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What is HEG?
Hemoencephalography
(HEG) biofeedback trains people to increase blood flow in the brain,
with a particular focus on the prefrontal cortex (frontal lobes).
The frontal lobes are often called the "Executive Brain" as they are
wired to the rest of the brain and exert control over many key
parts. An optical sensor is placed on the forehead using a
headband, and the client is instructed to watch a video display and
make the image move forward. Hershel and Marjorie Toomin, directors of
the Los Angeles Biofeedback Institute for four decades, developed this
technology from their research attempting to find the most effective
form of self-regulation. Now more than 2,000 clinicians internationally
have been using it to help clients clear mental fog, increase
motivation, improve memory capacity, and control impulses. For certain
conditions, HEG biofeedback may be more efficient and effective than
EEG training. As an example, on continuous performance tests, HEG
showed a 1 point gain per session, compared to a 1/2 point gain per
session of EEG neurofeedback on the TOVA test (Test of Variable
Attention). The HEG is not affected by eye blinks or facial
movement which often cause artifact (distortion) when using EEG on the
forehead.
HEG Training
This
training improves overall brain function by increasing blood flow to
the frontal lobes. Since each person’s brain is different, the changes
that result from this training vary from person to person. How you
manifest these changes might come as a surprise to you.
You may:
º
suddenly have a freeing insight about something that has bothered you
º
experience positive behaviorial changes without any mental effort
º feel
happier for no apparent reason
º find it
easier to be decisive and take charge of a situation
º start
having a different opinion about a person, situation or issue
º become
more sensitive to the needs and wants of other people
º handle
stress in a calmer, more focused way
How quickly and dramatically people respond depends upon on how much
they learn each training session and how much impairment they started
with. In general, I recommend having 10 to 20 sessions spaced out once
or twice weekly.
The two frontal lobes function together as the CEO for the rest of the
brain by orchestrating the activities of the other three lobes. When
the frontal lobes are functioning optimally, all the rest of the brain
performs better.
Capacity to use your frontal lobes can be described on a continuum. On
one end is impaired capacity due to damage resulting from head trauma.
This type of damage causes obvious dysfunction and impairment. However,
even mild head trauma can bring about indifference and a loss of
initiative and drive. On the opposite end of the continuum is full
capacity resulting from well-developed and fully oxygenated tissue in
the frontal lobes. This condition leads to superior levels of
performance.
Improved Performance with
HEG Frontal Lobe Training
HEG training affords people the opportunity to
strengthen their innate abilities and perform at their highest level.
Improvements can be noted in one or more of the following areas:
Success at
achieving goals
Together the frontal lobes are the part of your brain that allows you
to formulate and achieve goals. Frontal lobes facilitate your ability
to identify something you want to achieve, develop a plan of action,
get motivated to initiate the plan, sustain the motivation to carry out
the plan, and follow through in a timely manner with each step in the
correct sequence. This part of your brain also gives you the ability to
assess outcomes and to determine whether a new plan is needed if you
didn't achieve exactly what you intended.
People with healthy frontal lobes have real ambitions and dreams and
are able to achieve them. They are more prone to take charge of their
lives instead of feeling they’re a victim of circumstances. They have a
sharp working memory, don't get confused when faced with something new,
and can make good decisions in ambiguous situations. They’re able to
delay gratification, have better impulse control and foresight into the
consequences of actions. They also demonstrate the ability to stay on
track and not get distracted, and they have more common sense and show
good judgment. As a result of optimally functioning frontal lobes,
people can maximize their success in achieving their goals.
Higher social
intelligence
The more developed your frontal lobes are, the greater ability you have
to understand social situations and respond appropriately. With greater
insight into other people’s mental states (intentions, needs, etc.),
you have more success in social interactions. Communication skills are
enhanced due to the increased ability to read the subtle cues of other
people’s emotions and respond appropriately.
More mature
personality
With higher functioning frontal lobes, people have better control of
temper, greater insight into their own feelings and motives, increased
sense of ethics and more ethical behavior, mellowing of personality,
improved ability to compete, more drive and initiative, and less
irritability.
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