Our understanding of the neurofeedback process has evolved with a new appreciation of the different roles of reward and inhibit bands in exercising control mechanisms versus detecting out-of-control activity in the EEG. We are also led to a consideration of the relationship of bipolar training to phase and synchrony measurements, and its impact on stability of brain function.

Improving clinical outcomes with new neurofeedback training approaches have forced us to reconsider what we are asking the brain to do. A simple model of rewarding good (beta/SMR) brainwaves and inhibiting bad (theta) brainwaves does not predict or explain the benefits of rewarding frequencies from zero to thirty Hertz in different individuals, or the general benefit of rewarding and inhibiting overlapping frequency bands.

In this presentation we will consider the different roles of reward and inhibit bands in exercising control mechanisms versus detecting out-of-control activity in the EEG. We will discuss the relationship of bipolar training to phase and synchrony measurements, and its impact on stability of brain function. Finally we will consider the use of EEG and QEEG in assessment versus training. What can we learn from EEG assessments and are we really trying to fix the brainwaves?