Biofeedback techniques: how do they work in the brain?

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It is composed of nervous tissue responsible for all cognitive, emotional functions and life activities.

The neocortex is the newest part of our brain in evolution and the most developed compared to that of other animals. It is divided into two hemispheres: left hemisphere and right hemisphere, and can be further classified into 4 lobes:

  • frontal lobe
  • temporal lobe
  • occipital lobe
  • parietal lobe

In addition to these four lobes, identified as part of the rational brain, there is the limbic lobe, also called the emotional brain. The limbic lobe is the most irrational area of the brain, since its functions are the generation and regulation of emotions. This is the creator of the neurological basis of moods and what we call instincts.

Psychological specialists believe that the root of psychological disorders lies in a malfunction or excessive functioning of the neural networks of the limbic lobe.

The limbic lobe and the neocortex are in a condition of interdependence, since neither one nor the other can function well independently.

These brain structures of the limbic system are also responsible for our memorization and learning.

Neurofeedback Process

Operant conditioning is the key principle of how brain biofeedback, also called Neurofeedback, works.

Operant conditioning, also called instrumental conditioning, is a form of teaching in which the association of reinforcements (rewards) and punishments with a certain behavior or behavior pattern is established, that is, an association is made between a behavior and a consequence of that behavior.

Neurofeedback, which consists of putting a helmet with electrodes on the head connected to a computer, and performing reward or error training, makes it possible to know the activity of the most superficial part of the cortex, i.e. the four cortical lobes, in real time.

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If the brain activity is unbalanced and dysfunctional patterns that are related to behavioral symptoms can be noticed, these patterns can be corrected through feedback that will reinforce a healthy and functional activity pattern through a reward and weaken a dysfunctional activity pattern through negative feedback. In this way, the brain will learn about its activity and will modify the neural networks, strengthening the activity of the cortical structures that will be able to exercise more control over the limbic lobe by changing the strength and intensity of the neural connections between the two areas of the brain, commonly called the rational brain and the emotional brain.

Neurology specialists emphasize that the benefits of Neurofeedback are:

  • Strengthening of neural connections.
  • Improvement of the neocortex activity
  • Improvement of the mood and emotional stability, thanks to the change at the level of the subcortical activity of the limbic lobe.

This will favor a better result at the time of psychological therapy, since the connections with the most emotional and subconscious part will be strengthened and the brain activity will be more flexible to change, thus also assisting in a change of beliefs.