let’s get scientific

Before explaining the physiology associated with exposure to nonlinear neurofeedback, it is important to understand that Mind over Matter Practice is primarily focused on training you to become more resilient to stress. The reason this is mentioned here first is because we do not claim to cure disease. Rather, we offer to move your mind beyond its current definition of discomfort. Through your willingness to expose yourself to the unknown, not only will you develop your self-assurance, but also the ability to control your brain’s biological regulation of the stress response internally (Meine et al. 2021).

Neurofeedback, in general, is a specific type of biofeedback that focuses on the electrical activity of the brain. It achieves this with sensors attached to your scalp that measure your brainwaves, which reflect different states of arousal, attention, and emotion. By feeding back these brainwaves, neurofeedback helps you learn to modify your brain activity and achieve a more optimal state. For example, neurofeedback can help you increase or decrease certain types of brainwaves, such as alpha, beta, theta, or delta, depending on your goals and needs (Marzbani, Marateb & Mansourian 2016).

Neurofeedback is based on the principle of operant conditioning, which means that your brain is rewarded for producing desirable patterns of activity. The reward can be a visual or auditory stimulus presented on a screen or through headphones. For example, you may watch a movie that becomes clearer when your brain produces more alpha waves (associated with relaxation) or becomes dimmer when your brain produces more beta waves (associated with stress). In this way, you learn to associate the desired brain state with a positive outcome, and it gradually trains your brain to produce it more easily and consistently (Enriquez-Geppert, Huster & Herrmann 2017).

However, the problem with this operant conditioning lies in the limits it imposes on the duration of neurofeedback benefits. It primarily relies on external cues for reinforcement, which may not coincide well in dynamic real-world situations. Additionally, it often overlooks the underlying neural networks as well as the brain's intrinsic reward systems, which play a crucial role in learning and retention (Murayama 2022).

To address these limitations, nonlinear neurofeedback, also known as dynamical or indirect neurofeedback approaches have emerged. Nonlinear neurofeedback, such as that which we use at Mind Over Matter, also measures and trains brain activity. However, it uses advanced mathematical models and techniques which acknowledge the neural networks that are overlooked in traditional neurofeedback systems. By doing this is capable of harnessing your brain's self-regulation mechanisms, leveraging its self-organizing processes and intrinsic reinforcement mechanisms. This approach avoids direct manipulation of your brain activity and instead provides feedback based on your brain's own processes. During a nonlinear neurofeedback session, you will wear a comfortable headset with scalp electrodes to measure your brain activity. You will then receive real-time feedback in the form of visual graphs, audio or videos, reflecting your brain activity (Marcos-Martínez et al. 2021).

By capitalizing on your brain's self-organizing and self-generated rewards, nonlinear neurofeedback facilitates repeated training sessions that enable your brain to self-organize and self-regulate towards more optimal patterns of activity. This approach enhances the learning, generalization, and long-term maintenance of self-regulation skills, extending their effects beyond the training sessions. Nonlinear neurofeedback thus empowers you to cultivate improved self-regulation and optimal brain function (Luctkar-Flude & Tyerman 2022; Ros et al. 2014).

The unique aspect of nonlinear neurofeedback is that the feedback signal is adaptive and personalized to your individual brain state and context. Your brain learns to adjust its activity based on this feedback, without requiring conscious effort from you. This approach promotes natural learning and self-regulation, making your brain training safe, effective, and enjoyable.

Nonlinear neurofeedback can offer numerous benefits, including stress and anxiety reduction, enhanced mood, motivation, creativity, memory, attention, and cognitive performance. It also improves resilience and coping skills, enabling individuals to handle different situations effectively. Moreover, nonlinear neurofeedback empowers individuals to take control of their own brain and mental health, fostering self-confidence and self-esteem: