Determining the why; defining the where
Out in front all by itself
Over the past couple of decades, Neuroscience has employed sophisticated brain imaging technology such as the PET, SPECT, and functional MRI to conclude that performance (attention, focus, and learning), mood, memory, behavior, and emotional resilience are all created by specific performance centers in our brain. What this means, of course, is that mental and emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, ADD, ADHD, Bipolar, and OCD are all signs of a dysfunctional brain. There is also another meaning: If you don't have these symptoms, your brain performance centers are functioning efficiently. Interestingly, this scientific understanding has not been received as particularly exciting news: It seems to be just another reminder of a serious problem with no efficient solution.
There has been a “solution” offered by the pharmaceutical companies: Drugs to suppress the symptoms. Make that, expensive, unsafe drugs to suppress the symptoms. Unfortunately, as has been experienced by many, these drugs often do not work. And, as is frequently being reported by the press as the FDA releases new warnings, there are serious side effects: Increased suicide risks, hallucinations, manic reactions, sudden death from cardiovascular events, and “permanent brain dysfunction,” just to name a few. (For details of these potential side effects, type the name of a drug followed by “side effects” into Google, or read, for example, Medication Madness by Peter Breggin, MD and Prozac Backlash by Joseph Glenmullen, MD. Several other titles on the subject are available from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other book sellers.)
Interestingly, there is work that has been going on for years that has essentially been ignored. Behind the scenes of all this hype and drama is a developed process that stands alone in both safety and effectiveness. This is the development of the Quantitative EEG (computerized brain wave analysis) and Neurofeedback (brain wave training). The objective is to identify the neurological inefficiencies producing the symptoms and to literally teach the brain to overcome the neurologically based performance and behavioral issues, safely, efficiently, and quickly.
The QEEG, as it is often called, is totally safe and can be repeated as desired to determine training progress. Neurofeedback is safe and effective, with no significant side effects. (While rare, a mild, transient headache has been reported.) Indeed, NeuroMatrix Neural Efficiency Training™, a multidimensional approach to brain performance training, is all about brain health...
