1.6 Is Neurofeedback based on classical or operant conditioning?
Presented by Sevilay Dogan
Neurofeedback as we use it today is based more on the operant conditioning principles and we do Neurofeedback with the premise that the brain is plastic and can/does learn to change its patterns of brain waves.
So how can these learning principles be applied to Neurofeedback?
In Neurofeedback, you get continuous and rapid visual and auditory feedback which informs the brain to correct and rectify certain brainwave activity.
In Neurofeedback, we have various games ranging from basic to complex. Inhibit and reward frequencies are constantly adjusted such that the brain can produce a certain amount of reward frequency, and we can move the target up to make the task more difficult for the brain to get the same rewards or move the target down if we see that the brain is struggling to achieve these targets. Through this process, the brain can reorganise its neurons slowly based on the adjustments we make and is possible due to neuroplasticity.
Click on the button below for an image of what the therapist sees during training in order to adjust frequencies as needed:
The total number of sessions administered to each client is very much determined on the complexity of each presentation and can be anywhere between 20-40 and 40-60 sessions – and the same goes for the duration of training per session.
Let’s take a moment to watch an example of a Neurofeedback session:
