Biofeedback (BFB), Neurofeedback
(NFB), and Psychophysiological Stress Profile (PSP)
What is BFB?
Peripheral BFB focuses on learning self-regulation over the two branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) – the sympathetic (fight, flight, or freeze) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous systems (SNS and PNS). Much of the stress response is experienced through and affects these two systems.
Short term dysregulation of these systems can lead to:
Chronic dysregulation of these systems can exacerbate any of the above and results in:
BFB enables identification of even the smallest of changes in the body to allow balance to be restored in the nervous system, with eventual long-term master regulation of these systems.
What types of BFB are there?
Surface electromyography (SEMG):
This method provides a safe, easy, and noninvasive way to objectively quantify the energy of a muscle. It is not a measurement of strength or force but rather a measurement of the electrical activity given off by the muscle. It can be utilized to address muscle imbalance and substitution issues as well as providing a useful way of monitoring excessive tension in body areas that are known to be involved with stress and tension, including muscles of the forehead, back, jaw and shoulders. SEMG BFB can help to reduce tension headaches and body pain resulting for prolonged and/or excessive muscle tension.
Peripheral temperature BFB:
These devices are an indicator of peripheral vasoconstriction and typically read out in degrees Fahrenheit. When the ANS is biased towards a sympathetic state (flight, fight, or freeze response); blood flow to the periphery goes down. Learning to increase blood flow via peripheral temperature BFB can help to reduce certain types of migraines, improve symptoms of Raynaud’s, reduce hypertension, decrease the stress response, thereby inducing relaxation.
Brainwave BFB (a.k.a., NFB):
NFB is an advanced intervention that provides the participant with real-time feedback about their brainwave activity. It is measured through sensors on the scalp and the feedback is typically visual and/or auditory in nature. When an individual changes their brainwaves in the desired direction, they are provided with a positive “reward”. It is true self-regulation in the form of neuro-electrical self-regulation.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) BFB:
Not to be confused with heart rate; heart rate variability (HRV) is the time interval between consecutive heart beats, a.k.a., the interbeat interval. This time varies and is influenced by biological rhythms and various biochemical processes and is generated by the interaction of multiple regulatory mechanism operating on various time scales.
Research indicates that reduced HRV is associated with vulnerability to psychological and physical stressors and disease. Low HRV is a marker for multiple cardiovascular disorders. Reduced HRV is also seen in disorders with autonomic dysregulation, including anxiety and depressive disorders, asthma, and vulnerability to sudden infant death.
Training to improve your HRV (via specialized breath training at a certain rate, called Resonance Frequency), can result in a variety of benefits, including:
Electrodermal activity via Skin Conduction Response (SCR):
Aa short-term biomarker of arousal that is generated by measuring the changes in sweat secretions on the epidermis. The skin is the only organ that is purely innervated by the SNS and is not impacted by the PNS. This is typically utilized to monitor changes in the SNS during other types of BFB and is also utilized in psychophysiological stress profiles (PSP).
Which type of BFB do I need?
A psychophysiological stress profile (PSP) can be utilized to determine an individual’s physiological responses to stress. In addition, it can help to identify incorrect levels of functioning, given the task at hand and help to identify whether an individual is able to return to their baseline physiological state following a stressor. It can help to ascertain the modality or modalities that may be most useful for an individual during BFB. Finally, it can help determine changes in levels of functioning before and after interventions.
According to the ISNR website: "Biofeedback is a process that enables an individual to learn how to change physiological activity for the purposes of improving health and performance. Precise instruments measure physiological activity such as brainwaves, heart function, breathing, muscle activity, and skin temperature. These instruments rapidly and accurately "feed back" information to the user. The presentation of this information — often in conjunction with changes in thinking, emotions, and behavior — supports desired physiological changes. Over time, these changes can endure without continued use of an instrument."
This definition was ratified by the Task Force on Nomenclature in 2008
(NFB), and Psychophysiological Stress Profile (PSP)
What is BFB?
Peripheral BFB focuses on learning self-regulation over the two branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) – the sympathetic (fight, flight, or freeze) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous systems (SNS and PNS). Much of the stress response is experienced through and affects these two systems.
Short term dysregulation of these systems can lead to:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Digestive problems
- Difficulties with attention and focus
- Emotional/psychological instability.
Chronic dysregulation of these systems can exacerbate any of the above and results in:
- Significantly reduced immune system function (more frequent and prolonged illness)
- Weight issues
- Hypertension
- Inability to focus
- Injuries
- Overall decreased functioning and performance
BFB enables identification of even the smallest of changes in the body to allow balance to be restored in the nervous system, with eventual long-term master regulation of these systems.
What types of BFB are there?
Surface electromyography (SEMG):
This method provides a safe, easy, and noninvasive way to objectively quantify the energy of a muscle. It is not a measurement of strength or force but rather a measurement of the electrical activity given off by the muscle. It can be utilized to address muscle imbalance and substitution issues as well as providing a useful way of monitoring excessive tension in body areas that are known to be involved with stress and tension, including muscles of the forehead, back, jaw and shoulders. SEMG BFB can help to reduce tension headaches and body pain resulting for prolonged and/or excessive muscle tension.
Peripheral temperature BFB:
These devices are an indicator of peripheral vasoconstriction and typically read out in degrees Fahrenheit. When the ANS is biased towards a sympathetic state (flight, fight, or freeze response); blood flow to the periphery goes down. Learning to increase blood flow via peripheral temperature BFB can help to reduce certain types of migraines, improve symptoms of Raynaud’s, reduce hypertension, decrease the stress response, thereby inducing relaxation.
Brainwave BFB (a.k.a., NFB):
NFB is an advanced intervention that provides the participant with real-time feedback about their brainwave activity. It is measured through sensors on the scalp and the feedback is typically visual and/or auditory in nature. When an individual changes their brainwaves in the desired direction, they are provided with a positive “reward”. It is true self-regulation in the form of neuro-electrical self-regulation.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) BFB:
Not to be confused with heart rate; heart rate variability (HRV) is the time interval between consecutive heart beats, a.k.a., the interbeat interval. This time varies and is influenced by biological rhythms and various biochemical processes and is generated by the interaction of multiple regulatory mechanism operating on various time scales.
Research indicates that reduced HRV is associated with vulnerability to psychological and physical stressors and disease. Low HRV is a marker for multiple cardiovascular disorders. Reduced HRV is also seen in disorders with autonomic dysregulation, including anxiety and depressive disorders, asthma, and vulnerability to sudden infant death.
Training to improve your HRV (via specialized breath training at a certain rate, called Resonance Frequency), can result in a variety of benefits, including:
- Decreased blood pressure
- Improved stress management
- Improved emotional control and mood
- Improved concentration and performance
- Influencing your immune system via changes in the balance of cortisol, DHEA (dehydoepiandosterone), and salivary IgA (immunoglobulin A).
Electrodermal activity via Skin Conduction Response (SCR):
Aa short-term biomarker of arousal that is generated by measuring the changes in sweat secretions on the epidermis. The skin is the only organ that is purely innervated by the SNS and is not impacted by the PNS. This is typically utilized to monitor changes in the SNS during other types of BFB and is also utilized in psychophysiological stress profiles (PSP).
Which type of BFB do I need?
A psychophysiological stress profile (PSP) can be utilized to determine an individual’s physiological responses to stress. In addition, it can help to identify incorrect levels of functioning, given the task at hand and help to identify whether an individual is able to return to their baseline physiological state following a stressor. It can help to ascertain the modality or modalities that may be most useful for an individual during BFB. Finally, it can help determine changes in levels of functioning before and after interventions.
According to the ISNR website: "Biofeedback is a process that enables an individual to learn how to change physiological activity for the purposes of improving health and performance. Precise instruments measure physiological activity such as brainwaves, heart function, breathing, muscle activity, and skin temperature. These instruments rapidly and accurately "feed back" information to the user. The presentation of this information — often in conjunction with changes in thinking, emotions, and behavior — supports desired physiological changes. Over time, these changes can endure without continued use of an instrument."
This definition was ratified by the Task Force on Nomenclature in 2008