Neurofeedback training, developed by NASA aims to help people control their brain waves. This training is now spreading as a new way of ameliorating a wide range of ailments. NASA developed this training in 1967 inorder to reduce epileptic seizures suffered by astronauts; later this technique was introduced in Korea in 2003.
At first, university hospitals including Kyung Hee University Medical Center adopted this technique, but now it is being used widely by many health centers like Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Kangbuk Samsung Medical Center, Gangnam Cha General Hospital, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Gachon University Gil Medical Center and also by some private clinics.The early applications of Neurofeedback training concentrated only on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) but later this technique was even adopted in internal medicine, family medicine and rehabilitation medicine due to its efficacy in stabilizing mental conditions and helping patients with brain injuries rehabilitate.
Neurofeedback training aims at helping patients to control their brain waves on their own so that they can relax without any external help or stimulus. It is considered as an essentially a form of meditation. About 100 papers of reports on the effects of Neurofeedback training that helps reduce symptoms of panic disorder, alcohol addiction, ADHD, brain damages and depression have been produced by U.S. and other countries.
When patients wired to a computer become nervous, noisy sounds are produced and when they get relaxed, nature's sounds are produced which encourage patients to listen to nature's sounds and become focused on stabilizing themselves and producing alpha and theta waves in their brain. The patients are thus trained for attaining their maximum ability to perform tasks.
Neurofeedback training is quite expensive and it is not covered by health insurance. The training cost for a 30-minute treatment is around W30,000 - 50,000 (US$1=W930).
Source-Medindia
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