Electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback therapy, or neurobiofeedback, is a technique used to optimize an individual's brain activity. This type of neurotherapy makes use of data from sensors of skin conductivity, blood flow or electrical activity on the scalp to provide real-time insight into the subject's mental state. Interpreted through neurofeedback software, this data is believed to help the subject eliminate negative cognitive habits, such as those associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and help him or her develop positive new patterns. Different types of neurofeedback software present this data in different ways, with some employing graphical interfaces to alert users to their brain activity and others sounding warnings when negative brain activity is detected. The three main types of neurofeedback software are programs designed to meet the specific needs of researchers, programs designed for clinicians and programs designed to be used by the patients themselves.
Researchers generally require neurofeedback software that is both flexible and powerful. Although patients and clinicians generally make use of comprehensive software packages, the individual pieces of software used by researchers usually come unbundled. A sophisticated knowledge of both computer programming and neuroscience are necessary to assemble these modular components into a working product.
The neurofeedback software designed for use in a clinical setting is generally much less modular than the software that is designed for research. Nonetheless, a considerable amount of flexibility is required for a therapist to tailor the program to the needs of different patients. Clinical software still requires the user to have a thorough grounding in cognitive neuroscience to operate it effectively. Multiple user logs are often included in neurofeedback software that is developed for clinical use, enabling the therapist to track the progress of his or her patients over time.
Unlike researchers and clinicians, patients who use EEG biofeedback therapy at home most likely do not have enough expertise in either science or computer programming to use the professional-level neurofeedback software. Programs do exist that are designed especially for novice users, though. Professional-level programs have complex, multi-layered interfaces, but those designed for patients to use are instead simple and intuitive. Multiple datasets and graphs can be viewed within a single program window, allowing users to scroll through a list to the results they want to see.
To make them more user-friendly, the developers of user-level neurofeedback software often avoid using technical jargon. Some of these introductory programs are highly modular and can be scaled up as the user gains a better understanding of how to manipulate the program to suit his or her specific needs. Many of these programs are available for a variety of computer operating systems.
