HEG Without Vulgar Behaviorism Greg Alter Ph D

HEG Without (Vulgar) Behaviorism Greg Alter, Ph. D. September 7, 2005

HEG as Interpersonal Communication n n n You Cannot Not Communicate Content Meta-communication Brain in the Mind in the Person, Mind Interpersonally Ericksonian Hypnosis

Biofeedback in Primary Care n n n Lateralized EEG Studies and Me Peripheral: 1980 Parasympathetic Tone Stress Management and Psychosomatic Medicine Self Regulation Strategies (Mindfulness: 2005)

Neurofeedback Multi Modal n n n Electrophrenology vs. QEEG Comprehensive 2 nd Order Variability Training: Val Brown’s “Turbulence” Micro Stimulation: Len Ochs and Delta Mind Gear vs. Mind Alive and AVE: Neuro. Advantage in 2005 Jeff Carmen and p. IR HEG: Black Box 2000

HEG Training: First Iteration n Thresholds ON Carmen: . 3 to 1 degree F manual thresholds controlling DVD reward Toomim: 10 minute focused effort, 10% over baseline controlling DVD reward

p. IR n n n ADHD IVAs Group Setting (2 -5 participants, some on EEG) 18 months, 24 kids and some adults Name a Movie, Any Movie Comparable IVA increases and subjective benefits

n. IR n n n ADHD, Autism, Encephalopathy, Anxiety, OCD Individual Sessions IVA, Microcog 1 year, mixed child and adult population Comparable IVA increases and subjective benefits—one “failure, ” one “sensitive”

Learning, Exercise, Communication n Reinforcement Schedules in HEG are less important than total time in practice Exercise=power + duration Rhythmicity of Practice More Important than “Exercise” program—the Brain is actually not a “muscle. ”

Well Exercised Brain n n Efficiency More difficult to get increased blood flow or temp than early in practice Novelty and prefrontal Just train harder?

The Sensitive Person n Labile emotions = labile blood flow/temp Reduced emotional lability corresponds to better modulated temperature Effective practice leads to emotional resilience in everyday life

Movies Don’t Work As Feedback n n Don’t fit idealized model of instrumental reinforcement Activate prefrontal emissions passively Don’t require enough time making focused efforts AND OUTCOMES ARE JUST AS GOOD!!! Is this Behaviorism? !

With Both p. IR and n. IR HEG We Train Differently for Habituated Tasks vs Novel Tasks n n n Motivation = task * person Task Valence Task Fractionation Sympathetic Activation Parasympathetic Activation

Turbulence Reduction n n 2 nd order variability measures create the HEG Attention Index Turbulence takes into account variations in rhythmicity from multiple sources HEG practice modulates turbulence Modulation Practice fosters both parasympathetic tone and executive function HRV and Dynamical EEG Correlates Favoring Modulation vs Amplitude Increases

Attention Index n n History in HEG training: primary motive has been increase in HEG Ratio Attention Index diminishes emphasis on HEG amplitude Attention Index fosters focus on modulation and variability reduction: decreased turbulence Net effect will be increased perfusion of hypoperfused areas and decreased hyperfusion

Practice Implications n n n n Threshold unnecessary but has its place Interpersonal effects on parasympathetic tone Alternate cognitive with affective focus Alternate concentration with open focus Alternate habituated with novel tasks Alternate boring with affectively stimulating tasks Movies work just fine!

Marketing HEG n n n Convenience Enjoyment Self Regulation Cost Effectiveness Story

Integration of HEG n n Office and Home Practice Multiple Modalities Amplify Effects Foster Self-regulation Attitudes with Peripheral Practice Assess both parasympathetic tone and improvements in attention, cognition, affect