BIOFEEDBACK IN A CLINICAL
SETTING
IMPLICATION FOR
POLYGRAPHY
Biofeedback
What is Biofeedback?
Biofeedback
is the use technology to identify, modify
and control one’s biology, emotions and thoughts
Types of Biofeedback
Neurofeedback
(qEEG)
Symptom specific (pelvic floor dysfunction, etc.)
Autonomic Nervous System activity control
Cognitive/Emotional Regulation
Polygraph
Advantages of Each
Neurofeedback
Requires
expensive equipment and extensive training
Target specific neurological deficits
Identifies areas of deficit in Brodmann areas
Map of areas of low and high activity determine
treatment
Under activated areas can be stimulated for additional
activity
Areas of over activity are balances by activation of
inhibitory systems
Brodmann Areas
EEG Neurofeedback
Types of Biofeedback
Symptom Specific Treatment
Requires
expensive equipment and extensive training
Typically carried out in a medical setting
Target symptoms that are treatable without medication
Teach clients to self treat outside the practitioners office
Develops independence from regular medical
intervention
Types of Biofeedback
Autonomic Nervous System Activity
Uses
a variety of equipment (ranging in price)
Treats systemic medical issues
Target symptoms that are treatable without medication
Teach clients to self treat outside the practitioners office
Develops independence from regular medical
intervention
Pelvic Floor Feedback
Types of Biofeedback
Cognitive/Emotional Regulation
Uses
equipment that of varying price (typically
inexpensive)
Can be effectively used by practitioners with very little
training
Can be used by clients remotely (home, work, travel)
Effectively regulates the body, causing changes in the
internal state
Types of Biofeedback
Polygraph
Uses
expensive equipment
Requires extensive training
Only clinical use is to break down denial
Should NOT include any type of emotional
management by the client
Passive response
Polygraph
UNDERSTANDING THE
BODY AND BRAIN
Understanding the Body and Brain
A brain in your hand…
Or just try the clenched fist method
Wrist and arm is spinal column,
thumb becomes limbic system,
and fingers and back of hand become cerebrum.
The entire system is held together tightly.
The cerebrum, the outer part, is divided up into lobes.
Frontal Lobes
Planning, thinking
Rational and executive control
center
Monitor higher order thinking
Direct problem solving
“Regulates the excesses of
the emotional system”
“Self-Will” area – our
personality – trauma here can
cause permanent and dramatic
changes in personality.
Time/sequence
Spirituality
Courtesy of Drew Caesar
www.about-healing.com
•
•
Limbic - so called “old
mammalian brain”–
emotions, desires, fight,
flight, or freeze
Includes many parts of
the brain – thalamus,
hypothalamus, corpus
callosum, amygdala,
hippocampus, pituitary
gland, olfactory nerves.
Courtesy of Drew Caesar
www.about-healing.com
Hippocampus
Hippocampus (Greek for “seahorse” because of shape)
Plays significant role in consolidating learning converts information from
working memory to long term storage which may take days or months
(think tx. concepts)
checks information from working memory and compares to stored
experiences – essential for creating meaning
Damage to it means that
memory doesn’t go into long
term storage.
Some evidence says that it
plays a role in remembering
facts, objects, and places but
not much of a role in recall of
long term personal memories
(Lieberman, 2005)
Courtesy of Drew Caesar
www.about-healing.com
Amygdala
Amygdala (Greek for “Almond”)
Found at the end of the hippocampus
Involved in emotions – especially fear and threat and
assessment of threat
Connected with organisms survival behaviors, flight, fight,
freeze, mate, eat
Some evidence to indicate it
attaches emotions to memories
tagged for long term storage.
The Lizard Brain
Brain Stem – So called,
reptilian brain, resembles the
entire brain of reptile
Of the twelve nerves that go to
the brain from the body,
eleven end in the brain stem.
Consists in part of the Medulla
oblongata – heart rate,
breathing – body
temperature, digestion
monitored and controlled.
Houses the Reticular
Activating System (RAS)
responsible for brains
alertness
Courtesy of Drew Caesar
www.about-healing.com
Selecting Appropriate Clients
Disorders
PTSD
Highly
aroused
Depersonalized
Reactive
Anxiety
General
Panic
Traumatized Clients
Attacks
Dissociative
Disorders
Depressive Disorder
NOS
Substance Abuse
Sexual Arousal
Disorder
Impulse Control
Antisocial / CD
Inappropriate Clients
Don’t Train Biofeedback
Previous Use of
Countermeasures
Previous deceptive
with denial
Don’t Polygraph
Uncontrolled Anxiety
Dissociative
Reactive/Victims
Clients some
drugs/medication
The Technology
emWave
Iom (Wild Divine)
Reading
HRV
Looks
at the rhythm of
your heart
Emotions change the
variability of signals
Goal is to gain
Coherence
GSR
An
indication of mental
activity
More thought = higher
perspiration
Less thought = lower
perspiration
Perspiration =
electrical conductance
emWave Desktop
Fear Reactions
Fear triggers initiate a reaction in the autonomic
nervous system including:
Hypertension
Perspiration
Involuntary
muscle movement
Increase in GSR
Increase in rapid breathing
Techniques
Mindfulness
Decrease
galvanic skin
response
Decrease stress
response
Quick Coherence
Change
in heart rate
variability
Decreased cortisol
production
Increases in attention,
clarity
Classic Systematic Desensitization
Pendulation
Emersion
Use
basic visualization
of disturbing content
Illicit negative emotions
Notice sensory
stimulation
Stabilization
Obtain
stable
physiological response
Useful with emWave
and Wild Divine
No Nos
Biofeedback should
not be used as a minipolygraph
Don’t give specific
questions
Do
deal with the big
concepts
“Let’s talk about the
feelings that come up
with family”
POLYGRAPH AND
COUNTERMEASURES
Demonstration
Containment Model
Criminal Justice System
Community
Members
Sex Offense
Specific Treatment
Polygraph
Examiner
Types of Clinical Polygraphs
Specific Issue
Addresses
offender denial
Sexual History Disclosure
Treatment
Planning
Risk Prediction
Maintenance / Monitoring
How Does the Polygraph Work?
I can’t
control my
autonomic
nervous
system!!
It activates the “Flight or Fight” response
in humans and measures.
1.
Heart Rate
2.
Certain Respiration Patterns
3.
Galvanic Skin Response (the
skin’s resistance to electricity)
4.
Blood Pressure
These measures are associated
with deception and are not
themselves measures of lying.
1. Pre-Test
2. In-Test
Sign release and consent forms
Review medical conditions
Explain purpose of exam
Review equipment
Review terminology
Develop final questions
Calibrate instrument
No trick questions
2-4 relevant questions tucked inside 10-20
comparison questions
Relevant questions must be specific
Run 3 sets of charts
Score and interpret chart markings (pen
tracings)
3. Post Test
Conducting an indepth interview with
examinee, giving him/her an opportunity to
explain deceptive findings
Use of Polygraph in Offense Specific
Treatment
Types of Polygraph
preconviction
specific issue
postconviction
specific
issue
sexual history
maintenance
Benefits of Polygraph
significantly
increases
disclosure
resolve discrepancy
between victim’s and
offender’s statements
ascertain limits of
abusive behavior
deter further acting out
more accurate than
clinical judgement
You Play A Role In
Polygraph Exam Accuracy
“The Offender must believe in the
ability of the lie-catcher.”
Ekman, 1995
Examiners are trained to induce
detection apprehension.
You, too, can induce detection!
Make consequences for not passing clear.
Focus on telling the truth.
Make it very clear that YOU believe in the
exam and will act on its results.
Can You Fool the Polygraph?
Countermeasures fall into several
categories:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Physical-coughing, moving, biting tongue
Mental- relaxation techniques
Chemical-drugs, deodorant on palms
Behavioral-directed toward examiner:
stories of woe, demanding specific wording
Examiners are trained to detect and deflect countermeasures.
Summary: Polygraph 101
Polygraph Technology greatly
enhances our ability to determine
truthfulness and deception, but
the real focus is developing truthfulness
and honesty as life habits. “Passing
the polygraph” is a distraction
from the real issue: Success
is a lifelong commitment to living
without secrets
and lies.
English, Jones, in process, 2001
No Use of Biofeedback
Polygraph and emWave
Decreases total amplitude of response of all the
physiological reactions
Differences between reactions on the control and
the relevant questions were still seen
Polygraph on a client with emWave training is valid
Polygraph and Wild Divine
Slowed breathing (3-4) breaths per 25 seconds is a
sign of breathing control
Uncontrolled breathing should be 5-6 breaths per
25 seconds
Blood pressure changes without movement may be
a sign of countermeasures.
Using Biofeedback (emWave)
What is this and why does it matter?
