Advances In The Period 3 Approach: Changing Perspectives And Navigating the NeuroCare Matrix ™ 4 Hour Workshop

Valdeane W. Brown, Ph.D. and Susan Cheshire Brown, Ph.D.

Many clinicians are already well aware of the Period 3 Approach to CNS Functional Transformation using Non-Linear Dynamical (NLD) Control Mechanisms. They know the simple yet comprehensive way this paradigm organizes the diversity of techniques available to practicing neurofeedback clinicians. And they know how effective this single approach is across the entire range of disorders and conditions for which neurofeedback is used. Until now constraints in computing platforms and software have limited the full impact of the Period 3 Approach. In particular, each of the periods has been conceptualized as a separate procedure and clinicians have fractionated their clients between them. This has, of course, led to questions concerning the appropriate or optimal sequencing of these transitions ˙ an unfortunate outcome of limitations in computers, not the paradigm. Although highly effective, this quasi-sequenced implementation has diminished the potential of a truly revolutionary approach. With new equipment it is now possible to implement the full protocol concurrently: we call this advance the NeuroCare Matrix ™. Navigating the NeuroCare Matrix ™ involves "real-time" processing of multiple augmentation parameters as well as multiple inhibits. In the past, we could only train SMR and Beta simultaneously and this restriced the clinician to focussing on a single, limiting perspective on the emerging clinical data. Now we can train all of the augments simultaneously, raising several important issues. In this workshop, we will consider these issues and reveal new training approaches that are only now possible. You will learn how to:

Shift perspectives on the matrix to emulate older more limited systems.

Use Joint-Time Frequency Analysis (JTFA) techniques to analyze your data meaningfully and easily.

Use a new improved Frequency Mirror to both monitor ongoing EEG and to threshold and modify filter ranges on the fly.

Maximize clinical effectiveness by navigating the NeuroCare Matrix ™.

 

Goals:

Describe how the NeuroCare Matrix ™ is a superset incorporating all current neurofeedback paradigms

Describe how to use the new improved Frequency Mirror to both monitor ongoing EEG and to threshold and modify filter ranges.

Describe the role of JTFA in analyzing EEG.

 

Questions:

The CNS can only train one augment target at a time, more is too confusing. False

When using the NeuroCare Matrix ™ the major difference in training paradigms centers around whether training occurs with eyes open or closed. True

Using linegraphs to monitor the raw waveform is critically important for clinicians using computerized systems. False

Other systems and approaches represent smaller sets of therapeutic possibilities than the Period 3 Approach and this can be seen easily by shifting between perspectives on the NeuroCare Matrix ™. True

Mean, Standard Deviation and Variance are more appropriate, intuitive and visually comprehensible measures than JTFA. False

Conscious processing on the part of the client, coupled with explicit coaching from the clinician, are essential ingredients of neurofeedback. False

Training is best accomplished when fixed trials and static thresholds are used. False

 

Thursday Lecture

Advances In Peak Performance: A Joint Time-Frequency Walk Through The NeuroCare Matrix(r)

Valdeane W. Brown, Ph.D.

For many in our field, Peak Performance continues to be the pursuit of rarefied states of

specialized excellence at great cost of time, effort and money. The outcomes, while

ostenstively profound, are necessarily limited in scope to world-class atheletes and those

who have enough disposable income to dedicate themselves to idiosyncratic or idealized

achievements.

This old ideal of pursuing Peak Performance continues to dominate the field, and leads to

unfortunate outcomes, as it misses the larger field of application for our emerging

technologies. What is needed is not more hyper-specialized protocols, but a transformation

of a Spiritually Materialistic pursuit of trophies by the few, into increased access to

Optimal Flow and Function for the many. How can this truly revolutionary advance occur in

our field? Two things are needed.

The first is a comprehensive view of neurofeedback -- one that builds upon the non-linear,

self-organizing quality of neurofeedback. This perspective will be presented in the context

of the NeuroCare Matrix(r), which is a new, overarching perspective that actually integrates

all of the current, disparate models into one real-time environment. The NeuroCare Matrix(r)

allows practitioners to multiplex training paradigms concurrently, and not just sequence

them. This is critically important as the fundamental characteristics of "Peak Performers"

is not localized activation, or a particular EEG signature. Rather, the fundamental earmarks

of those who demonstrate Optimal Flow and Function in their lives are resilience and flexibility.

A maximally flexible and resilient neurofeedback environment is one that can encompass all

training approaches, so that the client's CNS can be exercised most effectively.

The second important advance is more thorough data analysis. This is the role played by

Joint Time-Frequency Analyses (JTFA). All current equipment uses either time-based filters

(such as FIRs, IIRs, etc), frequency-based filters (viz, FFTs), or a juxtaposition of these two

approaches. Usually time-based filters are used for active feedback, whereas FFTs are used

for ex post facto spectral analyses. These older approaches have been useful but they are

fundamentally constrained, and this means that important attributes of data are missed.

In contrast, JTFA allows for both time and frequency based filtering to occur in an integrated

fashion -- and this yields some surprising results.

This presentation will present the insights regarding Peak Performance that have emerged

through the use of JTFA within the NeuroCare Matrix(r). Although it may sound surprising,

the most interesting insight is that using the incredibly complex analytic processes known

as JTFA, allows the overall process of neurofeedback to become very simple...even when

pursing Optimal Flow and Function.

NF Foundations Course Talk

 

What Are The Fundamentals of EEG And Clinical Neurofeedback: The Period 3 Approach Provides An Interesting Answer

Brown, Valdeane W., Ph.D.

Neurofeedback continues to evolve rapidly, in fact, it is probably more appropriate to consider the changes in this field to represent a revolution rather than an evolution. In particular, as we approach the Millenium, the question of fundamental training comes even more sharply into focus. What is the set of ideas, techniques, theory and know-how that are essential for providing this life changing technology to others? It is clear that extensive training in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and a host of other fields is not essential to effective practice. Although such approaches continue to be promulgated, their specificity is mutually exclusive, contradictory and even arbitrary; however, despite their patent or obvious distinctions, there is little discernible difference in measurable outcomes among these partitive perspectives. They all do fairly well with their target symptoms, disorders or goals and considerably less well with everything else. Clearly a new paradigm is called for ˙ one that is easily accessible by the average practitioner, that does not require memorization of the useless arcanca of academia, and that offers a simple yet comprehensive approach to clinical neurofeedback. The Period 3 Approach offers just this breakthrough and will be used as the backdrop for introducing you to the remarkable benefits that the field of clinical neurofeedback has to offer to your clients. Based on the insights of Non-Linear, Dynamical (or NLD) theory and sophisticated analyses of specific EEG frequencies and their clinical correlates, the Period 3 Approach is the one approach that can be used across the entire range of disorders that you are likely to encounter in your clinical practice. You will learn:

The EEG correlates of consciousness and its modifications and perturbations

The role that can be played by NLD control mechanisms and how this paradigm simplifies and increases your clinical efficacy and efficiency

How to use static, dynamic and dynamical thresholds

How a more comprehensive filtering schema makes your job easier, while also maximizing the clinical response of the client

How to fractionate clients between states to increase both resilience and flexibilty in their EEG and how this leads their symptoms to just drop away

 

Goals:

To describe the structure and specifics of the Period 3 Approach

To describe the role of resilence and flexibility in symptom resolution

To describe the differences between static, dynamic and dynamical thresholds

To describe the EEG correlates in consciousness

 

Questions:

NLD can accurately represent the process of neurofeedback. True

Dynamic thresholds may work well for inhibits, depending on the equipment and software used. True

Static thresholds can be used to implement dynamical thresholds depending on the equipment and software used. True

"Dredging and Mulling" occurs at 42 Hz. False

The major attractors of disorder are: 3 & 5

Alpha (8-13 Hz) should be dominant in adults who are alert, awake and aware of their surroundings. False

Sterman discovered that 21 Hz augmentation was prophylactic against seizure activity. False

  

 

Interleaving 21 and 40 Hz Training For Clinical Efficacy And Spiritual Exploration: Using The "Mystical Symmetry" for Profound Transformation

Valdeane W. Brown, Ph.D. and Susan Cheshire Brown, Ph.D.

Many clinicians are aware of the power of Alpha-Theta training for promoting remediation of substance abuse, deep personal change, and spiritual growth and transformation. But there are limitations to this approach. One limitation is the use of abreactive practices as an adjunct. Although potentially helpful, abreactive excursions into profound emotionality can be deeply problematic unless skillfully handled by the clinician; moreover, at best they are always uncomfortable as well as directly painful and disruptiv, more usually, for the client. The good news is that these excursions can be completely eliminated through the effective use of multiple, bilateral inhibits a la the Period 3 Approach. The even better news is that interleaving 21 & 40 Hz bilateral augments, can be even more powerful, direct, rejuvenative and spiritually uplifting, without subjecting clients to unnecessary pain or suffering. These two augment targets are unique in the field. Although 40 Hz training has been used intermittently since its identifications in the 60s, equipment limitations have greatly constrained its clinical usefulness. This target has simply been too fast and too close to 60 Hz to be accurately registered by older, slower and less resilient amplifiers and filtering schemas. The other augment target, 21 Hz, has only come into relative prominence in the last few years. Discovered serendipitously by the presenters, it has demonstrated astounding effects up and down the entire spectrum (from 2-42 Hz) across the range of disorders that respond to Neurofeedback. Used together in conjunction with appropriate, mulipile, bilateral inhibits, these augments form a symmetry pair: the effect produced by one target of this pair is balanced by training the other. In general, increasing access to 21 Hz leads to a rippling and loosening up and down the entire spectrum. From a Non-Linear, Dynamical perspective, this behavior results in a disrupting of tightly held attractors: most notably excursions at 3 and 5 Hz and elevations at 10 Hz with eyes open. Augmenting 40 Hz has a reciprocal effect, leading to a reintegrating, recrystallizing or renormalizing (ie a tightening up or coming togeher) of the entire spectrum as the system seeks its new level of autopoetic self-regulation. Interestingly, however, the specific valences of the effects of 21 and 40 Hz can be reversed. We call the effects of this combination of augments s"Mystical Symmetry" and it is one of our major training paradigms. In this presentation we will describe this process in detail and, through the use of clinical vignettes and data, outline how to use the Mystical Symmetry of 21 and 40 Hz to allow your clients to access profoundly transformative states.

 

 

Interleaving 21 and 40 Hz Training For Clinical Efficacy And Spiritual Exploration: Using The "Mystical Symmetry" for Profound Transformation

Valdeane W. Brown, Ph.D. and Susan Cheshire Brown, Ph.D.

Many clinicians are aware of the power of Alpha-Theta training for promoting remediation of substance abuse, deep personal change, and spiritual growth and transformation. But there are limitations to this approach. One limitation is the use of abreactive practices as an adjunct. Although potentially helpful, abreactive excursions into profound emotionality can be deeply problematic unless skillfully handled by the clinician; moreover, at best they are always uncomfortable as well as directly painful and disruptiv, more usually, for the client. The good news is that these excursions can be completely eliminated through the effective use of multiple, bilateral inhibits a la the Period 3 Approach. The even better news is that interleaving 21 & 40 Hz bilateral augments, can be even more powerful, direct, rejuvenative and spiritually uplifting, without subjecting clients to unnecessary pain or suffering. These two augment targets are unique in the field. Although 40 Hz training has been used intermittently since its identifications in the 60s, equipment limitations have greatly constrained its clinical usefulness. This target has simply been too fast and too close to 60 Hz to be accurately registered by older, slower and less resilient amplifiers and filtering schemas. The other augment target, 21 Hz, has only come into relative prominence in the last few years. Discovered serendipitously by the presenters, it has demonstrated astounding effects up and down the entire spectrum (from 2-42 Hz) across the range of disorders that respond to Neurofeedback. Used together in conjunction with appropriate, mulipile, bilateral inhibits, these augments form a symmetry pair: the effect produced by one target of this pair is balanced by training the other. In general, increasing access to 21 Hz leads to a rippling and loosening up and down the entire spectrum. From a Non-Linear, Dynamical perspective, this behavior results in a disrupting of tightly held attractors: most notably excursions at 3 and 5 Hz and elevations at 10 Hz with eyes open. Augmenting 40 Hz has a reciprocal effect, leading to a reintegrating, recrystallizing or renormalizing (ie a tightening up or coming togeher) of the entire spectrum as the system seeks its new level of autopoetic self-regulation. Interestingly, however, the specific valences of the effects of 21 and 40 Hz can be reversed. We call the effects of this combination of augments s"Mystical Symmetry" and it is one of our major training paradigms. In this presentation we will describe this process in detail and, through the use of clinical vignettes and data, outline how to use the Mystical Symmetry of 21 and 40 Hz to allow your clients to access profoundly transformative states.

 

 

 

Panel: EEG, Neurofeedback, And Non-Linear, Dynamical Approaches: Explorations Into The Chaos At The Cutting Edge Of Clinical Practice

Valdeane W. Brown, Ph.D., Tom Collura, Jay Gunkleman, Evelyn Soehner, M.A.

Data Analysis has been a continuing issue in the rapidly emerging field of Neurofeedback. Fundamental questions concerning the characteristics of the EEG signal itself directly affect equipment manufacturers, researchers and clinicians. And these questions can not be avoided any longer ˙ with the easy availability of advanced computing platforms and sophisticated statistical packages, the average practitioner can reasonably address these concerns within the confines of his/her own office. In this panel we will discuss many of the current issues concerning the role that Non-Linear, Dynamical or NLD approaches to data analysis may play in the field of Neurofeedback. Chaos theory, as these approaches are also known, has been applied successfully to many other scientific domains including biology, to economics, hydraulics, aerodynamics, cognitive science, meteorology. In fact, virtually every other field of inquiry has benefited greatly from the insights and techniques afforded by this revolutionary and essentially interdisciplinary approach to scientific inquiry. The Period 3 Approach is explicitly based on these ideas and it has been successfully applied to clinical Neurofeedback across the range of disorders; however, other approaches have been used to explain the training outcomes demonstrated by effective Neurofeedback. Thus, there is a clear difference in paradigm implied by a shift to NLD or Chaos Theory and the question really is: Is there any reason to make this shift in paradigm? Some of the other questions to be addressed by this panel include:

Is EEG stationary or non-stationary and what are the implications of this difference?

What are the differences between linear, non-linear and random processes and which best fits the data we see with EEG?

If EEG can be easily contaminated by artifact, and in fact looks like rough sinusoidal waves, isn’t it just noise?

What is the significance of signal to noise ratio in EEG and what techniques are available to alter it to make our data acquisition more meaningful?

What value does NLD analysis add to Neurofeedback? And what is the cost of that value? Is it worth the effort?

What is the value of traditional linear statistics in analyzing EEG?

How can non-linear effects be used to provide "real-time" feedback to client

 

Panel: EEG, Neurofeedback, And Non-Linear, Dynamical Approaches: Explorations Into The Chaos At The Cutting Edge Of Clinical Practice

Valdeane W. Brown, Ph.D., Tom Collura, Jay Gunkleman, Evelyn Soehner, M.A.

Data Analysis has been a continuing issue in the rapidly emerging field of Neurofeedback. Fundamental questions concerning the characteristics of the EEG signal itself directly affect equipment manufacturers, researchers and clinicians. And these questions can not be avoided any longer ˙ with the easy availability of advanced computing platforms and sophisticated statistical packages, the average practitioner can reasonably address these concerns within the confines of his/her own office. In this panel we will discuss many of the current issues concerning the role that Non-Linear, Dynamical or NLD approaches to data analysis may play in the field of Neurofeedback. Chaos theory, as these approaches are also known, has been applied successfully to many other scientific domains including biology, to economics, hydraulics, aerodynamics, cognitive science, meteorology. In fact, virtually every other field of inquiry has benefited greatly from the insights and techniques afforded by this revolutionary and essentially interdisciplinary approach to scientific inquiry. The Period 3 Approach is explicitly based on these ideas and it has been successfully applied to clinical Neurofeedback across the range of disorders; however, other approaches have been used to explain the training outcomes demonstrated by effective Neurofeedback. Thus, there is a clear difference in paradigm implied by a shift to NLD or Chaos Theory and the question really is: Is there any reason to make this shift in paradigm? Some of the other questions to be addressed by this panel include:

Is EEG stationary or non-stationary and what are the implications of this difference?

What are the differences between linear, non-linear and random processes and which best fits the data we see with EEG?

If EEG can be easily contaminated by artifact, and in fact looks like rough sinusoidal waves, isn’t it just noise?

What is the significance of signal to noise ratio in EEG and what techniques are available to alter it to make our data acquisition more meaningful?

What value does NLD analysis add to Neurofeedback? And what is the cost of that value? Is it worth the effort?

What is the value of traditional linear statistics in analyzing EEG?

How can non-linear effects be used to provide "real-time" feedback to client

 

Neurofeedback Foundations course: 1 hr on Alpha Theta traiing and the Penniston protocol

Tom Budzynski

 

Academic Performance Enhancement

Tom Budzynski

 

WS2 Neurofeedback and AVS in Stroke, Head Injury, and Cognitive Deficits in the Elderly

Tom Budzynski

 

Brain Optimizing Nutrients & Herbs WS2

Hyla Cass, M.D.

www.cassmd.com

Specific supplement can be used for enhancing mood, memory, and mental performance, and to forestall aging-induced deterioration of mental functioning. These vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs are also useful in treating such conditions as depression, anxiety, and ADD, where they correct the underlying metabolic imbalances.

These nutrients may be combined with neurofeedback for optimal results.

Goals: To inform participants about the use of specific supplements for :

1. enhancing mood, memory and overall mental functioning.

2. protection of the aging brain

3. correcting the metabolic imbalances underlying many common psychiatric conditions

 

Don't Accept Me As I Am - help me to reach my optimal functioning

Sally Church

 

WS2 Mediation and Re-mediation of Cognitive Functioning Feuerstein's Theory:

Sally Church

 

 

Is There a Self in Self-regulation?

Al Collins, Ph.D.

 

Psychology, biofeedback, and specifically neurofeedback are concerned with increasing and enhancing self control and self regulation. A number of disputed issues in neurofeedback turn on the question of how this "self" is to be understood. For instance, the question of speed. Does it matter how fast feedback is beyond the limit required for conscious recognition of the feedback signal's meaning? Implicit here may be the notion that an inner controlling self must register the significance of the feedback in order to learn from it. Neurologically, this might translate into the idea that the visual or auditory feedback signal, along with information about somatosensory cortical activity (if this is the area where the electrodes are placed), must reach the prefrontal cortex to be associated, interpreted, and then acted on via a return message to the somatosensory cortex to do more or less of what it was just doing. The assumption might be that an executive self lives in the prefrontal cortex and that self regulation means regulation by this executive.

Most neurofeedback theories seem to follow something like the above scenario. But not all, and in fact many other possibilities would seem to exist. What if it is the somatosensory cortex where feedback about its state (along with visual/auditory signals) is processed? Or could it be the visual cortex, which is constantly monitoring the just-past state of the somatosensory areas along with its own current state? This might imply that faster feedback could be useful. The ROSHI, Margaret Ayres, and other approaches seem to believe something like this is going on in neurofeedback. But what kind of "self" can we imagine in the visual association cortex? Who is doing the self controlling then?

Going further, what if it is the whole state of the brain that is the "self" in self regulation? In this case, even greater delays might be desirable, in order for this self to catch up with its various states, coherences and discontinuities, etc., before processing the rewarding or inhibitory signal.

Speed is only an example. More generally, I will suggest that the kind of "self" involved in self control influences how brain function and neurofeedback is understood and what protocols are thought to be effective. I will briefly survey some Western and Eastern psychological ideas on the self to guide the analysis.

Goals: To increase awareness that our understanding of what the "self" is influences our theories and practice of neurofeedback and to illustrate this with a few examples.

 

WS2 Buddhism, the Yogic Self, and Neurofeedback

Al Collins, Ph.D.

Neurofeedback, like all biofeedback, is a technology of self regulation. The word "self" in this definition is crucial in understanding what neurofeedback is. The kind of self that is understood to be doing the regulating (or being regulated) differs from one theory of neurofeedback to another. I will propose a taxonomy of neurofeedback theories based on how they understand the self and its role in the process. Because the deepest and most accurate analysis of the self has been done in the Indian and Chinese psychologies of bondage and self realization, I will use these ideas as a basic grid or framework for understanding the self's place in neurofeedback. Western psychological theories of the self will also be briefly reviewed, including Bandura's self efficacy theory, Rogers' and Gendlin's anti-self theories, Jung's distinction between ego and self, and Kohut's biploar self theory. Finally, I will apply Western and Eastern self ideas to the controversy over whether the brain, and therefore neurofeedback, is "linear" or "chaotic."

There are at least three types of self in neurofeedback theories:

1. Self as ego (gaining self efficacy or self control)

2. Self as witness (learning to act while not claiming the "fruits" of action)

3. Self as no-self (reorganization outside self awareness)

In yogic and Buddhist terms, these correspond to the Sanskrit words ahamkara, Purusa, and Buddha. We will discuss these concepts and apply them. At this point I believe that most neurofeedback based on QEEG, decreasing theta/beta ratios, and frontal lobe mastery falls into the self as ego category. Val Brown's and Len Ochs' theories, and perhaps ROSHI, seem to fall into the self as no-self group. Jeff Carmen's HEG, possibly ROSHI, and Anna Wise's Mind Mirror seem to belong in the self as witness category. I will discuss the role of the frontal lobes (especially left prefrontal) as the locus of the self (ego, possibly witness) and contrast this with the "global synchrony" no-self ideas that are not interested in localization and in fact implicitly subordinate the self to a wider organization. It is the no-self perspective that most naturally aligns itself with chaos theory and nonlinearity of the nervous system and neurotherapy.

Goals: To clarify what "self regulation" means in neurofeedback (and biofeedback generally) and to make explicit the implications that different understandings of "self" have for theories and practice of neurofeedback.

 

 

WS2 Foundations and Applications of Steady-State Visual Evoked Potentials

Thomas F. Collura, Ph.D., P.E.

President, BrainMaster Technologies, Inc.

This workshop will provide a basic understanding of the anatomy, physiology, and psychology of steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) measurements, and their applications in biofeedback. It will begin with a review of the basic science of the averaged visual evoked potential (AVEP), how it is produced, and its major components. There will be a brief discussion of how the various components of the AVEP relate to psychological variables in general, and attention in particular. The relationship between the AVEP and the SSVEP will be described, which will provide a basis for understanding how the SSVEP may be used for diagnostics, and in biofeedback applications. There will be a review of

experimental results which give insight into the relationship between SSVEP measurements and clinical conditions such as ADD/ADHD and autism. There will also be a demonstration of SSVEP measurement using filters synchronized to the visual stimulation. This workshop should allow the participant to better understand this emerging modality, and to pursue possible applications in the diagnostic and clinical setting.

 

Steady-State Evoked Potentials as a Biofeedback Modality

Thomas F. Collura, Ph.D., P.E.

President, BrainMaster Technologies, Inc.

Steady-state evoked potentials provide a rapid, accurate indication of the response of the human sensory and perceptual system to an applied stimulus.

A wide range of stimuli may be employed, above and beyond traditional photostimulators and LED goggles. These may include novel computer

displays and specially lighted printed material. By using appropriate signal processing techniques, it is possible to measure brain responses in real-time and to use them for the assessment and training of attention, alertness, and related variables. With an understanding of anatomy and physiology, it is possible to design biofeedback protocols that measure and train specific brain pathways and processes. This has nothing to do with "entraining" brain wave frequencies, and is not based upon any specific relationship with endogenous brain rhythms. Recording and training are performed based upon consideration of the relevant anatomical pathways and physiological processes. For example, visual attention can be trained by recording at occipital or parietal sites, and using stimulation and recording parameters based upon the underlying neurophysiology. This talk will present details of the pertinent anatomy and physiology, as well as sample data that illustrate the application of this method in a setting that is directed toward the assessment and training of short-term variations in visual attention.

 

Effects of two flower essences on high intensity environmental stimulation and EMF.

Jeffrey Cram

Summary of Proposal: A scientific presentation is given which examines the effects of flower essences on the stress response. Certain flower essences are thought to have an antidoting effect on environmental over stimulation. This study compared the effects of two flower essence formulas to a placebo control group during stimulation of a high intensity fluorescent. The effects were measured on a 19 channel qEEG, which demonstrated the attenuation of frontal Beta activity (stress response) when flower essences were used. This study lends credence to the use of "essences" in the treatment and prevention of stress related disorders.

 

Love is a Way of Paying Attention

Les Fehmi and Susan Shor

A stockbroker, viewing his stock picks and talking to his clients in paying attention. A musician playing jazz is paying attention. An athlete who is immersed in his sport is paying attention. Someone who experiences anger or sadness is paying attention.

All of these forms of attention are important in our everyday lives. Love seems to most of us to be one of the more fleeting states of mind. Is it because we don’t bring the appropriate forms of attention to support the experience of love?

 

Objectives:

-discuss various forms of attention according to a quadrant model

-to illustrate the appropriateness of the various forms of attention in each of the quadrants for various human activities

-to recommend an inclusive form of attention that engenders compassion and love.

WS4 Managing Self, Managing awareness ; realizing your true nature through Attention Training.

Les Fehmi

One can spend a life searching for one’s true nature. One can miss altogether the nature of the searcher. Of all the variables associated with the searcher, the way he attends-- the attention he brings to the search --is most critical. If he goes chasing his true nature with a narrow focused atention, he’ll never get to realize other forms of attention, which is the object of the search. The object of the search is to realize his self. but Self is a composite of a multiplicity of forms of attention.

The participant will be exposed to various parameters of attention and will be guided through experiential exercises which enable participants to actually experience forms of attention discussed in the didactic part of the lecture. Attentional flexibility and its applications to personal and clinical settings will be discussed.

Objectives:

-didactic and experiential understanding and realization of various forms of attention according to a quadrant model

-to illustrate the relationship of the various forms of attention in the formation and search for self.

-learn practical exercises which can be used or taught to clients for daily use in practicing attentional flexibility

 

WS2 Integration of Psychdynamic Psychotherapy & Neurofeedback

Sebern F. Fisher, MA, BCIA

In most cases neurofeedback speeds recovery from even profound psychological and behavioral disorders. It has not obviated the need for

psychotherapy. It has, however, redefined the endeavor, most profoundly, perhaps, for the psychodynamic therapist.

Among the issues to be addressed are transition, for both therapist and patient, from psychotherapy to psychotherapy with neurofeedback, transference, the role of the therapist, therapist's use of self, and the clinical consequences of rapid change.

Objectives:

Participants will leave with an overview of the complexities of the integration of neurofeedback and psychotherapy.

Participants will have models for effective integration of neurofeedback and psychotherapy.

 

Reactive Attachment Disorder

Sebern Fisher

 

Reiability & Validity of within Subject QEEG measures for predicting performance in a simple cognitive task

Jon Frederick

 

WS2 "breath-walk" - a powerful additional tool for alpha/theta training treating e. g. drug and drug-like addictions

Uwe Gerlach

We`ll show you how to do "breath-walk" during the workshop. For this we first tell you the important details in the workshop room, Ramada hotel. We install a 1-channel EEG measurement, probably we use a Lexicor NRS-2D. One of the participants is chosen to be measured on the 1-channel EEG before and immediately after breath-walk exercise. After her/his brainwaves are measured and documented, we leave and do an exercise in the region surrounding the hotel through silent streets for half an hour. Participants should be in a good and healthy condition.

We need a rough brainwave-diagnosis: the relative amplitudes of the spectral bands Theta, Alpha, SMR, Low and Hi-Beta. The data of both measurements - each recorded for five minutes - are saved and the bargraph results can be shown on the PC screen and compared with each other.

"breath-walk" is done the following way:

1) Let me show you how to walk, follow my way to do it, "pace" me, you know what I mean from NLP knowledge. After you have my pace, watch and listen to my breath, do it the same way.

2) the air should be in- and exhaled with permanent consciousness "totally" til the lungs are naturally felt fully or emptily, the breathing rhythm dominated by the walking rhythm. The latter should go into the rhythm of a march.

3) The center of consciousness gradually falls down to the "hara". The two types of breathing (chest and diaphragm) should be used simultaneously.

4) There is no conversation between therapist and client(s) except the necessary communications.

5) In general the training must take place in a lonely nature (park, field or wood) region. Be aware of the fact that in pure nature we are surrounded by the dominant frequency 7.8 Hertz which facilitates the desired crossing of thresholds of normal consciousness.

6) People who don`t take part, are not "present", no contact recommended.

7) No extra climbing, because the superfluous oxygen is needed for "crossing the threshold of normal consciousness".

8) Half an hour later we return to our workshop room. We get and collect impressions about what experiences we went through. We discuss it.

9) Immediately after return we measure our person from above on the 1-channel EEG. If we are lucky, this person has had intense experiences, so we should see marked differences of the relative spectral amplitudes to those before the exercise.

Be aware of the fact that this is only the beginning of a training. Nevertheless some of you already succeeded in jumping into another reality, I suppose a vivid, relaxed and sensual intense reality which is worthwile to be explored more often. Maybe some of you go through some strange, may even be anxious moments. Don`t worry that`s natural, you know as a therapist that anxiousness is always accompanying experiences on a new territory.

As a therapist you should know some psychological facts how this method works and initiates the healing process - we`ll talk about it in detail during the workshop:

- similar to our dreamworld during sleep the reality we enter after passing the threshold is totally different from our normal world. This fact is not evident for beginners, but the altered consciousness has ist own laws which shouldn`t be confused with normal laws. We feel more vivid, it is a drug-like world, but we experience ourselves very vital, totally positive and gay. The usual defence mechanisms are weakened - if somebody is phobic she/he may come near traumatic events; now the intensity of the exercise should be reduced; ask the person whether she/he is able to continue or better sit down and make a pause; continue as soon as possible - unlike the strategy in Stan Grofs holotropic breathwork it is not the definite goal to go deeply into the abreactions; it may happen or not; let the client decide

- more important is to repeat the training several times a week during a period of several months; maybe you know that it is difficult to remember the insights gained in an altered state of consciousness and to transport its logic into the normal mind; an often repeated training helps to fix the insights for use in usual reality

- you as a skilled therapist should know how to interpret dreamlife; if there are few abreactions, an amount of the psychic energy of the healing process goes into dreamlife; here the classical psychoanalytic therapy helps a lot; as the defence mechanisms are weakened, the problems of resistance are of minor importance; be aware of the phenomena of psychological transfer!!

Brief bio - Dr. Uwe Gerlach, Germany:

Today I'm 55 years old, my profession formerly was physicist. My normal career was in the field of materials science. I did a lot of scientific research and worked many years as a materials engineer.

My second career began in the early 80's with a severe sickness consisting of a deep depression and phobias. I cured them with the aid of bodily centered psychotherapy (holotropic breathwork) and two years of daily deep relaxation training. The relaxation methods were breathwork, floatation tank and sauna. In addition to psychotherapy I experienced transpersonal phenomena and spiritual transformation similar to descriptions of Stanislav Grof.

Since 1990 I am a pioneering part of the Megabrain movement in Germany. I wrote two books around these topics and became an expert of brain technology. From 1991 til today, I offer mental training workshops assisted by light and sound technology. Many workshops take place

in great holiday clubs. In the past four years I became interested in neurofeedback and studied its main structure and its actual state-of-the-art. Four years ago I founded my own company "info-brain"

in collaboration with medical doctors and trainers experienced in light and sound technology. In 98 I wrote a third book about the whole field of neurofeedback dedicated to lay people.

 

 

Transformations of Consciousness: Spiritual Milestones

Rhonda Greenberg

This presentation will address how to expand dimensions of consciousness and facilitate spiritual growth in everyday psychotherapy. Learn how to effectively support, explore, and effectively use the spiritual transformative techniques and recognize the phases of transformational change. Inner transformation requires one to feel keenly and have a sheer experience of the aspects of self that we hold back and then, begin to discover the truths about ourselves. The integration of the dimensions of the soul into our healing work helps individuals to emerge from the dark nights with a inner knowledge that deepens and enriches ones' life. Release of emotional distress and all kinds of psychological problems can be obtained through traditional psychotherapies and the new energy psychotherapies.

Learn how to employ these techniques in the service of growth, healing and optimal wellness.

Objectives:

1. Understand the major theoretical paradigms that describe the developmental milestones of spiritual and transformational growth.

2. Learn how psychotherapy can support spiritual emergence in order to help the client achieve optimal inner healing and performance goals.

3. Introduction to the new energy meridien-based therapies and their integration of these techniques with the more classic psychotherapies.

 

 

Optimal Functioning & QEEG 30 minutes

Jay Gunkelman

The concept of optimal functioning has been one which has had many protocols designed to create such a state. These protocols have included many one-size-fits-all fixed state protocols, such as the frontal lobe generalized suppression or the varieties of alpha based protocols. There are others which are a universally applied protocols with multiple steps, from the two chanell work of Anna Wise, to the Chaos theory expounding works of Val Brown.

I will attempt to show the use of the qEEG to customize the NF intervention to the individuals own EEG profile to optimize the effect desired by the client, rather than accepting these more commonly expounded neurofeedback approaches to optimal functioning. The arbitrary separation between clinical treatment and optimal functioning will be discussed. Individual cases will be reviewed.

This is not a "weekend wonder" (one seminar gets you into a practice) approach, but requires a depth understanding of the brain's physiological systems and their EEG/qEEG signatures. The seductive nature of the less intellectually taxing interventions will become obvious. A serious long term committment to the field is required to attain independent mastry of the techniques, but with the modern information technologies these advanced interventions do not have to be done independently.

 

Drug/EEG interactions 30 min

Jay Gunkelman-

A review of the literature in this area will show a large divergence between the conclusions of the various EEG based drug effect papers regarding the effect on the EEG of various pharmaco-therapeutic medications as well as the effects of street drugs and even environmental toxins.

These various studies use a variety of definitions for the EEG bands, use a variety of doses, have subjects in a variety of conditions and intermix clinical populations with normals. The analysis of the EEG is done with visual inspection, spectral analysis, period analysis, fourier analysis and may be done quantitatively or qualitatively.

A summary of these studies with the convergent synthesis of these data will be presented. A detailed handout of these summaries will be available.

 

Autism

 

Jay Gunkelman

The neurological communities knowledge of this spectrum of conditions properly refered to as Autistic Spectrum Disorder are based on clinical case series. The larger studies are characterized by an "N" of 7 or less.

This spectrum disorder ranges from the more minor presentation of Asperger's Autism to the more severe presentations used to initially characterize the disorder neurologically. The SPECT and MRI studies point to the cingulate and the limbic system as the locus of the neurological disturbances.

I will show case studies with Autistic subjects from our developing case series. The qEEG characteristics which have been shown to be problematic in NF will be discussed.

 

Foundations of QEEG for Neurofeedback 1.5 hrs

Jay Gunkelman,

The physiological substrate of the qEEG will be reviewed quickly (approximately 30 minutes). This will include subcortical generators, cortical topography and the cortico-cortico tracts.

Based on this model of the brain's systems, the qEEG patterns associated with ADD/ADHD, LD, Trauma, OCD/ODD and Depression will be reviewed while discussing the definitions of the qEEG terms seen. The NF interventions for these pattewrns will be discussed. A handout summarizing the generalized types of profiles will be provided.

 

 

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WS2 EEG/qEEG and Neurofeedback with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Jay Gunkelman

The number of cases comprising the larger neurological studies of Autistic Spectrum Disorder seldom reaches an "N" of N=7. This has led to an under-characterization of the spectrum, based on too small a sample.

There is a growing body of cases where those diagnosed with this spectrum have been studied with the EEG/qEEG. Already there is evidence of the varied nature of the EEG profiles within the group.

There are characteristics of the qEEG which support the findings seen in the neurological communities research; the involvement of the limbic structures

and the cingulate.

One profile which has implications for NF beta and SMR training will be shown. This profile has en excess of faster activity, with very severe outcome if beta or SMR is used. The sensitivity of these cases and the efficacy of a broad band beta suppress protocol is discussed.

Other general findings of this growing case series will be discussed, with some of the slower profiles demonstrated with case reviews.

 

2 hr workshop:  QEEG Case Review, with NF Protocol Discussion.

Jay Gunkelman

NOTE: Limited Attendance Workshop (maximum 10, with up to 8 cases reviewed)

You can have an affordable consult, while sitting in on the analysis of other cases. Seeing the qEEG analyzed may help advance the understanding of the qEEG's clinical utility in your practice.

This workshop will be open to those who have cases they need reviewed. Cases should be brought on transparencies. Please be sure to bring these without

patient identifiers, or with a permission signed by the patient for it's review. Paper presentations of cases will be given lower priority, but may be used if the group is small enough to be practical.

In the absence of cases brought in, cases of epilepsy, OCD, trauma etc, will be provided, as well as discussion on brain physiology and the qEEG patterns seen clinically. Questions and discussion of cases (without data present) may also be requested.

A handout showing general qEEG patterns and their NF interventions will be available.

 

 

Soma Sound: The Voice of Memory

Jane Gutman

An introduction to the "memory body," both as the embodiment of cellular

history and the expression of your mental/physical/emotional and spiritual

experience.

Meet an ancient practice that will re-align the collection of your bodies,

i.e. mental, physical, emotional, spiritual and memory bodies. This process

addresses the cellular memory system. It is a system that allows you to

access the library of memories that has accumulated from the moment of

conception to the present. Through a combination of energy balancing, breath

and "sounding" you will begin the process of gently releasing the material

that has collected in the cells and tissues of your system. As you begin to

address this collection you will allow the accumulated material to clear and

release.

The Soma Sound™ experience can be a catalyst for release, for clarity, for

re-shaping the cellular structure. As this structure is re-formed, at the

level of the conscious experience, we are able to establish new thought form,

new insight, new perception to the conditions that have formed the blueprint

for our life experiences.

Sounding is profound in its form and in its energetic structure. Know that

in practice and in principle, it will serve as a bridge to wholeness and to

holiness. Sit in the arms of its Light. Integrate the concept of memory as

a driving factor in the current status of our life and our health.

All healing includes the "surrendering" of old ways… Surrendering what is

stored in memory, surrendering what is held in the cells and tissues, and

releasing thoughts and behaviors that direct us away from the full expression

of perfect health and joy. Soma Sound™ is one system that assists the

mind/body/spirit as it journeys to wellness and wholeness.

An array of feelings and sensations are experienced as you "sound" out this

material: Joy, sorrow, fatigue, clarity, heaviness, lightness, despair,

inner strength are among the feelings and sensations others have reported as

they express the inner collection of grief and distress. Material has

collected throughout your life and so it is usual to experience a sense of

exhaustion and exhilaration. Both are frequently reported

Your system will actually prioritize material and will "select" the most

appropriate material to release. The body/mind/spirit, in its innate wisdom

will release only that which is within the range of your comfort and safety.

Know that as you move into the core of your pain, cleansing and healing will

come forth and your holy and whole self will emerge. This will come

incrementally for some and transformationally for others.

The influence of memory will reveal itself to both the scientific and healing

communities as we are directed to the resolution of lifelong wounds.

Jane Guttman © 2000

760 323-0307

GiftJGDC@aol.com

 

Jane Guttman

The Gift Wrapped in Sorrow

Soma Sound: The Voice of Memory

Channel for Athelia: The Unseen Healer

"For many, the future is blind without a sight of the past."

Judge Wade S. Weatherford, Jr.

 

 

The Unseen Healer: Listen for the Higher Voice

Jane Gutman

Explore the healing presence of spirit guides/teachers as profound models and directors to the physician within, your inner healer. Awaken to the guidance of these "unseen healers" and be propelled toward a higher vibratory energetic experience. Listen to/for the "higher voice," a transforming communication that will assist you in bridging the space between your mindbody experience and that of the energetic, spiritual expression; bringing a poignant integration of mind/body/spirit.

Jane Guttman, D.C. will share her personal introduction with Athelia, an eloquent, powerful, learned spirit master. She has joined Jane as an extraordinary voice in speaking to the wounded being and the powerful master that each one is. Athelia has come as a gifted, articulate, wise, tender, gracious healer to assist in our quests for healing and wholeness. Her guidance is remarkably aligned with our inner truth and outer expression.

Share in this stirring opportunity to explore the path to your spirit guide, to the higher vibration that can bring you to the door of mindful clarity and true transformation.

 

Neurofeedback Equipment Investigations

Robert Hamilton & Timothy Barnes

What information that is available on the characteristics of neurofeedback equipment varies greatly from instrument to instrument. This presentation is a report on a series of planned and ongoing studies to investigate the characteristics of neurofeedback equipment. Although these initial pilot studies are quite limited their intent is to spur interest in evaluations of equipment characteristics. Ideally studies like these should: 1) Serve as an independent review of equipment characteristics, 2) Validate the reliability and replicability of equipment measurements and constructs, 3) Provide information for use in considering various equipment used in neurotherapy research and publications, and 4) Provide information to manufacturers about the state of the field.

Studies completed and presented herein include: a look at the replicability of the Focus Technology main computer boards and software, a look at the accuracy and constraints of percent feedback and scores using the Focus 1000, and an evaluation of two complete Focus systems using the same EEG input. Note: Focus was chosen not because of perceived faults, but merely for convenience (there were two in adjacent rooms).

It is encouraging that initial outcomes indicate that the equipment is performing as designed. However, it just the beginning of equipment studies and considerable more investigations remain to be done.

 

 

ws2

 

Accelerated Spiritual Growth Through The Advanced Biocybernaut Process

James Hardt

The Biocybernaut Training Process is a high tech intensive vision quest that evokes transformation of personality and accelerates spiritual growth.

Participants will learn the required technology and be introduced to the methods for the experiential application of this advanced brain energy training.

The means of achieiving spiritual growth are well known: quieting the mind, stilling the internal dialogues, and opening our hearts. The benefits of the ancient wisdom are made virbantly real and personal in your life when you actually quiet your mind and open your heart. But exhortation and meditation are both very slow routes to these attainments. We know that technoogy speeds things up, and now there is an optimized technology for spiritual growth that assists you in rapidly quieting your mind, stilling your internal dialogues, and opening your heart. This powerful technology and method offers many of the attainments of 20 to 40 years of meditation in a 7-day brain energy feedback intensive. Joy, peace, love, and exhilaration are the natural results of the Biocybernaut Training Process along with increased creativity, happiness, motivation, and possibily also significant increases in IQ.

Information about the brain energy patterns underlying halos, the perception of astral plane beings (e.g. angels), forgiveness, happiness and mind skills such as creativity, IQ, and ESP will be discussed. When the underlying brain energy patterns are known, training the associated mind skills becomes easy with Biocybernaut technology.

Workshop Objectives:

1. Participants will identify a causal relationship between changes in brain energy patterns and changes in dimensions of personality.

2. Participants will identify the relationships between effective forgiveness and non-attachment and how these contribute to opening the heart and quieting the mind.

3. Participants will describe the experiential research data linking

spiritual growth to learned changes in brain energy patterns.

4. Participants will distinguish between effective and ineffective feedback technologies.

5. Participants will describe the requirements of effective feedback

methodologies.

 

Sat. Talk

 

ADD: There is a Light at the End of the Tunnel

Thom Hartmann

In his six books on attention deficit disorder, best-selling author Thom Hartmann has characterized ADD as scanning or "Hunter" traits, which can present a problem for children and adults living in a world taken over by "Farmers." In this inspiring and informative presentation, Hartmann shares ADD Success stories with the audience, re-frames ADD in a way that is useful and therapeutic, and provides specific suggestions and strategies for success with ADD. Thom Hartmann gives adults and children with ADD an opportunity to recapture their self-esteem and take control of their lives.

 

Two hour workshop

 

Understanding ADD: at Work; at Home; at School

Thom Hartmann

In this 2 hour workshop Thom Hartmann gives adults and children with ADD an opportunity to recapture their self-esteem and take control of their lives. Using NLP and specific techniques you will learn to disperse old disturbing memories, buried emotions and other mental blocks so they can be replaced with new, empowering points of view.

Topics include:

*Understanding ADD and it's driving mechanisms; how to reinvent schools, work and home life.

*How to enhance communication and "read" another person.

*How and when traditional therapy can wound and how to heal instead.

 

2 hour Presentation/Workshop

 

Waking Up To Personal and Global Transformation

In this passionate yet thoroughly researched presentation, author Thom Hartmann proposes that the only lasting solution to the crisis we face in to relearn the lessons of out ancient ancestors--who lived sustainably for thousands of generations. When you touch this new yet older way of seeing the world and hearing the voice of all life, you will discover that you, personally, hold the power of personal and planetary transformation.

 

Fri. Talk:

 

Edge of God: The Psychology of Transformation

Thom will touch on how western thinking legends and myths have caused global problems and what we can do about it. Individual actions and changes in conciousness -- lessons we can learn from ancient cultures -- can save the world from impending ecological and cultural crises. Touching that place where the survival of humanity may be found is the focus of this workshop.

Find out about:

* Understanding responsibility for yourself and your actions: how to regain your personal power

* Rediscovering love in yourself, others, and the divine

* How to recreate community wherever you are

* Discover Self-Actualization is possible both individually and culturally

 

 

Bio

Thom Hartmann is an award-winning best-selling author, international lecturer, teacher, and psychotherapist. His books have been written about in Time magazine, the Wall Street Journal and numerous radio and TV shows including "All Things Considered." A former journalist and editor, he lives in Vermont with his wife, Louise. His most recent books are Healing ADD and The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight.

CV for Thom Hartmann

Thom Hartmann, a psychotherapist, is also an internationally known speaker on psychotherapy and communications, an author, and an innovator in the fields of psychiatry, ecology, and the intersection of spiritual and cultural transformation.

Hartmann is the award-winning, best-selling author of nine books currently in print (and two more to be released in 1999). He is the former executive director of a residential treatment program for emotionally disturbed and abused children, and has helped set up and support hospitals, famine relief programs, schools, and communities for orphaned or blind children on five continents. Rostered with the State of Vermont as a psychotherapist, he was the originator of the revolutionary "Hunter/Farmer Hypothesis" to understand the psychiatric condition known as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). He also synthesized the Younger/Older Culture model for describing the underpinnings - and possiblesolutions - to the world's ecological and political crises. His most recent books (1998) are "Healing ADD," with a foreword by Richard Bandler, and "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight," with a foreword by

Joseph Chilton Pearce and afterword by Neale Donald Walsch.

Hartmanns books have been written about in Time and many other magazines, he has been on NPR and BBC radio and CNN television (among others), mentioned on the front page of The Wall Street Journal, and has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people on five continents over the past two decades. One of his books was selected for inclusion in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian for its "visionary use of information technology to produce positive social, economic and educational change in medicine." As a result of his book "The Prophet's Way," he was invited in August, 1998, for a personal audience with Pope John Paul II at the Pope's summer palace on Lake Gandolfo, and to participate in a workshop in September, 1999 with His

Holiness The Dalai Lama at the residence of The Dalai Lama in India. Recently the Premier of Canada's Northwest Territories, Don Morin, brought Hartmann in to conduct a workshop with Inuit and Dene people on education and cultural transformation which was so successful he then asked Hartmann to address the Legislative Assembly of the province.

A recurrent theme in Hartmann's work is that most true and lasting cultural change begins with personal change propagating through enough people to reach a critical mass. Thus, he urges us all to be conscious and open to the world, showing that doing all you can to save the planet and improve the human condition requires both personal spiritual connection and global intent. History demonstrates that the tiniest and most anonymous actions can have world-changing ramifications.

Hartmann holds several degrees in various aspects of complimentary medicine (1971-78), studied acupuncture in Beijing (1986), and is a licensed and certified NLP Practitioner (1994) and NLP Trainer (1996) with the Society of NLP. For this latter, he was trained by Leif Roland and Richard Bandler.

 

 

Supporting the Medical Necessity of EEG Biofeedback: Rapid, Practical, Valid Assessments of Brain Injury and Attention Deficit.

George von Hilsheimer, Ph.D.

125 Swoope Avenue #109, Maitland, FL 32751 407-644-6464 Page -

George von Hilsheimer, Ph.D. www.hyperactivekids.com

www.eegspectrum.com

Purpose to familiarize the participant with a practical portfolio of widely standardized, valid and professionally accepted test instruments which are easily and rapidly administered in difficult conditions.

Orientation and introduction to the Halstead Reitan Neuropsychological Battery

COMPARE AND CONTRAST Filskov's findings

1 brief technique requiring a few minutes accurately localizes and determines brain injury within the same limits as the 9 hour battery.

PRACTICUM in use of the Filskov Short Form of the Halstead Reitan.

Orientation and introduction to Rey's Assessment of Intelligence

PRACTICUM IN evaluation of drawings of A LADY WHO IS WALKING IN THE RAIN.

THE TRAIL MAKING TASK, SYMBOL DIGIT (contrast to DIGIT SYMBOL) PRACTICUM

SBORDONE'S ATTENTION TASKS introduction and practicum.

STROOP'S TASK introduction and practicum.

TONES AND MELODIES (DENMAN'S) introduction and practicum.

QUIRK'S USE OF THE DIAGNOSTIC DIFFERENTIAL TASK, introduction and practicum.

Review of value of this limited battery, neuropsychological evidence for robust, reliable, valid character of short battery versus complex batteries.

Integrate information derived from the TEST OF VARIABLES OF ATTENTION (TOVA) with Neuropsychological data.

Review and prepare to rebut Garb's STUDYING THE CLINICIAN, APA, 1998

The participant in the workshop will be familiar with the test inventories most robustly supported as valid in the neuropsychological literature.

The participant will be familiar with the most severe critic of the use of neuropsychological tests, and prepared to validate use of these instruments in a biofeedback setting, and as objective evidence of medical necessity for EEG Biofeedback interventions.

The participant will be able to score and evaluate the Filskov, Rey, Trails, Symbol Digit, Sbordone, Stroop and Denman Tones and Melodies Tests and associate them with TOVA data, preparing a professionally acceptable report documenting the level of medical necessity for biofeedback

interventions.

 

 

RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT, Beginning to Live a Life of Joy.

Barbara Holstein

In this two hour workshop participants will learn the core RECIPES for ENCHANTMENT. These recipes encourage the utilization of a positive action

combined with positive cognitions and /or

feelings. For example, working in a soup kitchen while at the same time feeling in a pleasant mood would be a very simple recipe. A discussion of these "recipes" will then lead into relevant components of THE ENCHANTED SELF: l. How to use memory to access the positive parts of yourself. 2. How to recognize what gives you pleasure and joy in your life. 3. How to begin to make necessary changes to permit positive actions to succeed.

Several mind/body exercises will help the participants begin to design unique recipes that fit them, based on personal interests, history, and recognition of pleasure.

Goals: Each participant will leave understanding the core components of THE

ENCHANTED SELF and well as what makes a workable ENCHANTED RECIPE.

Each person will leave with an individual ENCHANTED RECIPE based on his or her uniqueness to begin to implement.

Each person will be given follow-up materials and ways to converse with me for follow-up feedback and support.

 

THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy

Barbara Holstein

In this 30 minute presentation I will share THE ENCHANTED SELF paradigm

shift that takes the focus off of pathology in the treatment room and places it where it should be: on the client's strengths, positive aspects of her

past, talents, coping skills, interests and potential. This shift allows for more hope, optimism and the experience of joy, for both the client and the

therapist, while still encouraging effective psychotherapy.

Goals for this presentation are: 1. The attendee understands THE ENCHANTED

SELF paradigm shift. 2. The attendee leaves with some clear notions has to

how to begin to make that shift in the treatment room. 3. The attendee understands the importance of focusing on the postive aspects of a client rather than the pathology.

 

Post-Adolescent Maturation (PAM) of the Frontal Lobes

William J. Hudspeth

(805) 534-9830

ABS: Important differences between adolescents and adults are primarily based upon functions of the frontal lobes.

This presentation presents converging data from QEEG, MRI and PET studies that document marked changes in frontal structure and function during late adolescence.

These functions are directly accessible for EEG neurotherapeutic practices. All you have to know is where and when.

Objectives:

a.) Can identify the neuroanatomical regions of PAM that can be assessed for functional integrity.

b.) Can identify the age-boundaries or transition periods observed in frontal lobe PAM.

c.) Can identify the specific qEEG changes associated with PAM.

 

HUDSPETH WORKSHOP WS2

 

Advances in QEEG Analyses and Interpretation

William J. Hudspeth

(805) 534-9830

Survey of new analytic methods that are designed to help you obtain useful and interpretable qEEG results from your clients. This workshop focuses on the control of artifacts arising from the eyes and from volume conducted signals arising in neighboring cerebral regions.

Objectives:

a.) Can describe methods for removing eye-artifacts from background EEG recordings.

b.) Can present rationale for re-montaging techniques.

c.) Can describe methods needed to gain variable control over the localization of volume conducted and focal EEG events.

d.) Can determine whether specific uses of topographic maps are valid.

 

Intro to QEEG workshop

TITLE: The Complete QEEG Examination

ABS: Complete qEEG evaluations require valid EEG measurements from which we can extract as many indices as are required to describe and understand a client's current cerebral status. As it works out, valid measurements begin with your amplifiers

(a). There may be a minimal number of required

(b) measurements needed to assure the reliability-validity

(c) of your entire test data and

your conclusions. In addition, most of us use an arbitrary selection of data

(d) that are demonstrably less useful than an empirical selection.

Objectives:

a,) Can describe the characteristics of EEG amplifiers that optimize the validity of test results.

b.) Can list and describe the rationale for including specific indices in the qEEG test battery.

c.) Can describe the inter-relationships among EEG indices that assure the overall reliability of qEEG tests.

d.) Can describe how an arbitrary selection of data indices may not fit most patients.

 

Workshop # 1 SUNDAY February 6th, 2000

 

Pain & Neurofeedback -Corticalization of Pain and Modification of Pain Affect Through Neurofeedback and the Use of ROSHI

presented by Victoria Ibric, M.D., Ph.D., & Chuck Davis

Goals: Participants will learn/and or review the pain receptors, pathways and corticalization of pain. Special attention will be given to pain affect and how neurofeedback training modifies it.

Outline and Description of the Workshop:

1.) Pain

Definitions

Receptors and Pathways

Corticalization of Pain

Subcorticalization/ Affect

2.) Description of the ROSHI neurofeedback instrument

Photo-optic/sound stimulation

3.) Protocols and case studies

Statistics

4.) F/U- to check long-lasting effects of NF training on Pain

5.) Testimonials

6.) Practicum

Lectures: Monday, February 7th, 2000

 

Long lasting effects of Neurofeedback Training on Bipolar Disorder and Addictions (follow up case study)

presented by Victoria Ibric, M.D., Ph.D.,

Therapy and Prevention Center, Pasadena

Abstract:

This lecture will review the case study of a patient with Bipolar Disorder and Addictions that was originally presented at the SNR 1998 Conference. The patient was trained with more than 80 sessions of neurofeedback, followed by boost up sessions spread over longer and longer periods of time. The theraputic protocols and neurofeedback sessions will be outlined. The importance of long lasting effects of neurofeedback training in this case will be emphasized.

 

#2 "Nutritional Evaluation and Regimens and the Importance of Diet/Detoxification in the Integration with Neurofeedback Training"

presented by Victoria Ibric, M.D., Ph.D.,Therapy and Prevention Center,

Pasadena, CA, and William Baumzweiger, M.D. Tarzana, CA. (30-40 minutes)

Abstract:

Detoxification is a multi-step process, requiring not only removal of toxic residues, but also:

1. Reduction of the neuronal irritability and immune dysfunction which generally accompany toxic exposures.

2. Reduction of the neural circuit excitability which results from these exposures.

3. Elimination of new infection and reduction of reactivated chronic infection resulting from immune dysregulation and resulting inflammatory problems.

4. Reduction of Central and Peripheral inflammatory demyelination associated with prolonged processes. 5. Reduction of damage to the oxygen carrying systems and Oxygen dependent energy generating systems.

6. Reduction of autoimmune and other inflammatory injury to major organ systems.

7. Architectural restructuring of the nervous system through neural feedback to shape a more normally behaving set of neural circuits. Each of these steps requires it's own sub-protocol, with testing required at each step to see what must be dealt with, and specific treatments for each layer of damage in the physiology of subjects with toxic disorder.

William Baumzweiger, M.D.

18370 Burbank Blvd. #201

Tarzana, CA 91356

To introduce Dr. Baumzweiger:

William Baumzweiger, M.D., has done residencies in Neurology, Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry, in addition to a Fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology. He has been treating Gulf War veterans and many other neurotoxically injured patients during the last five years.; patients exposed to organophosphates, phosgene, photographic chemicals and other neurotoxins. Central, peripheral and other nerve damage has been found by him in this entire population, as well as viral and fungal reactivation and symptoms of immune disease remarkably like juvenile arthritis. He has reported these findings to Congress, to the National Academy of Science and the National Gulf War Resource Center and was awarded "Clinician of the Year" by the National Gulf War Resource Center in 1998.

 

 

 

The Focus Project: A Controlled Stody of the Use of Neurofeedback for Remediating ADHD in a Public Elementary School Setting. Phase I Data Analysis

Julian Isaacs Ph.D.

Marin Biofeedback Associates

1050 NORTHGATE DRIVE, STE # 280

SAN RAFAEL, CA 94903

(415) 472-1875 FAX: (415) 472-2782

The "focus project" is a four-phase, wait-list controlled study with a crossover phase and six month follow up of the remediation of ADHD by neurofeedback of elementary school children conducted in three public

schools in Marin County California. In the first phase one group of 18 children functioned as a control group for the treated group who

received 40 half hour neurofeedback sessions. In the second phase the prior control group received 40 sessions of neurofeedback. In the

third and fourth phases the two groups will be retested 6 months after completing training. Two groups of 18 children were selected, one was treated first and pre and post measurements were compared to provide

statistical evidence of change. The subscales of the instruments used were derived from two behavioral assessment tools (TOVA, LET) and two psychmetric instruments (BASC, Conner's Scales). For each subject a total set of 50 subscales were converted to z-scores then collapsed by two different algorythms into two composite measures, the "primary" composite, consisting of mean of the ten highest valued (most deviant) subscale z-scores, and the "secondary" composite consisting of the

mean of all 50 subscales for each child.

The study was designed to provide data relative to a number of questions: (i) can meaningful neurofeedback studies be conducted in public school settings ? (ii) what are the optimal measurement techniques to detect response to neurofeedback within highly inhomogenous subject groups ? (iii) can double blind placebo-controlled studies be executed in public school settings ? (iv) can a

very low-cost model for creation of neurofeedback facilities for research purposes in schools be developed ? The presentation will describe the study and address these questions. Data from the first phase of the study showing highly significant results will be presented. This data shows some intruiging patterns suggesting future research directions.

 

3 OBJECTIVES

(i) Participants will be taught an approach to measurement of responses to neurofeedback by ADHD children which is designed to

validly apply to highly inhomogenous subject groups.

(ii) Participants will be taught how to design double blind studies in the field of neurofeedback.

(iii) Participants will be taught how to develop generic neurofeedback protocols which can safely be used with inhomogenous groups of

ADHD children.

 

4 HOUR WORKSHOP

 

How To Market and Deliver Neurofeedback Services to Schools

Julian Isaacs Ph.D.

In 1998 the delivery of neurofeedback to schools in the Yonkers school district was the best covered national media topic in the area of biofeedback. Providing neurofeedback to school systems is one of the most effective methods to progress neurofeedback's acceptance because it is usually successful, schools provide a huge market, and the topic is newsworthy. It also recruits clients for private practice. The presenter of this workshop will share expertise gained from a variety of individuals' experience in the successful research and delivery of neurofeedback in public schools. This workshop will equip participants to successfully market and deliver neurofeedback services to schools, outlining a range of service delivery models from volunteer to full service provision.

Particular emphasis will be placed on methods of selecting neurofeedback training protocols which are safe and effective to use on children who have not received a QEEG. Techniques for the effective utilization of typical existing psychoeducational evaluation data will be outlined. Important safety, legal and ethical issues will be addressed and the adaptation of existing neurofeedback techniques and practices to the school environment will be covered in detail.

THREE OBJECTIVES

(i) Participants will learn to assess the suitability of candidate children in the school system for neurofeedback training.

(ii) Participants will learn how to correctly utilize school-based evaluations of children and integrate their findings with other specialized psychometric and other assessment instruments for evaluating neurofeedback candidates prior to and after neurofeedback treatment.

(iii) Participants will learn how to develop safe and effective neurofeedback training protocols for use with children who have not had a QEEG performed. This will include the use of relatively low cost EEG equipment for the assessment of EEG status pre-treatment.

 

Neurofeedback Viewed as a Pre-Paradigmatic Field: Action Implications For Establishing It.

Julian Isaacs

The philosopher of science, Thomas Khun, proposed a model for scientific progress in which advances occur in two distinct modes.

The first is "normal science" in which the conceptual foundations and overall approach of a particular scientific field are accepted without question and scientific activity occurs to consolidate and extend this overall model, which Khun termed a "paradigm". In this phase science is technological-like in its application of a particular paradigm. In

contrast to periods of normal science, when inexplicable "anomalies"

occur - phenomena which do not conform to the current paradigm - the field goes into crisis until a new paradigm is developed. The

development of quantum physics early in the 20th century has been cited as an example of this kind of paradigm change.

However, before the first paradigm is developed to structure a newly emergent scientific field, Khun argues that it often resembles the medieval state of science in which there are competing "schools" of

adherents to particular viewpoints. In the pre-praradigmatic proto-science, there is no over-arching conceptual schema accepted which pre-empts theoretical options and provides a set approach to the phenomena of the field. Furthermore each medieval practitioner has his secret "nostrums", available only by payment. Current pre-paradigmatic sciences are rare because of the success of physicalistic science. However, it has been argued that parapsychology represents such a field because it both studies highly anomalous phenomena and has no agreed-upon or well supported theoretical models of psychic action. Others have argued that parapsychology is a "deviant" science because it studies doubtful phenomena and/or that its methods are pseudoscientific or flawed.

The field of neurofeedback is in some respects pre-paradigmatic in that although it appears to be firmly based on an overall approach founded on biological psychiatry, it lacks universal agreement regarding neurofeedback's modes of action (because of lack of research) and "schools" of adherents to the approaches of particular practitioners still exist in competition with each other. Thus the "Tansey" school could be seen as competing with the "Sams", "Ayers", "Othmer", "Sterman", "Gunkelman" and "Val Brown" schools. While the normalization of the QEEG of the client is cited by several

practitioners to be the central aim of neurofeedback (Sams, Sterman, Gunkelman), others regard QEEG as irrelevant or unnecessary (Othmer & Val Brown), yet still claim good results. It is also clear that QEEGs are subject to interpretation in different ways, so that they do not always provide a single unambiguous description nor imply an

unambigous remedial action plan.

Neurofeedback is also substantially lacking in the domain of large-n double blind placebo controlled studies. Practitioners have attempted to argue that by its nature biofeedback cannot legitimately or effectively use double blind methods. This claim is clearly false. Indeed, neurofeedback has failed to gain scientific acceptance and public recognition partly because of this fact, and in this way resembles a "deviant" scientific pursuit. But another very important factor is the lack of intelligent aggressive action on the part of the neurofeedback community to publicize and popularize the field. The

community seems to suffer from believing in the myth of virtue bringing its own reward when the history and sociology of science

shows that the births of new sciences are highly politicized events within the scientific community.

These features of neurofeedback both reflect the state of the field but they also pose considerable problems for its further development. These issues will be addressed in the presentation, together with suggestions regarding actions that should be taken to legitimize the field. Focusing on the use of the scientific investigations of particular unique applications of neurofeedback to legitimate the field is one useful approach, and the role of introducing neurofeedback into schools is another which will be reviewed.

THREE OBJECTIVES

(i) Participants will learn how neurofeedback's status suggests the field is in a pre-paradigmatic state.

(ii) Participants will learn how properly conducted placebo-controlled studies can be performed to validate neurofeedback's effectiveness,

(iii) Participants will learn how other fledgling sciences achieved acceptance, providing analogies for the development of neurofeedback.

(iv) Participants will be exposed to a discussion of possible components of an overall strategy to establish the field.

 

 

Role of Immersive Technology in Neurofeedback

By David Kaiser, Ph.D.

During neurofeedback training many individuals, particularly young children, may have trouble identifying with, and having visceral appreciation for, the information in the EEG for which they are being rewarded. This shortcoming may be overcome by the use of more immersive feedback techniques (e.g., virtual reality). This hypothesis was

investigated in 120 children with ADHD, epilepsy, or mood disorders who underwent 20 sessions of EEG biofeedback using the Neurocybernetics 2-Channel EEG system. The amount of 3-dimensional rendering varied across feedback displays. For each 30-min session, subjects selected one of three displays: a Pacman-like game (2d), line drawings of a receding highway (simple 3d), and a spaceship travelling past planets (complex 3d). Patient retention and cognitive performance were assessed. Preliminary analysis, limited to 2d and simple-3d displays only, revealed greater improvement in the Symbol-Digit Modality test for subjects who trained primarily on 3d displays. Similar trends in patient retention, word fluency, and impulse

control were also found. Patients agreed to 6.6 additional sessions when simple 3d displays were employed. The use of 3d displays improved the outcome of EEG biofeedback. As additional subjects and the effect of complex 3d displays are analyzed, we expect the trends in retention and cognitive performance to increase. Implementation of virtual reality,

including realistic portrayals of physiological activity, is expected to enhance patient commitment, comprehension, task engagement, and training efficiency.

 

Positive Experience Work: imagery, recall, analysis , as a positive psychology coaching intervention.

Rob Kall

Positive experience training is a process of skill building based on a model which posits that positive experiences and good feelings are the basic building blocks of self esteem, positive attitude, the ability to face challenges, experience happiness and express good feelings and the capacity to cope with adversity and stress.

Some of the elements involved in building these skills include positive experience (PE) recall, analysis and imagery. By working with these, clients can build a permanent, accessible inventory of PEs which can be used:

- to balance cognitive distortion

-to analyze PE patterns

-for personalized imagery exercises

The presentation will include didactic and experiential components, including a guided PE recall exercise, followed by a detailed analysis of some PEs. A very brief overview of the anatomy of Positive experience will be described.

Objectives:

-understanding of Positive Experience Skill model

-ability to guide a client through a PE recall exercise

-know three ways to incorporate PE exercises in work with clients (diary keeping, personalized imagery, PE pattern analysis to identify underutilized PE activities)

 

Self regulation and enlightenment

Rob Kall

This introductory discussion will explore the variety of self regulatory approaches used by biofeedback practitioners to aid individuals on their path to enlightenment. Definitions and models of enlightenment will be discussed, and practical ways that practitioners working with clinical populations can include consideration of the path to enlightenment in their own practice with patients as well as with seekers of enlightenment will be discussed. A model will be presented which suggests that any client receiving biofeedback training is developing skills which can be used in ways which go beyond the need for symptom elimination.

The following issues will be discussed: Is it the practitioner’s responsibility to inform the client of these potentials? How can the practitioner present the self regulation and biofeedback skills being offered as tools which can be used throughout life, rather than Band-Aids for the presenting symptoms. How can the client be oriented, right from the initial intake, to perceive the learning process as one which will have lifelong impact?

objectives:

-describe a model which re-conceives intervention as empowering and lifelong skill building rather than symptom and pathology eliminating

-impart specific strategies for implementing the model

-impart an understanding of the philosophical issues involved.

 

Panel: Establishing biofeedback as a profession, biofeedback licensure

Rob Kall, Panel Chair

This presentation will include chairing the panel and opening discussions on the issues involved in establishing biofeedback as

1) a profession

2) an independent license

It will discuss the overlapping issues and the differences, how they will affect psychologists and other already licensed practitioners and how they will affect non-licensed biofeedback practitioners.

The panelists will discuss scope of practice, knowledge blueprint, educational and supervision requirements, and other factors related to these topics.

Objectives

-understanding of key issues involved

-understanding of the different issues involved between license and profession

-stimulation of dialogue between panelists and floor discussants.

 

Toward a Science of Consciousness"

Joe Kamiya

From the perspective of most contemporary biology and much of experimental psychology, human consciousness is a thorn in the side of scientific

progress. Common solutions are to regard consciousness and its cousins awareness, subjective experience and mind and their infamous "contents" like feelings, emotions, thoughts, hope, dreams, etc., in various dismissive ways. They are non-existent as a scientific problem, irrelevant

to an understanding of behavior, simply examples of muddled thinking, or devoid of meaning except as verbal reports. One researcher in the pharmacology of pain stoutly denies that it is our headaches that cause us to reach for the aspirin bottle.

What is proposed in opposition to this prevailing view is the acceptance of subjective experience as a biological attribute of awake humans, with the

possibility of being indexed by the convergence of measures at the behavioral, physiological or social levels of description. The critical role that biofeedback can play in advancing the science of this field will be discussed, first with examples from early studies of the discrimination of the subjective correlates of the EEG alpha rhythm, and then with biofeedback's use in an approach employing multidimensional psychophysics and multi channel psychophysiology.

Given time and energy to pursue an experimental program in subjective experiences of all sorts, the science of human life has hope of being adequate for addressing a key feature of what makes us human.

 

WS4: Toward a Science of Consciousness and Knowledge

Joe Kamiya

The science of human life will be grossly incomplete until human subjective experience, consciousness and knowledge are understood in a unified theoretical framework that encompasses both the physiological substrates of subjective experience as well as the social interaction network of which the person is a part. The task of developing such a unified theory is daunting; some say it is in principle impossible.

What I will try to do is help specify the kind of scientific problem we are confronting, point out likely strategies and tactics that would help provide improved ways to describe subjective experience, and suggest how the physiological data can help in ordering the subjective information. I believe that considering the evolutionary origins of human consciousness and knowledge will help provide perspective, and some speculations are offered. The topics to be covered are:

(1) The conceptual status of subjective experience in the world of objective reality.

(2) The role of convergent indicators in supporting inferences about subjective experience.

(3) The dethronement of verbal report as the sole indicator of subjective experience.

(4) The central role that certain kinds of biofeedback training can play as a basic science tool in the science of consciousness. Example: EEG alpha discrimination training.

(5) The tools needed for refining in a quantitative way the dimensions of human subjective experience: multidimensional psychophysics aligned with multidimensional psychophysiology.

(6) The social aspect of human consciousness and methods for gaining new insights into this central feature of the scientific problem.

(7) The question of whether all processes of consciousness, including the most profound spiritual experiences, can be understood as having evolved from more primitive forms of life. How spiritual experiences have

influenced social interaction and organization, particularly in the

education of the young.

(8) Speculations about evolution and awareness and knowledge.

The potential for all knowledge, including mathematical and scientific (but also including self-awareness and the direct perception of the subjective states of others) appears to have evolved since the Big Bang from the interactions of the components of an orderly material world and later social world. Retention of that orderliness in the central nervous system through evolutionary processes has at the human level produced a payoff in survival rates via the capacity for reflection and introspection. Special attention will be directed to the proposition that mathematical knowledge is discovered by both observation of the external world and introspection of relevant regularities built into brain processes in the course of evolution. On this view mathematical discovery is a process of recognition of patterns of orderliness built into brain, with the triggering of recognition being facilitated by education. The delight experienced from "elegant solutions" may have much more ancient origins than we have suspected.

(9) The application of the same line of thought to science, both objective and personal. Research is needed to expand our information on how far evolution has endowed us with laten