History of Neurofeedback Research

Learn about the origins and history of Neurofeedback brain training

The concept of Neurofeedback is not new, yet not widely known in the UK.

Barry Sterman accidentally discovered the power of what we now call Neurofeedback through his research with cats on sleep and later rocket fuel. Sterman pioneered the use of Neurofeedback as therapy, and as early as 1972 he published a paper describing how he used Neurofeedback to stop a human having severe epileptic grand mal seizures. 40 years ago, Sterman had effectively proved that the brain is dynamic and plastic – something that neuroscientists have only recently accepted. It is now known as ‘Neuroplasticity’.

He showed that by guiding the way someone thinks it can change the structure of tissue in the brain, and that the neuron was where mind meets body. This was a revolutionary concept, a completely new paradigm.

Despite further well designed double blind studies; Sterman’s funding was withdrawn in the early 1980s,  apparently the victim of medical and academic politics, and drugs became the primary method of treatment for epilepsy.

The 1950s and 60s: much promise and media hype

History of NeurofeedbackAnother prominent originator of Neurofeedback was Joe Kamiya. He first demonstrated the ability to control brainwaves through feedback in 1958. Kamiya focused on training Alpha waves that created a relaxed, meditative state in patients (leading some subjects to have transcendental experiences).

This ability to relax the brain caused media frenzy in the late 60s as some saw Neurofeedback as a panacea to treat stress. A 1968 article in Psychology Today and features in Time and The New York Times fueled the frenzy.

But again, with opposition from vested interests and seemingly incredible claims by some proponents, academic funding dried up. In the absence of a scalable commercial marketing model and relatively expensive technology, Neurofeedback was marginalized by the early 1980s, with the few remaining therapeutic pioneers continuing to provide clinical services and continue to publish papers (largely in isolation).

To discuss the current research or history of Neurofeedback treatment, please call BrainTrainUT at (801) 326-0224 today. 

The revival of Neurofeedback treatment in the 1980s

Dr Siegfried Othmer, a physicist, and his wife Sue, a neurobiologist, came across Neurofeedback in 1985, while struggling to help their son Brian who had multiple conditions, including: severe epilepsy, Tourette’s Syndrome, Asperger’s Syndrome and intermittent rages.

Within months of receiving Neurofeedback training Brian’s life was transformed. Convinced by the evidence, the Othmer’s were inspired to dedicate their lives to bringing Neurofeedback to the masses. But even raising awareness of effective treatment was not easy and in the pre-internet era they found it difficult to spread the word and find an audience willing to listen.Treatment for ADHD

Ever the resourceful pair, they decided to focus on treating patients at their own clinic, developing the equipment, the software and the techniques – all the while training new practitioners. They were the first company that provided all of these products and services, and have continued to do so for the last 22 years. You can download a PDF showing the History of Neurofeedback here.

Making the link to the treatment of ADHD

It was Joel Lubar who connected the success of Neurofeedback at controlling epileptic seizures to a possible treatment of children’s hyperactivity. Since the mid-70s he has published more than 100 papers and conducted dozens of studies focusing on Neurofeedback for ADD and ADHD.

In one notable study in 1979, Lubar took several children with hyperactivity and trained them with Neurofeedback and eliminated the condition. He then reversed that training causing the hyperactivity to return – and then eliminated it again. You can view this remarkable study here.

Over the last 40 years the protocols for Neurofeedback have been improved, equipment has been refined and the process has reduced in cost. And now the scientific evidence has built a compelling case for the effective treatment of brain regulation conditions, such as ADHD.

To book your initial consultation or to learn more about the science of Neurofeedback training, please call BrainTrainUT today on (801) 326-0224.

To read more about this, please read the next page on Information for Doctors and Scientific Evidence.

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