The nctNeurofeedback Clinic

Hemoencephalography biofeedback (HEG) training:​

 

• HEG training aims to boost blood flow activity to your brain and as a result it improves mental and emotional functioning.

• HEG training feeds back changes in the brain’s energy consumption (which is related to blood flow, oxygen, nutrient, glucose supply).

 

It's fun!

HEG has a high compliance rate by clients and patients and the training can be delivered with the help of entertaining and attractive feedback suitable for children and adults. You can even watch for favorite movie in our clinic and run it or stop it using your brain- with HEG training.

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You can control the blood flow in your brain!

The field of hemoencephalography (HEG) studies cortical hemodynamics: vascularity, blood volume, oxygenation, metabolism or temperature in real time. It has been found that the vascular variables, blood oxygenation and flow, are voluntarily controllable. Voluntary control has led to further discoveries of HEG’s usefulness as a therapeutic modality in neurofeedback.

 

The logic behind this neurofeedback intervention is that repeatedly engaging in HEG biofeedback, "exercises" the brain in a unique way which confers very promising and long-lasting neuro-behavioral benefits for the trainee. Special pre/post SPECT (Single Positron Emission Computerized Tomography) imaging techniques have been already used to verify that HEG biofeedback treatment promotes conspicuous blood flow increases, (activation), in the treated areas. 

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The area of the brain in focus

Most research in HEG has focused on disorders of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the cortical region directly behind the forehead that controls high level executive functions such as planning, judgment, emotional regulation, inhibition, organization, and cause and effect determination. The prefrontal cortex is thought essential for all goal-directed and socially-mediated behavior. 

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People with ADHD have prefrontal slow wave activity

Frontal activation appears to be necessary to succeed in the treatment of many neurobehavioral conditions such as ADD and ADHD. QEEG topographic brain maps and functional MRI images of ADHD patients identify the prefrontal lobes as dysfunctional or even "disconnected" from the rest of the brain through the presence of excessive slow wave activity instead of desirable fast wave activity.

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How do oxygen levels tell us about brain activity?

The principle, when it comes to blood flow and oxygen in the brain, is simple: The more active an area is, the more blood and oxygen it needs.

Neurofeedback takes it a step forward: let's learn how to actively increase the blood flow (cerebral perfusion) to an area in the brain (in this case - the pre-frontal-cortex which mediates concentration and attention) and by that make the area more active.

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This has proven to be very powerful in ADD/ADHD cases in teaching the brain how to take control over the brain activity and teach it how to shift in and out of a very focused state.

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A bit more about the mechanism: When a region of the cortex is used in a specific cognitive task, neuronal activity in that region increases, consequently increasing local metabolic rate. To keep up with the nutritional and waste removal demands of a higher metabolic rate, cerebral blood flow to the cortical area in use must increase proportionally. Along with the increase in flow, hemoglobin molecules in the blood, which are responsible for the transport and transference of oxygen to tissue throughout the body, must increase the amount of oxygen they deliver to the activated region of the cortex, resulting in a greater local blood oxygenation level. 

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Clinical applications

HEG Neurofeedback increase brain blood flow in the prefrontal area of the brain and has  shown significant clinical benefits, especially in the areas of migraine, depression and ADHD.

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You are welcome to contact us for more information on how Heg can help you or your child.

 

It Works, is effective- and FUN!

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