Biofeedback, short form for biological feedback, is basically the monitoring of internal body states. Watching and listening to sensitive instruments that mirror psycho-physiological processes helps you understand body processes which you are not normally aware of.

An electronic instrument detects, amplifies, and then gives you immediate information (feedback) about your own conditions, such as: brain wave activity (EEG or electroencephalograph). This feedback guides you as you become more in touch with your mind and body. This aspect of Biofeedback is very useful in case of Epilepsy.

This is because people with epilepsy have brains that continuously misfire (not just during seizures). This is one way neurologists make a diagnosis. This continuous misfiring often involves only a few brain cells, no bigger than the point of a pin. When brain cells surrounding the misfiring or damaged cells are activated, a seizure may occur.

There were several researches conducted to demonstrate the relevance of biofeedback for epilepsy.Since the 1970’s researchers have demonstrated in over 50 controlled studies that a special form of brain wave biofeedback - now called “neurofeedback” - safely and effectively trains the brain to stabilize its activity. The treatment has been used successfully with all types of seizure disorders. Often the effects are permanent.

In training sessions, computerized biofeedback instrumentation detects and displays the brain waves on a computer screen. The program allows for simultaneous inhibition of slow wave EEG (the brain wave activity associated with seizure disorders) while reinforcing mid-range frequencies associated with preventing seizures.

Much of the learning takes place simply with practice while receiving positive reinforcement from the computer. After enough training sessions the aura rate goes down and so does the seizure rate. No one knows exactly what occurs as we learn to “normalize” the brain wave activity (produce EEG patterns which don’t trigger seizures), but it works.

Patients who have seizures triggered by anxiety or stressful situations may benefit from this therapy, in addition to their seizure medications.