Alan Bachers, Ph.D.
Neurofeedback Foundation
34 South Main Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
440-893-0750
abachers@apk.net
NEUROFEEDBACK
Brain wave activity
Controlled by the individual
To promote Class Four Space
NEUROFEEDBACK
 A training system in which brain wave
activity, obtained by sensors on the scalp,
is presented to an individual as a video
display.
 When brain activity moves toward patterns
of improved self-regulation, the display
(often a video game) advances, slowing or
stopping as brain activity regresses.
 Well described patterns of optimal
brain function are cultivated over
sessions, accompanied by automatic
diminution or elimination of pathology
as the brain orchestrates its own
improvements.
 Results are at least long-lasting, often
permanent, and continue to advance
after training.
Pathology or Disease
 Computationally Reducible abnormal firing
patterns of brainwaves diagnose known
disease states – epilepsy, depression,
ADHD, brain injury, etc.
 “Attractor spaces” of disease originate
through genetics, environmental, or
experiential causes, occupy 16% of our
Gross Domestic Product, and can be seen
as Class 1,2,3 states.
Pathology (cont.)
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Class 1,2,3 states –
1. Die out (or host dies);
2. Endlessly repeat;
3. Form patterns within patterns.
 These “stand still,” can be manipulated,
numbers for which are standard Old Kind
of Science.
Some Class 1,2,3 applications
of neurofeedback
 Alcoholism/addiction
 Anxiety/panic
 Attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder
 Attachment disorder
 Autism
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Brain injury
Depression
Epilepsy
Parkinson’s disease
Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder
While the field struggles to
establish its scientific credibility in
the disease model, those [Class
1,2 3] applications will become
trivial as far more compelling
results emerge in all areas of
maximizing human capacities.
Producing Class Four Space
 Central nervous system (CNS) in a loop
with itself in NF training gets to observe
the initial condition of pathologic variation,
which, if sufficiently large, interrupts
feedback.
 Shifting attention to restart feedback
terminates capture by pathologic attractor,
creates new iteration, free of that particular
attractor.
Class Four Space (Con’t.)
 Each return to an initial, attractor free state,
increases the likelihood and ease of repeating
that fresh start the next time an attractor space
threatens to topple me into my pathologic history
of class 1,2,3 vortices.
 In each neurofeedback session, hundreds, or
even thousands of these new iterations
eventually make the creation of class four,
pathologic attractor free space, the default state
of every day life.
Class 4 EEG Space, Defined
 Maintenance of mean-of-the-median within
16 frequency “spaces” >80% of the time.
 Continual tightening of criteria at comfort
level increases flexibility and resilience of
CNS,
 Flexibility and resilience of CNS increases,
lessening wobble and capture by Class
1,2,3 pathologic attractor spaces.
“Hey, this is like I’m defragging
my brain.”
Client quote
Consequences of Cultivating Class
Four EEG State
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Pathology drops out;
Others comment on changes they observe;
Things that were difficult become easier;
Interest in what is good for me increases;
Interest in what is not good for me wanes;
Instances of peak performance become more
common;
 Present and future orientation replaces focus on
the past.
Profound Consequences of
Class Four EEG States
 “Recontextification” of past trauma;
 Transformations in intellectual, emotional,
physical, spiritual life;
 Psychotherapy “through the rear view
mirror”;
 Major life achievements accomplished;
 Breakthroughs into highest order of
functioning.
Class Four EEG Space Exhibits
Computational Irreducibility
 CNS takes off when and where we can’t
look from perspectives of class 1,2,3 tools;
 Changes manifest as unintended and
unexpected far-ranging improvements;
 Return from CFS brings dissolution or
elimination of Class 1,2,3 pathologic
attractor space;
Class Four EEG Space Exhibits
Computational Equivalence
 Across all subjects (universal), outcomes
remain idiosyncratic, and, beyond Class
1,2,3 predictions, undecidable in any
individual.
The well prepared brain
 Having had enough preparation such that
peak performances are relatively common;
 Having “had enough” [trauma, abuse,
pain, maltreatment] and ready to change;
 Merely curious, willing to explore.
Many people who show up to do
neurofeedback can expect to
see about a two standard
deviation improvement on just
about anything they care to
measure.
Resources
 www.wikipedia.org
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Search word: neurofeedback
www.isnr.org International Society of
Neuronal Regulation
www.eegspectrum.com
www.brianothmerfoundation.org
www.zengar.com - presenter article
Alan Bachers, Ph.D.
Neurofeedback Foundation
34 South Main Street
Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022
440-893-0750
abachers@apk.net