week by splitting pills into halves and quarters until I’m down to zero within a month or two. (Also a bad idea.) Third attempt: Wean at 10%-25% dosage by splitting/shaving pills ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2386953 Sun, 03 May 2009 16:03:09 +0100 2386953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376187&cid=t_92602_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fbrain_works_best_when_theyve_got_the_right_rhythm.htm By David Orenstein It is said that each of us marches to the beat of a different drum, but new Stanford University research suggests that brain cells need to follow specific rhythms that must be kept for proper brain functioning. These rhythms don't appear to be working correctly in such diseases as schizophrenia and autism, and now two papers published online by the journals Nature and Science demonstrate that precisely tuning the oscillation frequencies of certain neurons can affect how the brain processes information and implements feelings of reward. "A unifying theme here is that of brain rhythms and 'arrhythmias'," said Karl Deisseroth, MD, PhD, associate professor of bioengineering and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and senior author of both papers. An arrhythmia is what card... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376187 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:49:00 +0100 2376187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376191&cid=t_92602_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fusing_soundtrack_of_the_brain_to_sharpen_reflexes_calm_nerv.htm John Verrico US Department of Homeland Security - Science and Technology Every brain has a soundtrack. Its tempo and tone will vary, depending on mood, frame of mind, and other features of the brain itself. When that soundtrack is recorded and played back — to an emergency responder, or a firefighter — it may sharpen their reflexes during a crisis, and calm their nerves afterward. Over the past decade, the influence of music on cognitive development, learning, and emotional well-being has emerged as a hot field of scientific study. To explore music's potential relevance to emergency response, the Dept of Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) has begun a study into a form of neurotraining called "Brain Music" [aka 'EEG-acoustic feedback', 'bioacoustic ... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376191 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:51:00 +0100 2376191 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2367655&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FzBtmD4uGBe8%2F You may be reading all about brain fitness and brain training. It seems every week brings a new barrage of articles and studies which often contradict what you read the month before: Does Gingko Biloba help delay Alzheimer’s Disease? Can physical exercise help you stay sharp as you age? Which computer-based “brain fitness programs”, if any, are worth your money? All this coverage reflects very exciting scientific findings but also poses a key dilemma: How to become an informed lifelong learner and consumer when there are few and contradictory authoritative guidelines? The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness (to be published in May 2009; $24.95) aims to fill that void. This guide is the result of over a year of extensive research including more than a hundred interviews with scientists... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2367655 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:19:12 +0100 2367655 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2259389&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F4-TgwBPmcCg%2F Here you have the presentation I delivered on Tuesday at ETech 2009 (this year's O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference): Emerging Research and Technology for Life Hacking/ Brain Training (click to open presentation in new window) Description: Life hacking. Brain training. They are one and the same. The brain’s frontal lobes enable our goal-oriented behavior, supporting “executive functions,” such as decision-making, attention, emotional self-regulation, goal-setting, and working memory. These functions can be enhanced with targeted practice – such as life hacking. This session will provide an overview of the cognitive neuroscience underpinning life hacking, and review the state-of-the-art of non-invasive tools for brain training: neurofeedback, biofeedback, software applications... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2259389 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:53:32 +0100 2259389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2235674&cid=t_92602_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F05%2Fyoutube-mirror-box-videos%2F I was just looking for a quick video on using mirror box for CRPS (Complex regional pain syndrome) - well I couldn’t find any on YouTube, but I did find a good few on use for stroke. Take a look at these and let me know what you think!  BTW If you’ve made a video on mirror box therapy in CRPS, or phantom, let me know and I’ll link to it. BTW you don’t always need the box - you can simply use a mirror… Enjoy! (Source: HealthSkills Weblog) HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2235674 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:55:01 +0100 2235674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2223659&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F2F4NxwMMu_U%2F Here you have the February edition of our monthly newsletter covering cognitive health and brain fitness topics. Please remember that you can subscribe to receive this Newsletter by email, simply by submitting your email at the top of this page. Cognitive training (or structured mental exercise) definitely seems to work - as long as we define properly what "work" means, don't expect magic cures, and help navigate options. Please keep reading... Interview: Baycrest Interview with Baycrest's CEO Dr. William Reichman: Discussing the recent Centre for Brain Fitness at Baycrest, Dr. Reichman suggests that "we have an opportunity to make major progress in Brain Health in the XXI century, similar to what happened with Cardiovascular Health in the XXth, and technology will play a c... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2223659 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:56:02 +0100 2223659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2160934&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F531109474%2F You may have watched the new series Lie To Me, with Tim Roth, based on the work of Paul Ekman. The second episode, which you can watch for free via Hulu.com Here, is pretty interesting, but the best part happens in the beginning, so you only need to watch a few minutes to learn why what are called "lie detectors" are nothing but biofeedback systems that measure physiological anxiety. Biofeedback can be a very effective training tool for emotional self-regulation and stress management, precisely because it enables a faster feedback-based learning loop. Indeed, we are seeing a growing number of applications in the market, with names such as EmWave, StressEraser, RESPeRATE, Journey to the Wild Divine, and others. Simply, don't believe the technology is an effective lie detector. Car... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2160934 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:41:58 +0100 2160934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2102385&cid=t_92602_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F01%2F14%2Fbiofeedback-races-an-activity-to-develop-self-regulation%2F I’ve written once or twice on biofeedback as I’ve used it, but I thought today I’d share an exciting idea that one of my colleagues (you know who you are!) came up with to help participants on our pain management programme get practice using their skills in a fun sort of way. We’re a bit lucky in some ways, we have about 8 different portable biofeedback units - some monitoring EMG, and a couple of others monitoring heart rate and galvanic skin response. In the past we’ve taken our participants to the occupational therapy home unit to try out various household tasks while wearing the biofeedback units - but frankly, the men have switched off. Now I don’t know what this says about Kiwi males, but I do know it made the sessions really challenging. So as a t... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2102385 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:42:43 +0100 2102385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2079027&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F495728856%2F This article provides is a very good market overview. The reporter and I also discussed in depth the need for better consumer education and professional development, so people can make informed decisions, and for cognitive assessments to serve as independent baseline, help identify priorities and measure results. Please note that our market estimates do include revenues of computerized cognitive assessments, today mostly used in clinical trials, and wthin the military and sports teams. 2) Navigating the brain fitness landscape: do's and don'ts (McKnight's Long Term Care News) Comment: "Choosing the right cognitive fitness product or program for senior living residents is harder than it sounds. But understanding residents' needs, identifying your objectives and considering the total c... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2079027 Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:03:07 +0100 2079027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2006974&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F470489968%2F Great article in the New York Times on Obama's emotional self-regulation abilities: The Cool Factor: Never Let Them See You Sweat - "We even elevate such equilibrium to the superhuman: calm, as applied to No Drama Obama, often comes linked to the modifier “preternatural.” - "But the calm temperament is not so superhuman, nor is it entirely the gift of the chosen few. It can be cultivated, even as the world cleaves around us." - "So how do we get there without a steady diet of beta blockers and Xanax? Calm, per se, doesn’t appear in the taxonomy of those who study personality and temperament." As the article later discloses, this ability is often called "emotional self-regulation" by cognitive scientists, and its development can assisted with tools s... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2006974 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:34:09 +0100 2006974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1985548&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F462979024%2F Like all psychiatric disorders, ADHD is diagnosed based on the presence of particular behavioral symptoms that are judged to cause significant impairment in an individual's functioning, and not on the results of a specific test. In fact, recently published ADHD evaluation guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) explicitly state that no particular diagnostic test should be routinely used when evaluating a child for ADHD. While most ADHD experts would agree that no single test could or should be used in isolation to diagnose ADHD, there are several important reasons why the availability of an accurate objective test would be useful. First, many children do not receive a careful and comprehensive assessment for ADHD but are instead diagnosed with based on evaluation procedure... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1985548 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:11:23 +0100 1985548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1970819&cid=t_92602_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F19%2Fdipping-my-toe-into-wiihab%2F Today was the first day I tried using the WiiFit balance board and the WiiFit programme with patients.  Their responses were interesting…two of the group of seven didn’t want to know about it ‘I hate computers and computer games’ they said.  Three of the group were really keen - and one especially (more about that shortly). And the pain management team members? Couldn’t get two of them off it tonight! At the moment, the WiiFit project is at the point where I want to see how people respond to the new technology - I’m using it within the three week interdisciplinary pain management programme, not as a ‘fitness’ or ‘rehabilitation’ tool, but as a fun and leisure activity (similar to the way we get the group members to play cricket,... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1970819 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:24:00 +0100 1970819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1928159&cid=t_92602_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F04%2Fbasic-biofeedback-in-pain-management%2F I’m no techno-whizz in biofeedback - you have to speak to one of my colleagues (she knows who she is!) to get the technical data on things like heart rate variability - but I do use several modalities reasonably often. So today I thought I’d discuss some of the ways I use biofeedback with the people I work with. Biofeedback basically provides visual or auditory information about normally undetectable physiological processes. It ranges from temperature sensors through to skin conduction (galvanic skin response), and includes surface EMG, respiration, blood volume pulse and sometimes these are put together to provide feedback on heart rate variability. I’m not going into HRV yet, that’s for another day! The most common sensors I use everyday are GSR, which is a reaso... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1928159 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:11:15 +0100 1928159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1901385&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2008%2F10%2F22%2Fa-learning-theory-for-reward-modulated-spike-timing-dependen.html This article provides tools for an analytic treatment of reward-modulated STDP, which allows us to predict under which conditions reward-modulated STDP will achieve a desired learning effect. These analytical results imply that neurons can learn through reward-modulated STDP to classify not only spatial but also temporal firing patterns of presynaptic neurons. They also can learn to respond to specific presynaptic firing patterns with particular spike patterns. Finally, the resulting learning theory predicts that even difficult credit-assignment problems, where it is very hard to tell which synaptic weights should be modified in order to increase the global reward for the system, can be solved in a self-organizing manner through reward-modulated STDP. This yields an explanation for a funda... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1901385 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:18:29 +0100 1901385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1877199&cid=t_92602_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F15%2Foccupational-therapists-unite-wiihabilitation-is-more-fun-than-prescribed-exercises%2F As the proud possessor of a brand new Wii and WiiFit, I’m a convert to the addictive powers of the Wii.  I’m not the only, and certainly not the first person to think of the rehabilitative potential of the Wii - in fact it’s been one of the most successful ‘cross-over’ toys that the computer geeks have come up with. I am planning to use the Wii and WiiFit to study whether it can help develop balance, activity tolerance and especially increase proprioceptive awareness in people experiencing persistent pain and complex regional pain syndrome.  There are clinical guidelines I’ve just discovered here at RehabCare who have produced a podcast covering clinical practice guidelines for using the Nintendo Wii.  And I’ve just found an occupational therapi... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1877199 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:09:04 +0100 1877199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1660692&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2008%2F07%2F28%2Fdevelopment-and-preliminary-evaluation-of-a-prototype-audiov.html Authors: Venkat RB, Sawant A, Suh Y, George R, Keall PJ The aim of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of a novel audio-visual biofeedback respiratory training tool to reduce respiratory irregularity. The audiovisual biofeedback system acquires sample respiratory waveforms of a particular patient and computes a patient-specific waveform to guide the patient's subsequent breathing. Two visual feedback models with different displays and cognitive loads were investigated: a bar model and a wave model. The audio instructions were ascending/descending musical tones played at inhale and exhale respectively to assist in maintaining the breathing period. Free-breathing, bar model and wave model training was performed on ten volunteers for 5 min for three repeat sessions. A total of ... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1660692 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:17:59 +0100 1660692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1660693&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2008%2F07%2F28%2Fenergetic-assessment-of-trunk-postural-modifications-induced.html Authors: Giansanti D, Dozza M, Chiari L, Maccioni G, Cappello A This paper investigates the trunk postural modifications induced by a wearable device which assesses the trunk sway and provides biofeedback information through sonification of trunk kinematics. The device is based on an inertial wearable sensing unit including three mono-axial accelerometers and three rate gyroscopes embedded and mounted orthogonally. The biofeedback device was tested on nine healthy subjects during quiet stance in different conditions of sensory limitation eyes closed on solid surface, eyes open on foam cushion surface, eyes closed on foam cushion surface. Five trials were performed for each condition; the order of the trials was randomized. The results reported in this paper show how subjects reduced their ... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1660693 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:16:27 +0100 1660693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526119&cid=t_92602_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2F17%2Fevaluating-drug-free-alternatives-for-adhd%2F It’s a list that would make any health-food storegoer proud: Vitamins. Fish oil. Giving up processed foods, sugars, or food additives. Herbal therapy with St. John’s Wort, echinacea, gingko biloba, or ginseng. Biofeedback. Massage. Yoga. All healthful pursuits, for sure, but are any of these alternative therapies effective for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (A.D.H.D.)? Don’t bet the rent, says an article in today’s New York Times. According to author Tara Parker-Pope, About 2.5 million children in the United States take stimulant drugs for attention and hyperactivity problems. But concerns about side effects have prompted many parents to look elsewhere: as many as two-thirds of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or A.D.H.D., have used some ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526119 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:35:09 +0100 1526119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1395089&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2008%2F04%2F23%2Fthe-effect-of-biofeedback-training-on-affective-regulation-a.html Authors: Edmonds WA, Tenenbaum G, Mann DT, Johnson M, Kamata A The foundation of this study was based on an idiosyncratic concept, which uses probabilistic determinations (Kamata, Tenenbaum, & Hanin, 2002) to verify the utility and effectiveness of a biofeedback intervention by manipulating affective performance states in a race-car simulator. Nine males completed five separate time-trials of a simulated racing task and were then randomly assigned to one of three arousal regulation treatment conditions: (1) optimal, (2) poor, and (3) attention control. Following the biofeedback intervention, participants underwent another series of race trials to determine the effectiveness of the arousal regulation intervention. The results indicated that there were relative similarities in the streng... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1395089 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:08:40 +0100 1395089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1366627&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2008%2F04%2F11%2Falpha-neurofeedback-improves-the-maintaining-ability-of-alph.html Authors: Cho MK, Jang HS, Jeong SH, Jang IS, Choi BJ, Lee MG The effects of alpha-neurofeedback (ANF) on electroencephalographic alpha-activity were investigated. Each session consisted of a 2.5-min eye-opened state and 17.5-min of ANF, which was divided into 16 1.25-min bins. Alpha amplitudes were gradually increased as the session was repeated. The maximum value at the start of ANF gradually decreased as time passed, but the slowdown of alpha-activity during each session was decreased as the session was repeated. The correlation between alpha-activity at the end of ANF and at the following session's eye-opened state was highly significant. These results showed that ANF enhances the ability of alpha-activity to maintain itself rather than the increase of alpha-amplitude during intrasessio... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1366627 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:29:37 +0100 1366627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1275986&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2008%2F03%2F03%2Fintegrating-a-portable-biofeedback-device-into-clinical-prac.html This study examined the effectiveness of a portable Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) biofeedback device as an adjunct to CBT in persons with anxiety disorders and other disorders associated with autonomic dysfunction attending outpatient treatment. Participants were 24 individuals attending outpatient cognitive behavioral treatment for a range of anxiety disorders. Participants were assessed over a 3 week period. Outcomes included measures of anxiety (STAI-Y), sleep disturbances (PSQI), anger (STAEI), and subjective questions about the effectiveness of the device as a treatment adjunct. Significant reductions were found for anxiety and anger and for certain sleep variables (e.g. sleep latency). There was a significant dos-effect in that those who were more compliant had significantly gre... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1275986 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:21:37 +0100 1275986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1256292&cid=t_92602_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F241169755%2F I recently got a message about a local meeting of an autism organization that supports “immediate” alternative treatments for autistic children. I’m not able to attend the meeting and have been thinking about that word “immediate.” It’s not hard to understand why a parent would want some way to stop a child from head-banging (as my son used to, and frequently), or to wish that getting a child to say that first word could happen at the snap of one’s fingers; that one day you would wake up and your child could seamlessly, smilingly, read sentence after sentence in a book or just join in and play with the other kids on the playground. It’s all too easy to understand why parents wish for a fast and effective treatment, a “magic pill” ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1256292 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:51:02 +0100 1256292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1253729&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F240718461%2F (Note: neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback that measures brain waves and that, according to practitioners, provides good "brain training" for specific clinical conditions). A few weeks ago Dr. David Rabiner wrote a great post on How Strong is the Research Support for Neurofeedback in Attention Deficits?, concluding that - "It is for these reasons that neurofeedback is understandably regarded as an unproven treatment approach for ADHD at this time by many ADHD researchers. - However, these studies do provide a solid basis for suggesting that if parents choose to pursue neurofeedback for their child, there is a reasonable chance that their child will benefit even though we can't be sure that it is the specific EEG training that is responsible for the benefits. Thus, althoug... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1253729 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:43:48 +0100 1253729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1229677&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F234513838%2F Over the last few days we have seen an engaging conversation going on in a few of our posts. In 2 of them, representatives from Posit Science have left detailed comments that have prompted me to ask a series of detailed questions. Given that the comments are a bit buried by now, I will present those questions in a post.   Eric, Henry, or anyone else in the field: please address these questions, so we all contribute to helping consumers and institutions navigate through this emerging landscape of "brain fitness gyms" and separate what is real today from what is promising and may be real tomorrow.    A) Questions posted in The Brain Fitness Program DVD post (you can read whole context clicking on the link)   Hello Eric, thanks for stopping by. We recommend users check our 10-Qu... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1229677 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:23:27 +0100 1229677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1178094&cid=t_92602_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F223087810%2F Neurofeedback is one of the technologies that people often ask us about.  It is a promising intervention in a variety of areas, and has got significant traction in helping kids with ADD/ ADHD. Now, given the significant cost it poses for parents, we need to ask the question: "How Strong is the Research Support for Neurofeedback Treatment of Children with ADHD"? We are honored to present the thoughts of Duke University's Dr. David Rabiner, a leading authority on the field, on that important issue. As a bonus, you will enjoy his detailed description and suggestions of how to design a high-quality scientific study. Without further ado, let's hear Dr. Rabiner speak: --------------------------------------  How Strong is the Research Support for Neurofeedback Treatment of Children... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1178094 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:25:56 +0100 1178094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1002490&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F11%2F04%2Fusing-movement-imagery-and-electromyography-triggered-feedba.html CONCLUSIONS: EMG-triggered feedback stimulation did not lead to more arm-hand function improvement relative to conventional electrostimulation. However, in contrast to many clinical reports, a significant improvement was still observed in both groups nine months after treatment ceased. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1002490 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 11:35:54 +0100 1002490 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=965756&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F10%2F20%2Fa-brain-computer-interface-with-vibrotactile-biofeedback-for.html CONCLUSIONS: Subjects are able to control the BCI using only vibrotactile feedback with an average accuracy of 56% and as high as 72%. These accuracies are significantly higher than the 15% predicted by random chance if the subject had no voluntary control of their Mu-rhythm. The results of this study demonstrate that vibrotactile feedback is an effective biofeedback modality to operate a BCI using motor imagery. In addition, the study shows that placement of the vibrotactile stimulation on the biceps ipsilateral or contralateral to the motor imagery introduces a significant bias in the BCI accuracy. This bias is consistent with a drop in performance generated by stimulation of the contralateral limb. Users demonstrated the capability to overcome this bias with training. (Source: Positive ... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=965756 Sat, 20 Oct 2007 14:47:24 +0100 965756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=965757&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F10%2F20%2Finteractive-multimodal-biofeedback-system-for-neurorehabilit.html This report explores the new concept and alternative designs of multimedia based biofeedback systems. In this system, the new interactive multimodal environment was constructed with abstract presentation of movement parameters. Scenery images or pictures and their clarity and orientation are used to reflect the arm movement and relative position to the target instead of the animated arm. The multiple biofeedback parameters were classified into different hierarchical levels w.r.t. importance of each movement parameter to performance. A new quantified measurement for these parameters were developed to assess the patient's performance both real-time and offline. These parameters were represented by combined visual and auditory presentations with various distinct music instruments. Overall, th... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=965757 Sat, 20 Oct 2007 14:46:08 +0100 965757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=888519&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F09%2F20%2Feffects-of-electromyography-biofeedback-assisted-relaxation.html This study examined the effect of electromyography (EMG) biofeedback-assisted relaxation on cancer-related pain in advanced cancer patients. We hypothesized that changes in EMG activity in frontal muscles underlie the efficacy of EMG biofeedback-assisted relaxation. This was a randomized control study. The experimental group (n = 12) received 6 EMG biofeedback-assisted relaxation sessions over a 4-week period, whereas the control group (n = 12) received conventional care. The primary efficacy measure was the level of pain, measured by the Brief Pain Inventory. Findings from this study show that relaxation training supplemented with visual and auditory EMG biofeedback signals is effective in reducing cancer-related pain in advanced cancer patients, possibly through a mechanism of attenuatio... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=888519 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:29:24 +0100 888519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=825599&cid=t_92602_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F145383160%2F Have you heard of biofeedback? Biofeedback is a technique in which patients improve their health by using signals from their own bodies, ie. heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and sweating, Now have you heard of using biofeedback to help treat your diabetes? I am referring to mainly type 2 diabetics. There is research that shows after just 10 sessions of biofeedback and relaxation therapy, diabetics blood sugars and A1c were lowered and stayed that way for up to 3 months. And a bonus… depression and anxiety among these patients also decreased. Here would be my hunch why this type of treatment could be effective… The Stress Effect Biofeedback may decrease cortisol, a stress hormone linked to insulin resistance. Some of you may remember me writing abo... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=825599 Sat, 18 Aug 2007 03:23:23 +0100 825599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=764969&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F07%2F29%2Fcontrolled-evaluation-of-a-neurofeedback-training-in-adhd-ch.html CONCLUSIONS: There is a specific training effect of neurofeedback of slow cortical potentials due to enhanced cortical control. However, non-specific factors, such as parental support, may also contribute to the positive behavioural effects induced by the neurofeedback training. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=764969 Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:09:15 +0100 764969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=764973&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F07%2F29%2Fcortical-activation-changes-induced-by-visual-biofeedback-tr.html Conclusions: We demonstrated that cortical activation changes occurred with gait function improvement in chronic stroke patients throughout the 4-week VBTT program. It seems that the cortical reorganization was induced by VBTT. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=764973 Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:33:13 +0100 764973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=733546&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F07%2F13%2Fdirect-instrumental-conditioning-of-neural-activity-using-fm.html Direct instrumental conditioning of neural activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging-derived reward feedback. J Neurosci. 2007 Jul 11;27(28):7498-507 Authors: Bray S, Shimojo S, O'Doherty JP Successful learning is often contingent on feedback. In instrumental conditioning, an animal or human learns to perform specific responses to obtain reward. Instrumental conditioning is often used by behavioral psychologists to train an animal (or human) to produce a desired behavior. Shaping involves reinforcing those behaviors, which in a stepwise manner are successively closer to the desired behavior until the desired behavior is reached. Here, we aimed to extend this traditional approach to directly shape neural activity instead of overt behavior. To achieve this, we scanned 22 human sub... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=733546 Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:39:24 +0100 733546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=713090&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F07%2F03%2Feeg-biofeedback-in-the-treatment-of-attention-deficit-hypera.html Authors: Friel PN Electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback, also known as neurofeedback, is a promising alternative treatment for patients with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). EEG biofeedback therapy rewards scalp EEG frequencies that are associated with relaxed attention, and suppresses frequencies associated with under- or over-arousal. In large-scale clinical trials, the efficacy of EEG biofeedback for AD/HD is comparable to that of stimulant medications. Many different EEG biofeedback protocols for AD/HD are available. Single-channel protocols developed by Lubar and interhemispheric protocols developed by the Othmers are widely practiced and supported by large-scale clinical studies. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=713090 Tue, 03 Jul 2007 19:59:44 +0100 713090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=645070&cid=t_92602_130_f&fid=34941&url=http%3A%2F%2Forthosportsrehab.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Frunning-news.html Just a couple of interesting news bites on running to share. The first is an article on running mechanics and how to reduce stress fractures and anterior knee pain through physical therapy by retraining how patients run. The research comes out of the Running Injury Lab at the University of Delaware using a biofeedback device with runners on a treadmill.Risk For Stress Fractures And Pain Under Kneecap Lowered By Biofeedback On Abnormal Mechanics from medicalnewstoday.comWith all of the constant changes to running sneakers, it is tough to stay on top of what is new on the market. I recently found out about Newton Running, which has developed their running sneakers which contain a rubber membrane in the forefoot. This Newton Active Membrane Technology store the energy from ground impact and r... Concepts in Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Rehab blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=645070 Sun, 27 May 2007 20:25:00 +0100 645070 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=573450&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F04%2F27%2Fthe-effects-of-neurofeedback-training-in-the-cognitive-divis.html This study examines the efficacy of neurofeedback training in the cognitive division of the anterior cingulate gyrus and describes its relationship with cortical regions known to be involved in executive functions. This study was conducted with eight non-clinical students, four male and four female, with a mean age of twenty-two. Learning occurred in the ACcd at significant levels over sessions and in the anterior regions that receive projections from the AC. There appears to be a multidimensional executive circuit that increases in the same frequency in apparent synchrony with the AC and it may be possible to train this sub-cortical region using LNFB. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=573450 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 10:29:12 +0100 573450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=573452&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F04%2F27%2Fare-complex-psychotherapies-more-effective-than-biofeedback.html Authors: Stevens SE, Hynan MT, Allen M, Braun MM, McCart MR A meta-analysis of 26 studies was conducted to assess whether more complex forms of psychotherapy would be superior to control treatments of either biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation, or both. Consistent with hypotheses, more complex treatments provided a small, significant improvement over biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation (r = .09). A subset of the more complex behavioral treatments accounted for most of this small incremental effectiveness of more complex treatments (r = .15). Possible sources of this incremental effectiveness are discussed. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=573452 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 10:28:39 +0100 573452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=515478&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F04%2F01%2Fbrain-potentials-associated-with-outcome-expectation-and-out.html This study investigated whether feedback-related negativity can be elicited by a randomly assigned cue indicating potential monetary loss. The expected loss or win can be materialized or averted depending on participants' performance in a subsequent game. Compared with the win cue, the loss cue elicited a weak but significant feedback-related negativity-like effect. It is suggested that the anterior cingulate cortex, which generates feedback-related negativity, may function as a pre-warning system that alerts the brain to get ready for future events. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=515478 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:00:57 +0100 515478 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=515479&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F04%2F01%2Fneurofeedback-train-your-brain-to-train-behaviour.html CONCLUSIONS: There is growing evidence for NF as a valuable treatment module in neuropsychiatric disorders. Further, controlled studies are necessary to establish clinical efficacy and effectiveness and to learn more about the mechanisms underlying successful training. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=515479 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:00:08 +0100 515479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=477907&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F03%2F17%2Feeg-neurofeedback-for-cognitive-enhancement-in-the-elderly.html EEG neurofeedback: a brief overview and an example of peak alpha frequency training for cognitive enhancement in the elderly. Clin Neuropsychol. 2007 Jan;21(1):110-29 Authors: Angelakis E, Stathopoulou S, Frymiare JL, Green DL, Lubar JF, Kounios J Neurofeedback (NF) is an electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback technique for training individuals to alter their brain activity via operant conditioning. Research has shown that NF helps reduce symptoms of several neurological and psychiatric disorders, with ongoing research currently investigating applications to other disorders and to the enhancement of non-disordered cognition. The present article briefly reviews the fundamentals and current status of NF therapy and research and illustrates the basic approach with an interim report on a pi... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=477907 Sat, 17 Mar 2007 13:47:21 +0100 477907 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=477913&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F03%2F16%2Fneurofeedback-for-children-with-adhd.html This study addresses previous methodological shortcomings while comparing a neurofeedback-training of Theta-Beta frequencies and training of slow cortical potentials (SCPs). The study aimed at answering (a) whether patients were able to demonstrate learning of cortical self-regulation, (b) if treatment leads to an improvement in cognition and behavior and (c) if the two experimental groups differ in cognitive and behavioral outcome variables. SCP participants were trained to produce positive and negative SCP-shifts while the Theta/Beta participants were trained to suppress Theta (4-8 Hz) while increasing Beta (12-20 Hz). Participants were blind to group assignment. Assessment included potentially confounding variables. Each group was comprised of 19 children with ADHD (aged 8-13 years). Th... Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=477913 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 20:48:05 +0100 477913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=463565&cid=t_92602_113_f&fid=34637&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgaggio.blogspirit.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F03%2F10%2Fheart-rate-variability-biofeedback-for-the-treatment-of-majo.html Conclusions: HRV biofeedback appears to be a useful adjunctive treatment for the treatment of MDD, associated with large acute increases in HRV and some chronic increases, suggesting increased cardiovagal activity. It is possible that regular exercise of homeostatic reflexes helps depression even when changes in baseline HRV are smaller. A randomized controlled trial is warranted. (Source: Positive Technology Journal) Positive Technology Journal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=463565 Sat, 10 Mar 2007 19:17:28 +0100 463565