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Have you been looking into non-invasive therapies that support physical and mental well-being and can help manage anxiety, chronic pain, or other conditions? If so, you've likely come across biofeedback and neurofeedback. After all, these two therapies have gained much attention in recent years, both among scientists and the general public! But do they target the same symptoms? Is there any difference between biofeedback vs neurofeedback?

In short, neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback, hence the confusion. The main difference lies in the specific physiological systems these two therapies target. This leads to other distinctions in terms of methods, technologies, applications, and potential outcomes. We've explained everything below, so read on! We'll start by discussing each therapy, and then we'll outline the key differences between them.

Key Takeaways

• Biofeedback is a therapy aimed at helping people become more aware of their bodily functions. Over time, patients can learn how to manipulate them at will. Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback that targets brain functions.
• Biofeedback therapy can be used on various body parts through sensors, while neurofeedback analyzes brainwaves or blood flow and oxygenation through EGG, fMRI, fNIRS, and MEG.
• Biofeedback is effective for managing physical health issues like chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, stress, and urinary incontinence. Neurofeedback is used primarily for treating mental health conditions such as ADHD and anxiety or for improving cognitive function.
• The training period for neurofeedback is generally longer and more complex than that of biofeedback.

What Is Biofeedback?

Biofeedback is a therapeutic technique that uses electrical sensors to help patients gain awareness and control over their physiological functions, including heart rate, muscle tone, and pain perception. By being more aware of what happens in their bodies, patients can learn to manipulate their bodily functions at will for better health outcomes.

There are different types of biofeedback that focus on specific bodily functions:

• Heart rate variability biofeedback targets heart rhythm.
• Electromyography (EMG) biofeedback measures muscle tension. It is often used to manage conditions like chronic pain and tension headaches.
• Thermal biofeedback monitors skin temperature. It can be used to alleviate stress and tension.
• Electrodermal activity biofeedback measures the sweat gland activity, which can help with anxiety and pain.
• Breathing biofeedback measures breathing patterns through sensors placed on the chest and stomach.
• Electroencephalography (neurofeedback) measures brainwaves to help with disorders like ADHD.

Biofeedback therapy can have different goals, from managing chronic pain and high blood pressure to reducing stress and alleviating irritable bowel syndrome.

How Biofeedback Therapy Works

During a biofeedback therapy session, a healthcare professional will place electrical sensors on a certain part of your body, depending on your therapy goals and method. For example, if you need skin temperature biofeedback, you'll have the sensors placed on your fingers or feet. If you need breathing biofeedback, the sensors will be placed on your chest and stomach.

When the sensors are in place, your therapist may ask you to do certain things, such as solve a riddle, change your breathing pattern, or position your body differently. At the same time, you get real-time feedback that shows what changes these activities cause in your body. Over time, you can learn how to manipulate your body's reactions based on the desired effect.

It is believed that biofeedback works through operant conditioning. This means that it teaches you to alter your behavior by means of associating a specific behavior with a consequence. People are more likely to repeat a behavior associated with a pleasant outcome, which is what biofeedback aims at.

Benefits of Biofeedback Therapy

Biofeedback therapy offers numerous potential benefits, particularly for treating or managing:

• Chronic pain
• Headaches
• Migraines
• Anxiety
• High blood pressure
• Urinary incontinence
• Irritable bowel syndrome

One of the greatest things about biofeedback therapy is how quickly it can show results, especially when it comes to managing stress and reducing pain. With immediate feedback, patients can make adjustments on the spot and, in some cases, feel relief from their symptoms right away. This makes biofeedback a valuable tool for those who want to take control of their health and boost their quality of life!

Still, it's worth mentioning that your reaction to it may be different from other patients' reactions, so you should be monitored closely by your doctor if you decide to try this method.

What Is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback therapy is a specialized form of biofeedback that focuses on observing how the brain reacts to particular stimuli and learning how to control brain activity. The most common neurofeedback practice, known as EEG biofeedback, implies placing electrodes on the scalp to monitor brain waves triggered by certain actions. The patients receive real-time feedback through visual cues that help them understand what activates rapid or slow brainwaves and, respectively, agitation or relaxation. Over time, they learn what actions they need to reproduce to balance their brainwave activity.

EEG neurofeedback therapy has been shown to be effective in treating various conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and autism, each having a different treatment protocol. Still, it is important to note that the efficacy of neurofeedback is still being researched and ongoing studies are exploring its potential benefits and limitations.

Neurofeedback isn't performed only through EEG. Other methods include fNIRS, fMRI, and MEG. fMRI, for example, is done at the hospital under the supervision of a neuroradiologist, but it's usually reserved for research purposes only due to its high cost. fNIRS, on the other hand, can be incorporated into at-home neurofeedback devices like Mendi. It can help users improve their focus and concentration and promote relaxation and overall well-being.

Therefore, neurofeedback training isn't used only to treat certain health conditions. Nowadays, it has been made available for everyone who wants to improve their cognitive function. Naturally, if the goal is to treat a mental health condition, patients should seek medical advice before using any at-home neurofeedback devices.

How Neurofeedback Works

The most common neurofeedback training that uses EEG (electroencephalography) monitors brainwave activity in real-time. During neurofeedback training, patients receive immediate visual or auditory feedback on their brainwave activity through positive reinforcement.

For example, a patient with anxiety can have an excess of rapid brain waves, meaning beta and gamma brain waves. This means they are often in a high state of vigilance and, therefore, stress. In this case, the therapy goal is to increase slower wave activity to achieve a balance.

As such, during a neurofeedback session, this patient may watch a movie or play a game. When the brain produces the desired wave patterns - in this case, more alpha and less beta - the patient will receive positive cues that indicate this change. Then, the brain associates this positive feedback with the desired brain state. Through repetition, the brain learns how to produce more of the desired wave patterns without any EEG equipment.

Blood Flow and Oxygenation

With fMRI, on the other hand, the doctor monitors blood oxygenation and flow while the patient is in an fMRI scanner. The scanner monitors specific brain regions - in the case of anxiety, for example, the amygdala or anterior cingulate cortex, which are associated with its symptoms. At the same time, the patient looks at a display screen inside the scanner and receives visual cues when the brain produces the desired activity patterns.

Last but not least, fNIRS is the most recent neurofeedback innovation that has shown promising results. During fNIRS neurofeedback sessions, one should wear a cap or a headband. It emits near-infrared light that detects changes in blood flow and oxygenation.

Although it is a relatively new and quite complex technology that's primarily used for research purposes, it has already been incorporated in an at-home neurofeedback device. Mendi devices rely on fNIRS to monitor brain activity in real-time while users are playing a game on the Mendi app. Their level of focus and attention is reflected in the movement of a ball on the screen, which makes the training highly interactive.

Benefits of Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback can potentially help with numerous brain-related conditions, including mood disorders and attention deficits. However, it can also be beneficial for people who want to enhance skills like memory and focus. Neurofeedback is often described as a form of brain exercise that encourages healthier brain function patterns and improves overall mental health.

Given that neurofeedback does not imply the administration of any medication, it is considered non-invasive and generally safe as long as it's performed correctly. Nonetheless, anyone who wants to alleviate the symptoms of a particular mental health condition should do so only under the supervision of a medical professional, even if neurofeedback sessions are performed with an at-home neurofeedback device.

Furthermore, it's worth noting that the efficacy of neurofeedback in treating the above-mentioned conditions remains debated in scientific circles. Further research is needed to fully confirm its benefits.

Key Differences Between Biofeedback and Neurofeedback

In a nutshell, biofeedback targets bodily functions like heart rate, muscle tension, and skin temperature. It uses various sensors to monitor and provide real-time feedback. In contrast, neurofeedback focuses on neurological responses by monitoring brainwave activity or blood flow and oxygenation.

Let's discuss the key differences between these two therapies in detail.

Focus and Measuring Techniques

Neurofeedback therapy focuses only on the brain. It relies heavily on EEG to track brainwave activity or other technologies that analyze blood flow and oxygenation. Neurofeedback can be performed using:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
• Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)
• Hemoencephalography (HEG)
• Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Biofeedback focuses on various parts of the body and their physiological responses, including skin temperature, muscle tension, and heart rate. It uses a range of sensors placed on different body parts, depending on the therapy goal. Biofeedback can be performed through:

• Electromyography (EMG)
• Electrocardiography (EKG)
• Electrodermal activity (EDA)
• Galvanic skin response (GSR) sensors
• Temperature sensors

Applications

Biofeedback is commonly used for managing physiological processes related to:

• Chronic pain
• Hypertension
• Stress
• Asthma
• Constipation
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Raynaud's disease
• Tinnitus
• Headaches
• Urinary incontinence

On the other hand, neurofeedback is most often used for:

• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Stress
• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Focus and concentration improvement
• Memory improvement
• Insomnia or sleep disorders
• Relaxation
• Emotion regulation

Training Period and Complexity

Neurofeedback typically requires a longer training period than biofeedback. It can take several weeks or months for a patient to feel any results and to be able to incorporate them into their daily lives without using any neurofeedback equipment.

Biofeedback addresses more straightforward physiological functions. It provides quick results in some situations, which are felt within just a few sessions, although this varies from patient to patient.

Equipment

Neurofeedback sessions can be performed using the following equipment:

• Electrodes placed onto the scalp
• Headbands
• MRI scanners
• Sensor-equipped headsets
• MEG scanners

Biofeedback can be performed using the following equipment:

• Various types of electrodes and sensors like GSR sensors, ECG electrodes, and temperature sensors
• Blood pressure monitors
• Heart rate monitors
• Various portable devices

Get Your Mendi - The Most Innovative Wearable Neurofeedback Device

If you think neurofeedback can help you improve the quality of your life, it may be time to get your own wearable neurofeedback device!

The Mendi headband uses advanced fNIRS technology to train your brain. It is designed as an accessible brain-training tool for focus and mental performance enhancement. Our product has been reviewed by psychiatrists and neuroscientists who have confirmed its efficacy and adherence to science.

The technology used in the Mendi headband is an effective neurocognitive training program that allows you to visualize and train your brain through non-intrusive yet highly advanced sensors that measure oxygenated blood flow in your prefrontal cortex. Over time, this can potentially strengthen your resilience to stress, improve your mood, and enhance your focus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between biofeedback and neurofeedback?

The primary difference between biofeedback and neurofeedback lies in their focus; biofeedback monitors physiological responses like heart rate and muscle tension, whereas neurofeedback specifically targets brainwave activity to enhance cognitive functioning. Neurofeedback is, in fact, a type of biofeedback.

What is the downside of neurofeedback?

If performed correctly, neurofeedback usually has no downsides, although patients may feel dizzy and tired and experience headaches immediately after a session; these side effects should go away within 24-48 hours. If you experience any other side effects that last longer than that, you should consult with a healthcare professional.

Is neurofeedback better than biofeedback?

Neurofeedback and biofeedback are equally beneficial because they target different body parts. In fact, neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback that specifically targets the brain, while biofeedback focuses on various bodily functions, including heart rate, skin temperature, and muscle tension.

How long before you notice results from biofeedback or neurofeedback therapy?

Results from biofeedback can often be observed relatively quickly, particularly in stress management and pain reduction. In contrast, neurofeedback typically requires more sessions to achieve significant and lasting changes in brain activity.

Can biofeedback be performed at home?

Biofeedback can be performed at home using various devices that monitor physiological responses. However, it's recommended to consult with a healthcare professional if the therapy goal is to manage disease symptoms.

What conditions can neurofeedback therapy help treat?

Neurofeedback therapy can potentially treat mood disorders, attention deficits, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and autism. It can enhance cognitive functions and emotion regulation, providing significant benefits for people facing these challenges.