It’s quite common for clients to get confused about biofeedback and neurofeedback. When these words are used interchangeably, it’s hard to see that there is a difference.
It’s best to think about biofeedback as a form of electrical monitoring, and it delivers feedback on body functions that aren’t actively controlled by the client. With the help of biofeedback, clients can gain more control over these functions and enjoy better physical performance.
Neurofeedback can be viewed as a term that is used to describe a specific form of biofeedback. In many cases, neurofeedback is called EEG biofeedback. So when it comes down to biofeedback vs neurofeedback, there are some differences.
A Look at Biofeedback
Before you learn the differences between these terms, you should understand how they work. Biofeedback involves the use of medical instruments and provides vital feedback to the client.
It makes it possible for a client to gain more control over physical functions that they haven’t had much control over. By gaining control over these processes, the client can benefit from improved performance and health. Biofeedback is useful for treating many different medical conditions.
Some common conditions that may be treated with biofeedback are anxiety, stress, hypertension and chronic pain. When biofeedback is used, the main goal is to give the client more control over problematic physiological symptoms.
A Look at Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback is a specific protocol, and it’s used to improve brainwave activity. Neurofeedback is also called EEG biofeedback, and it’s particularly useful for treating a variety of neurological conditions.
EEG feedback is commonly used to treat epilepsy, sleep disorders, anxiety, stress, ADHD and traumatic brain injuries. You can think of neurofeedback as a type of reward system, and it’s used to teach the brain how to function in the best possible range.
Since neurofeedback targets the subconscious mind, it works extremely well. The goal is to bring the client’s brainwaves into balance. With the help of neurofeedback, a client can learn the best brainwave range for great sleep. Neurofeedback is similar to biofeedback because the main goal is to alleviate problematic symptoms and give clients long-term benefits.
What are the Differences?
Biofeedback is a general term, and it’s used to describe a type of feedback training for the body. Since it’s a general term, biofeedback can describe almost any type of process that involves the use of medical equipment to monitor body functions.
For example, a PET scan, a thermometer and a blood pressure cuff are all examples of biofeedback. Neurofeedback is different because it describes a specific type of biofeedback, which consists of brainwave readings.
How Can You Benefit from These Processes?
The purpose of neurofeedback is to help your brain function better, and when your brain functions better, it results in a calmer, productive and happier life. It’s important to understand that issues with brain regulations aren’t viewed as a disease, so neurofeedback can’t be classified as a cure. Neurofeedback could be compared to physical training for the brain.
To learn more about how you can benefit from these processes, or to get additional facts about biofeedback vs neurofeedback, visit the Advanced Health and Performance Institute in Orlando. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.