The very beginnings of neurofeedback were as a solution for Epilepsy.
In the late 1950’s, Dr Kamiya at the University of Chicago demonstrated that by using a simple brain feedback device, he could train cats to control their epileptic seizures. He moved on to train humans to control their epilepsy using the same method.
The work was adopted by NASA in the 1960’s to train astronauts to control seizures as a precaution in case they come in contact with seizure-inducing lunar lander fuel. Neurofeedback is still in use in astronaut training today.
People with epilepsy have brains that continuously misfire. This is one way neurologists make a diagnosis. When brain cells surrounding the misfiring cells are activated, a seizure occurs. Neurofeedback allows the brain to inhibit slow wave EEG (the brainwave activity associated with seizure disorders) while reinforcing mid-range frequencies associated with preventing seizures.
If you are looking to neurofeedback training as a solution for epilepsy, dedication to the process is key. You may not notice any results in seizure reduction for the first dozen sessions, and a minimum of 30 sessions would be the recommended course. You can expect up to triple the number of sessions with more basic neurofeedback equipment.
