Neurofeedbackin addictions: how you can train the brain in order to remove them
Addiction is a major health problem and is characterised by the psychological and physical inability to give up the use of certain substances.
Addictions - The sources of cravings and impulses from a neuroscientific perspective
Addiction is a major health problem and is characterised by the psychological and physical inability to give up the use of certain substances (drugs, alcohol, tobacco and so on) or to stop certain activities (compulsive eating, gambling and so on) despite being aware of the negative effects they have on the individual.
One of the most difficult aspects of overcoming addiction is facing the strong and persistent craving that can appear when you try to give up or reduce the use of substances or the engagement in certain activities. This craving can be triggered by various factors such as stress, boredom, emotions, memories or exposure to cues associated with the substance or the activity. The craving can also appear spontaneously, without any apparent reason. Cravings are not only psychological phenomena, but have a biochemical basis in the brain.
In order to understand how cravings and impulses work, we need to understand the way addiction affects the brain. Addiction is a complex disorder that involves changes in several regions of the brain and in the neurotransmitter systems, and one of the most important is the reward system. This system is a network of brain structures responsible for producing and regulating feelings of pleasure, motivation and learning. The reward system includes the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the nucleus accumbens (NAc), the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the amygdala. These regions of the brain communicate with each other through chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, endorphins and glutamate.
The reward system is activated by natural rewards such as food, water, sex and social interactions, which are essential for survival and wellbeing. When we experience a natural reward, the VTA releases dopamine into the NAc, creating a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction. The PFC helps us evaluate the reward and plan our actions in order to obtain that reward again. The amygdala helps us associate the reward with the cues that precede it, such as smells, sounds or places. This process of reward learning helps us develop habits and preferences that later influence our behaviour.
Even so, the reward system can also be manipulated by artificial rewards such as drugs of abuse, which are more powerful and more reliable than natural rewards. When we use such substances, the VTA releases a large amount of dopamine into the NAc, generating a feeling of euphoria and reward. The prefrontal cortex is affected and loses its ability to control impulses and to make rational decisions. The amygdala forms strong associations between the drug and the cues that activate it, such as paraphernalia, people or places. This process of drug learning leads to addiction, characterised by the compulsive seeking and use of the drug, despite the negative consequences.
In the fight against addiction, willpower therefore plays a crucial role, but it cannot be the only determining factor in the recovery process. The strong wish to give up unhealthy substances or habits and to regain control over your own life is essential, but it is often insufficient in the face of the complex biological and psychological forces that underlie addiction.
Although willpower can initially provide the motivation needed to start a path of recovery, it is important to recognise that addictions deeply affect the brain and behaviour, changing their chemistry and structure. The approach to addiction therefore has to be holistic, involving psychological and social aspects as well as biological interventions, where appropriate.
Craving is the result of the activation of the reward system by drug-related cues or stress factors, or of the depletion of dopamine levels due to abstinence or withdrawal. Cravings can be very intense and overwhelming and can affect cognitive and emotional functioning. Craving can also increase the risk of relapse, that is, the return to drug use after a period of abstinence or reduction.
So, how can neurofeedback help in addictions to reduce cravings and to prevent relapses? Neurofeedback for addictions is a form of biofeedback that uses feedback on brain activity in real time in order to help you regulate the function and the behaviour of the brain. It can target various regions and frequencies of the brain involved in addiction and craving, such as the PFC, the NAc, the amygdala and the brainwaves involved. By training the brain to produce optimal patterns of activity, neurofeedback can help you obtain the following results:
- Improving executive functions: these are the higher cognitive skills that allow you to plan, organise, concentrate, inhibit unfavourable behaviours and switch from one activity to another. Executive functions are mediated by the prefrontal cortex, which is often affected in addiction. By increasing the activity and the connectivity of the PFC, neurofeedback can help you improve your executive functions and develop your skills of self-control, decision making and problem solving. This can help you resist the temptation to use substances or to fall back on unhealthy habits, helping you cope with the challenges encountered along the path of recovery.
- Reducing sensitivity to rewards: this refers to the degree to which you respond to rewards and seek them out. Sensitivity to rewards is influenced by the activity and the connectivity of the NAc, which is often overstimulated in addiction. By reducing its activity and connectivity, you reduce sensitivity to rewards and lessen cravings. This can help you reduce dependence on drugs and increase your appreciation of natural rewards.
- Lowering reactivity to cues: this aspect refers to the degree to which you react to the cues associated with drug use, such as images, sounds, smells or emotions. By reducing reactivity and weakening the associations between drugs and cues, you can reduce the triggers and thus avoid relapses.
- Balancing the brainwaves: these are the rhythmic patterns of electrical activity that appear in the brain. They are measured by the frequency or speed of the oscillations and are classified into various bands, such as theta, alpha and beta. Brainwaves reflect the state of the brain and influence your mood, your cognitive abilities and your behaviour. They are often dysregulated in addiction, leading to imbalances in arousal, attention and emotions. By regulating the levels and the ratios of the different brainwaves, neurofeedback for addictions can help you balance these waves and optimise the functioning of the brain. This can help you reach a state of calm, alertness and wellbeing.
- Regulating brain activity in Brodmann Area 13: Brodmann Area 13 is found near the junction between the frontal cortex and the parietal cortex, in the front part of the brain, and it is involved in the control and the regulation of a wide range of cognitive and behavioural functions. Among them are: decision making, planning, impulse control, attention, working memory and the regulation of emotions. By regulating the activity in Brodmann Area 13, the processes of learning and of adapting to the environment are improved, as well as the management of social interactions and the understanding of the consequences of behaviour.
Neurofeedback is a powerful tool that can help you train your brain to work more efficiently and reduce the cravings and impulses associated with addiction. By addressing the key regions and frequencies of the brain involved in addiction and craving, neurofeedback for addictions can help you improve your executive functions, reduce your sensitivity to rewards, lower your reactivity to cues and balance your brainwaves. It can therefore be a valuable instrument in overcoming the challenges of addiction and in reaching your recovery goals.
What is neurofeedback, in fact?
Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback that uses measurements of brain activity in real time in order to help people learn how to regulate their own brain functions. It has been used for various purposes, such as improving cognitive performance, treating mental disorders and improving wellbeing. In this section we will focus on the way neurofeedback can be applied in the treatment of addictions and on why it is considered a promising approach that can complement other forms of therapy, answering the most frequent questions:
How does neurofeedback work?
Neurofeedback is based on the principle that the brain can change its own structure and function through experience and learning, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity. By offering feedback on certain brainwaves or brain regions associated with certain behaviours or emotions, it can help people change their brain activity and obtain the results they want.
What are the advantages of neurofeedback in the treatment of addictions?
Neurofeedback can offer various advantages to people struggling with substance use disorders or behavioural addictions, such as gambling or internet addiction. Some of the advantages are:
- Neurofeedback can influence the neural mechanisms underlying addiction, such as reward processing, craving, the stress response and self-control. Changing these brain functions can reduce the wish to use substances or to engage in addictive behaviours and can increase the ability to resist temptation and to cope with triggers.
- Neurofeedback can improve the effectiveness of other forms of therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI) or mindfulness-based interventions (MBI). By improving the brain’s ability to learn and change, neurofeedback can facilitate the acquisition and the consolidation of the new skills and strategies learned in these therapies.
- Neurofeedback can offer a personalised and flexible treatment option, which can be adapted to the needs and the preferences of the individual. This type of therapy can be adjusted in order to influence various regions or frequencies of the brain, depending on the type and severity of the addiction, on concurrent mental or physical conditions and on the person’s goals and expectations.
What are the challenges and the limits of neurofeedback in the treatment of addiction?
Neurofeedback is not a cure-all that heals addiction overnight. It is a complex and developing field that has to address some challenges and limits, such as the need for a high level of commitment and motivation from the person following the treatment, given that multiple sessions are needed for significant changes. The effectiveness of the therapy also depends on the experience and the competence of the professional who administers the treatment and interprets the data.
Neurofeedback is a promising approach that can offer a new perspective and a new instrument for the treatment of addictions. By harnessing the brain’s power to heal itself, it can help people overcome addiction and improve their quality of life.
Even so, neurofeedback is not a substitute for other forms of treatment, but a complementary and integrative approach that can improve and optimise the results of addiction recovery.
How does neurofeedback therapy work in addictions?
Neurofeedback can help reduce the craving involved in addiction by targeting the brain regions and networks involved in the reward system, such as the prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, the insula and the nucleus accumbens. By training these areas to produce more optimal brainwave patterns, the user can improve their executive functions, such as impulse control, decision making and the regulation of emotions.
What are the advantages of addiction neurofeedback for reducing cravings?
Neurofeedback has numerous advantages over other methods for reducing cravings, such as medication, psychotherapy or mindfulness. Some of the advantages are:
- It is not invasive, involves no medication and does not create dependence.
- It is personalised and adapted to the specific needs and goals of the user, based on the qEEG assessment and their progress.
- It is evidence-based and supported by scientific research, which shows that neurofeedback can effectively reduce cravings and impulses, bringing results in different types of addiction, such as recreational drugs, gambling, internet gaming, as well as food or sexual addiction.
- It is complementary and compatible with other forms of treatment, such as medication, psychotherapy or mindfulness. It can amplify the effects of these interventions and can offer additional support and reinforcement.
What are the limits of neurofeedback for reducing cravings?
Neurofeedback is not a magic and quick solution for addiction. It has some limits and challenges that have to be taken into account and addressed. Some of the limits are:
- It requires commitment and consistency, because the user has to attend several sessions over several weeks or months in order to obtain lasting results.
- It requires motivation and cooperation, because the user has to follow the instructions and the feedback of the neurofeedback device and of the therapist and to avoid interrupting the sessions.
- It requires maintenance and follow-up, because the user has to continue putting into practice the skills and strategies learned in the neurofeedback sessions and to monitor their progress.
Recalibrating the brain for optimal functioning
By providing information about certain types of brainwaves, such as alpha, beta, theta or gamma, neurofeedback can help people enhance or inhibit certain mental states, such as relaxation, alertness, concentration or creativity. Neurofeedback can also help people correct abnormal or dysfunctional brain patterns, such as those associated with addiction, anxiety, depression, ADHD or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Neurofeedback can have lasting effects on the brain, even after the sessions have ended. This is because neurofeedback can induce long-term potentiation (LTP) or long-term depression (LTD), processes that strengthen or weaken the synaptic connections between neurons. LTP and LTD can consolidate the changes in brain activity induced by neurofeedback, making them more stable and durable. Neurofeedback can also increase the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports the growth and the survival of neurons and synapses. BDNF can improve the neuroplasticity and the resilience of the brain, making it more adaptable and more resistant to stress and damage.
Brain training is the therapy unique to the BrainMap Neuroscience Institute, which combines three forms of therapy for more effective and faster results than in classic neurofeedback therapy. Besides neurofeedback, it also uses photobiomodulation, a modern form of therapy that brings the beneficial effects of light into the body and the brain, promoting neuroplasticity and neuroregeneration, improving blood circulation and reducing inflammation, and heart-brain coherence, a form of biofeedback that uses breathing in order to promote better synchronicity between the nerve cells of the heart and those of the brain. Heart-brain coherence activates the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for conserving energy in the body.
Brain training is a powerful instrument that can help people reprogramme their brain for optimal functioning. By providing feedback on their own brain activity, neurofeedback can help people learn how to regulate their mental states, correct dysfunctional brain patterns and obtain the results they want. This type of therapy can be particularly useful for people struggling with addiction, because it can help them regain control over their own brain and reduce their impulses, being a safe, effective and non-invasive alternative or complement to other forms of addiction treatment, such as medication, therapy or counselling.
The testimony of a wife whose husband suffered from addictions
In recent years it has been noticed that more and more people suffer from addictions.
As their number has grown, so has the rate of deaths caused by addictions. Addictions affect not only quality of life, but also the quality of relationships with the family and with those around.
One of our patients, who suffered from addictions, was persuaded by his wife to come to brain training therapy. Before coming to us, her husband had serious problems, and his wife did not know what to do in order to help him give them up and change the quality of his life, until she found out about our institute online.
After he followed the plan of 30 therapy sessions, her husband became a different man. Here is her testimony:
“My husband actually had some very serious addictions. I searched online for solutions in order to be able to help him and that is when I found BrainMap for the first time. I spoke to them on the phone and I persuaded my husband to try the therapy. The people and the whole team at the institute spoke to us very kindly and respectfully. They helped my husband go through the entire therapy of 30 sessions and after that I saw a total change in my husband. Before, it was very bad. Now I am very pleased with the results and I recommend them to those who want this and who have the means to reach their clinics.”
If you or someone dear to you want help with addiction, we can support the process. Using a revolutionary technology that causes no adverse reactions, you will be able to live the best possible life through brain training.
This form of therapy combines all 3 forms of neurofeedback training (NFB + PBM + HBC) in a way personalised for the specifics of your brain and your needs. This is also why it has the most spectacular results in conditions for which there is no cure. The map of the brain, just like DNA, is unique. Any treatment method we design is therefore adapted to the case of each individual patient.
Given the complexity of the therapy and the dozens of ways in which it can be applied, we choose a combination specific to each brain and suitable for each condition or need.
What does the therapeutic plan consist of?
- You do a BrainMap investigation, in which we discover exactly the brain areas we will work on. This way, we figure out how we will conduct the therapy sessions.
- Based on the results, you receive a personalised Brain training treatment plan, suited to the uniqueness of your brain.
- You follow the established plan and attend the regular sessions of brain training.
For more details about the BrainMap assessment and about brain training therapy, book a phone conversation with one of our specialists.
References
- Staff, E. (n.d.). Neurofeedback in Recovery. [online] American Addiction Centers. Available at: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/therapy-treatment/neurofeedback.
- Fateme Dehghani-Arani, Rostami, R. and Hosein Nadali (2013). Neurofeedback Training for Opiate Addiction: Improvement of Mental Health and Craving. Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback, [online] 38(2), pp. 133-141. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-013-9218-5.
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