What neurofeedback is
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive method of brain training, based on real-time monitoring of the brain's electrical activity (EEG). Through a computerised system, the brain receives instant feedback about the way it functions and is encouraged to optimise its activity patterns. The purpose of neurofeedback is to support the self-regulation of the nervous system and to improve brain functioning, without medication or invasive procedures.
How brain training works
Neurofeedback training is based on the principle of neuroplasticity - the brain's ability to adapt, to create new neural connections and to change the way it works in response to experience and learning. During a session, EEG sensors are placed on the patient's scalp and record the brain's electrical activity. These sensors do not deliver electrical current and do not stimulate the brain, they only pick up the signals it produces naturally.
Brain activity is analysed in real time by specialised software, and the patient receives visual and/or auditory feedback in the form of a game, animation or video. When the brain produces the activity patterns targeted by the therapeutic protocol, the feedback is positive and the experience continues smoothly. When activity moves away from the set objectives, the feedback changes, giving the brain the information it needs in order to self-regulate.
This process is a form of implicit learning, based on operant conditioning mechanisms. By repeating the sessions, the brain gradually learns to maintain functional activity patterns more efficiently and to reduce maladaptive activity. Over time, these changes can become stable and can be reflected in improvements in cognitive, emotional or behavioural functions. The training protocol is personalised for each patient: it is established on the basis of an initial assessment and adapted according to the progress observed during therapy.
In what contexts it is used
Neurofeedback is used in numerous clinical and non-clinical contexts: as a therapeutic method, as a complementary method within a multidisciplinary treatment plan, and also for optimising cognitive performance. In clinical practice, it can be recommended to people who have difficulties with attention and concentration, anxiety disorders, chronic stress, sleep disorders, migraines, chronic pain syndromes, difficulties with emotional regulation or certain neurodevelopmental disorders, when there is a medical indication and the protocol is adapted to the particularities of each case.
Neurofeedback is also used in neurological and neuropsychological rehabilitation programmes, as a complementary method intended to support the processes of functional reorganisation of the brain. Outside the medical context, this technology is also used to optimise cognitive performance in healthy people, including elite athletes, musicians, pilots, managers or people whose work places high intellectual and emotional demands on them.
It is important to point out that neurofeedback does not replace medical diagnosis, nor the treatments recommended by a doctor when these are necessary. Its benefits depend on the particularities of each patient, on the therapeutic objectives and on a rigorous initial assessment, on the basis of which a personalised brain training protocol is established.
What Neurofeedback Plus is - a more complex approach
Neurofeedback Plus is an advanced 6-in-1 brain training programme that combines neurofeedback with other complementary neurotechnologies in order to support optimal functioning of the brain and nervous system. Unlike classic neurofeedback, this integrated approach uses several methods with different but complementary mechanisms of action, in order to accelerate the brain's process of self-regulation and adaptation.
The programme brings together:
- Neurofeedback - for optimising brain electrical activity and training self-regulation;
- Photobiomodulation - the use of red and infrared light to support neuronal metabolism, reduce oxidative stress and stimulate cell repair processes;
- Heart-brain coherence training - through biofeedback and breathing exercises, to synchronise the activity of the cardiovascular system with that of the central nervous system and to improve emotional regulation;
- Auricular vagus nerve stimulation - to activate the natural relaxation mechanisms and to regulate the autonomic nervous system;
- Cervical vagus nerve stimulation - with the aim of reducing stress reactivity and supporting mental and physical recovery;
- Neurofeedback in virtual reality (VR) - which uses immersive environments to facilitate the learning and consolidation of optimal brain activity patterns.
This multidimensional approach aims not only to reduce clinical manifestations, but also to optimise the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying brain function. By simultaneously stimulating neuroplasticity, neuronal metabolism and the regulation of the autonomic nervous system, Neurofeedback Plus can speed up the brain training process compared with classic neurofeedback protocols.
The therapeutic protocol is 100% personalised, being established on the basis of the functional assessment BrainMap (qEEG), which identifies the particularities of each patient's brain activity. Depending on the results of the assessment and on the therapeutic objectives, the specialists select the optimal combination of technologies and training parameters.
When it is recommended
Neurofeedback Plus is recommended for people with neurological, psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as for those who want to optimise their cognitive and emotional functioning. Because the protocol is individualised according to the BrainMap (qEEG) assessment, the recommendation is always made following a consultation and a functional analysis of brain activity.
Neurofeedback Plus can be integrated into the treatment plan of people with generalised anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic stress. By optimising brain activity and regulating the autonomic nervous system, the programme aims to reduce hyperactivation of the nervous system, improve emotional regulation and increase resilience to stress.
In the case of depression and other affective disorders, Neurofeedback Plus can help optimise the neural networks involved in regulating mood, motivation and executive functions. People with persistent difficulties in emotional regulation, with impulsivity or with traits specific to certain personality disorders can also benefit from training aimed at optimising the activity of the circuits involved in emotional control, attention, self-control and the processing of social stimuli.
The programme is frequently used for neurodevelopmental disorders, such as:
- ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder);
- autism spectrum disorders (ASD);
- learning difficulties (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia);
- sensory processing disorders;
- delays in cognitive development.
In these situations, the objectives pursued can include improving attention and concentration, reducing impulsivity, optimising executive functions, developing self-regulation and supporting learning processes.
Neurofeedback Plus can also be used for neurological rehabilitation in people who have had a stroke, traumatic brain injury or other neurological conditions. It can also support functional recovery in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease, by training the remaining cognitive functions and stimulating neuroplasticity mechanisms.
Although Neurofeedback Plus does not treat the cause of autoimmune diseases, it can be a complementary method of supporting the process of recovery and adaptation. Many autoimmune conditions are associated with chronic stress, sleep disorders, persistent fatigue, pain and cognitive dysfunctions such as brain fog, and optimising the functioning of the nervous system can help reduce the impact of these manifestations on daily life.
The programme can be recommended to people with insomnia, fragmented sleep or difficulties in regulating the sleep-wake rhythm. By optimising brain activity and balancing the autonomic nervous system, Neurofeedback Plus aims to make sleep more restful and to improve physiological recovery.
Neurofeedback Plus is also used in the management of conditions associated with chronic pain, including migraines and fibromyalgia. By influencing the brain networks involved in pain processing and by supporting the regulation of the nervous system, it can help reduce the intensity of symptoms and improve daily functioning.
In addition to its clinical uses, Neurofeedback Plus is recommended to healthy people who want to improve their cognitive performance and their ability to cope with intense demands. Athletes, entrepreneurs, managers, students or people engaged in complex intellectual activities can use this programme to optimise attention, memory, processing speed, creativity, mental clarity and resilience to stress.
The main difference between neurofeedback and Neurofeedback Plus
Neurofeedback exclusively uses the training of brain electrical activity through real-time feedback, while Neurofeedback Plus combines neurofeedback with other complementary neurotechnologies (photobiomodulation, vagus nerve stimulation, heart-brain coherence and virtual reality) in order to support several mechanisms involved in brain functioning and recovery at the same time.
The basic method vs. the advanced version
Neurofeedback is the classic brain training method, based on neuroplasticity and the self-regulation of brain activity. Neurofeedback Plus is an advanced version, which integrates several scientifically validated technologies into a single personalised therapeutic protocol, adapted to the needs of each patient.
What the Plus version adds
In addition to training brain activity, Neurofeedback Plus supports neuronal metabolism, stimulates the natural regeneration mechanisms, optimises the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and speeds up the self-regulation process. By addressing several neurophysiological components at the same time, it can deliver faster results and a more complex intervention than classic neurofeedback.
How they differ in practice
Therapeutic objectives
The main objective of neurofeedback is to optimise brain electrical activity and to improve the brain's self-regulation. Neurofeedback Plus takes a broader approach, targeting both the optimisation of brain function and the support of neuroplasticity, the regulation of the autonomic nervous system and functional recovery through complementary technologies.
The level of personalisation
Both methods are personalised on the basis of the BrainMap (qEEG) assessment. In the case of Neurofeedback Plus, the protocol is personalised not only through the neurofeedback parameters, but also through the selection and combination of complementary technologies (photobiomodulation, vagus nerve stimulation, heart-brain coherence and VR), according to the particularities and therapeutic objectives of each patient.
How to choose the right option
The choice between Neurofeedback and Neurofeedback Plus is not made only according to preference, but according to the needs of each patient. The optimal option is established after a full assessment, taking into account the therapeutic objectives, the severity of the symptoms and the particularities of brain activity.
What matters in making the decision
Several aspects are taken into account when recommending the protocol: the results of the BrainMap (qEEG) assessment, the medical history, existing diagnoses, the duration and intensity of the symptoms, as well as the objectives pursued (neurological rehabilitation, managing a condition, optimising cognitive performance or prevention). On the basis of this information, the specialist decides whether classic neurofeedback is enough or whether Neurofeedback Plus can bring additional benefits.
Why the initial assessment is important
The BrainMap (qEEG) assessment is the first step in drawing up a personalised therapeutic protocol. It provides objective information about the way the brain works, identifies the areas that need optimising and makes it possible to monitor progress during therapy. A recommendation made without an initial assessment cannot be adapted to the particularities of each patient, which is why the assessment is essential for choosing the most suitable therapeutic approach.
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