Your brain is capable of correcting itself,
healing, and incredible growth.
Neurofeedback simply shows your brain the way.

Experiences of chronic stress, exposure to trauma, abuse and neglect, injuries, metabolic issues, poor sleep, daily living, and more all have the ability to cause dysregulation in the brain.

This has powerful impacts on physical and mental health and shapes

● relationships with self and others
● quality and duration of life
● level of functioning in vocational and life tasks
● sense of peace and wellbeing

Why train your brain?

Guide your brain back to its inherent self-regulation, meaning brain wave patterns that are optimal. As this normalization process occurs, undesirable symptoms, which often have their roots in dysregulated brain waves, begin to dissipate and your brain begins to operate with a new effectiveness and efficiency. Symptoms decrease or disappear, and your capacity expands.

Never heard of neurofeedback?

Watch this short video from the International Society for Neuroregulation and Research (ISNR) to learn the basics.

What does
neurofeedback
training at
Heart Matters
look like?

Learn More About Neurofeedback (NFB)

  • The primary form of neurofeedback that Heart Matters employs is called “swLORETA” and stands for "standardized weighted Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography." This advanced technique is a form of neurofeedback that allows for precise localization of brain activity in real-time.

    This technology provides a picture of the electrical functioning of a client’s brain. Our licensed clinicians then use the raw EEG data gathered through a quantitative EEG (QEEG) and create maps of a client’s brain showing where any area of the brain is out of norm. By analyzing the pictures the brain provides, our trained QEEG practitioners are able to create a customized training protocol that targets where the client's dysregulation is occurring and trains it back into the normal range.

    Clients attend in-office training sessions where they wear a cap with electrode sensors on it as they watch a movie on a screen. Working off of their real time EEG data, the software used will instantaneously disincentivize the brain when it is working outside of optimal brain wave patterns, and will reward the brain when it is firing properly. This is the principle of operant conditioning. At Heart Matters, this is accomplished through filters applied to a movie or tv show. When the brain is working within healthy limits, the viewer’s screen size, color, and volume are normal. When not doing so, the color fades, the screen shrinks, and the volume decreases. Through this system the brain is rewarded for producing the desirable healthy patterns, and clients can learn to self-regulate their brain activity. Through repetition and practice, they can train their brain to achieve a more balanced and optimal state. The most exciting part of neurofeedback is that the process is entirely subconscious. No conscious effort is expended to produce specific brainwave patterns to try to achieve the rewards, yet the brain learns to function better.

    Neurofeedback is a non-invasive and effective tool used to improve brain function, enhance cognitive performance, and address various neurological conditions. It offers a unique insight into brain activity and empowers individuals to take an active role in optimizing their brain health.

  • At Heart Matters, neurofeedback training sessions are about one hour long, twice a week. They begin with “capping”, the process of placing an electrode cap on a client, adding saline gel, and working to establish a good connection between the electrodes and the scalp to monitor EEG data.

    The client then sits in a comfortable chair in front of a tv screen and selects whatever movie or tv show they want to see. As they watch their show, audio and visual filters are applied to the screen to either reward or disincentivize the brain based on its functioning within the specific parameters their brain is training with.

    At Heart Matters we include frequent QEEG recordings and analysis to track progress and fine tune training protocols. After every five training sessions, clients will do a 5-10 minute QEEG recording at the start of their training session.

    We call these training sessions because nothing is being done to a client’s brain. Neurofeedback is a learning process. The feedback the brain receives while training is like holding a mirror up to the brain, giving it information on when it is functioning effectively and when it is not.

    As changes and growth take place, clients feel empowered knowing that the work accomplished was done by their own brains!

  • swLORETA neurofeedback and medication are two distinct approaches used in the treatment of various conditions, particularly neurological and mental health disorders.

    Key differences include:

    Mechanism of Action: swLORETA neurofeedback operates through training the brain to self-regulate its activity, while medication works by chemically altering neurotransmitter levels.

    Customization: swLORETA neurofeedback is personalized to each individual's brainwave patterns, whereas medication dosages often need adjustment based on trial and error.

    Side Effects: swLORETA neurofeedback is generally considered safe with minimal side effects, while medications can have a range of side effects that vary in severity.

    Long-Term Benefits: swLORETA neurofeedback aims to promote lasting changes in brain function through learning and self-regulation, while medications may require ongoing use and can lead to dependence.

    While medication can sometimes provide quick relief of symptoms, swLORETA neurofeedback focuses on the underlying neurological roots of symptoms and facilitates long-term brain health. The choice between these two methods often depends on individual preferences, the nature of the condition, and the desired treatment outcomes.

    Sometimes a combination of both may be needed for the most comprehensive care.

  • Neurofeedback can be beneficial for a wide range of people and tends to be particularly advantageous for those facing conditions including, but not limited to:

    ADHD: Individuals, especially children, with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may benefit from neurofeedback to improve focus, attention span, impulse control, and behavior regulation.

    Anxiety and Depression: Those experiencing anxiety or depression often find relief through neurofeedback as it aims to regulate brain activity associated with these conditions, promoting better self-regulation and emotional stability.

    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): People dealing with the effects of trauma often see improvements in symptom management, reduction of triggers, and an increase in emotional regulation with the help of neurofeedback.

    Seizure Disorders: Neurofeedback offers significant advancements in the understanding and management of seizures and allows for precise localization of abnormal electrical activity associated with seizures. swLORETA's ability to provide real-time monitoring make it an invaluable tool for identifying seizure activity, ongoing management of epilepsy and stabilization of the brain, ultimately improving patient symptoms, outcomes and quality of life.

    Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Those recovering from a traumatic brain injury often benefit from neurofeedback as it aids in cognitive rehabilitation and neural retraining. It also helps manage symptoms related to TBIs, such as memory problems and cognitive deficits.

    Sleep Disorders: Individuals struggling with sleep disorders often find neurofeedback helpful as it can regulate brain patterns related to sleep. This promotes better quality rest, and oftentimes increases average hours of sleep per night.

    Those Seeking Peak Performance: Athletes, artists, and professionals looking to optimize their cognitive and emotional abilities can benefit from neurofeedback. Many professional performers, Olympians and other pro-athletes, and CEOs utilize neurofeedback to enhance their career performance.

    The outcomes of neurofeedback can vary depending on the individual client’s specific condition and response to treatment.

  • Long-term follow-up studies on swLORETA neurofeedback have shown promising results in the management of various neurocognitive conditions. The studies, conducted over a span of 2-10+ years, have focused on tracking the progress of individuals who underwent neurofeedback treatment for conditions such as anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results of these studies provide valuable insights into the lasting benefits of this tool.

    One of the key findings of these long-term studies is the sustained benefits of neurofeedback over an extended period. Participants continued to exhibit improvements in their symptoms even years after the initial intervention. This long-lasting effect shows that neurofeedback can induce neuroplastic changes that endure over time.

    Overall, the findings from these long-term follow-up studies provide valuable insights into the efficacy, durability, and safety of swLORETA neurofeedback as a therapeutic option for various neurocognitive conditions.

    It's important to note that the longevity of the results can be impacted by various factors, including the individual's condition and adherence to any recommended lifestyle changes.

  • Neurofeedback has been the subject of numerous research studies. Because swLORETA neurofeedback is a newer and more advanced form of the technology, there are, as of yet, not as many published papers specific to swLORETA. However, while the technology is now more comprehensive, the foundational principals are shared with much of the previously published research.

    Neurofeedback is well-researched, with a growing body of evidence supporting its reliability, validity, and clinical applications.

    Click here for a comprehensive bibliography of research articles pertaining to neurofeedback and organized by condition.

  • We encourage those interested in neurofeedback to start by scheduling a quantitative EEG (QEEG) appointment. This appointment includes a QEEG recording in our office. After we acquire your raw EEG data, our neurofeedback clinician, Mike Pinkston, will analyze and create your individual brain maps. Once your brain maps are ready, you will then meet with Mike to go over results and hear his treatment recommendations based on your individual results. This one hour consultation happens about a week after your initial QEEG appointment. Upon seeing your brain maps and hearing your treatment recommendations, you can then decide if you would like to move forward and start the neurofeedback process. 

  • In the field of neurofeedback, particularly with swLORETA, the training process is considered safe and well-tolerated. For some individuals when they first begin training, neurofeedback sessions can sometimes lead to feelings of tiredness or mental fatigue, similar to how your muscles can get tired after a workout at the gym. If tiredness does occur, it is short-lived and mild. As the brain gets used to the training sessions, the fatigue discontinues.

    Though very rare, we have seen TBI (traumatic brain injury) clients experience a mild headache immediately following their sessions. If this happens, we make adjustments to their protocol and the length of their session to prevent any further headaches. Typically, the headaches disappear after their brain has grown accustomed to the training sessions.

    Most individuals do not experience any negative side effects from swLORETA neurofeedback and report positive outcomes in terms of symptom reduction, enhanced brain function, better quality sleep, and overall well-being.

  • The history of neurofeedback can be traced back to the late 1950s when the field of neuroscience was still in its early stages of development.

    It was Dr. Joe Kamiya, a psychologist from the University of Chicago, who first discovered that individuals could alter their brainwave patterns through operant conditioning. He found that by providing feedback on brainwave activity, individuals could learn to control their brain functions consciously. This discovery laid the foundation for the development of neurofeedback as a therapeutic technique.

    In the 1960s and 1970s, researchers like Dr. Barry Sterman and Dr. Joel Lubar further explored the applications of neurofeedback in treating conditions like epilepsy and ADHD. Their work demonstrated that neurofeedback could help individuals regulate their brain activity and improve various cognitive functions.

    As technology advanced, the equipment used for neurofeedback became more sophisticated, allowing for more precise measurements and interventions. Today, neurofeedback is used to treat a wide range of conditions and is often used in conjunction with other therapies to provide a comprehensive approach to mental health care.

    The history of neurofeedback reflects the ongoing efforts of researchers and practitioners to understand the complexities of the brain and develop innovative ways to improve brain function and mental well-being.

    Read a “Brief History of Neurofeedback” by Heart Matters neurofeedback clinician, Mike Pinkston.

Take a deeper dive into neurofeedback while hearing from our Heart Matters staff

Listen below for more about the neurofeedback process, science, and results with Mike Pinkston and Jen Fowler