Center for Educational Therapy

Power Programming

Issue: Feb, 1999

Page 1

MENS FITNESS

Continued from page 1

Actor David Brooks, a cast member on the sci-fi TV series Crusade, underwent neurofeedback sessions to help remember his lines, then discovered he was making better use of his time at the gym. "There's a certain level of patience you need for aerobic workouts, and the EEG training is helping me with that." He says his weight training may have improved as well, "just in terms of my level of concentration, being able to hang in there and be patient."

The payoff

As for me, I did about 20 sessions - 16 of beta and four of alpha-theta. So far, I've noticed several benefits: I'm sleeping better, I feel more awake when I get up in the morning and, though I still get stressed out sometimes, my body seems to stay more relaxed. While my physical tennis game hasn't improved, I don't seem to get psyched out as easily in heavy competition. Will it last? Nobody seems to know. One practitioner suggested that I may need to come back for regular follow-ups, but at $50 to $125 per half-hour session, cost is a major consideration.

At this point, there isn't a lot of hard information about the use of neurofeedback for performance, although studies are ongoing. If you do decide to try it, make sure the sessions are run by someone you trust. While just about anyone can learn to use neurofeedback equipment, that doesn't necessarily mean they have the experience to provide the assistance you need. This is especially true with alpha-theta training, which can lead to uncovering buried memories or traumas you'd want a therapist to help you with.

There's a lot more to be discovered about the many factors that affect our moods, our thoughts and our skills. Still, as computers help nudge us into the new millennium, you may end up riding your own brain waves toward inner harmony, peace of mind ... and maybe even a better free throw.

For more information on neurofeedback, contact the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback at 800-477-8892 or AAPB@resource center.com, or the Biofeedback Society of California at 714-848-0022.

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Issue: Feb, 1999