What is BWO?
BrainWave optimization™ is an individually tailored process of balancing and harmonizing the brain. Brain Training begins with a Brain Mapping Assessment. Brain function is manifested in electromagnetic energy. Your brain energy can be detected from the outer scalp at specific points on the head using Intellectrodes™. Ultimately, this process produces personalized exercises to balance and optimize your brain.
What happens in my brain?
Brain activity creates electromagnetic energy - captured and observed as brain waves with EEG amplifiers and computers. The computers then process the brain wave information and translate the brain waves into an optimized pattern in the form of sound. Brain State Conditioning™ encourages some brain waves and discourages others so the brain will begin to function differently - it will create a balanced condition. This harmonizing of the brain waves, balances them into optimized patterns.
Brain activity is based on cells called neurons which interact and connect with each other forming groups or neural-networks. These neural-networks are activated based on stimuli. Clients have often recognized benefits in the first one to three sessions, and may require 5 to 30 sessions to make the benefits permanent with dominant neural-networks.
Why Brainwave Optimization™?
Do you know of anything in life that is NOT at its best when it is balanced and harmonized? The brain and the body that it drives are no exception. If you have ever driven an automobile which had one or more tires greatly out of balance, you know the shimmy and shake that the out-of-balance condition can produce. It is no different in life when the brain has one or more of its areas out of balance.
Brain balance and harmony is the first step to well being and optimization. Balance in the brain, is subsequently followed by balance in the body. The condition of balance and harmony for the brain is known as homeostasis. It is a "level playing field" for your brain to respond to thinking, feeling, and healing your body in an optimized state. Your brain acts as the hub of the wheel, your nervous system the spokes and your body the rim. When the hub is out of balance everything else suffers.
Brainwave Optimization™ is an individually tailored process of balancing and harmonizing the brain. Brain function is manifested in electromagnetic energy which can be captured by detecting it – or listening to it – without being invasive. Brain energy can be detected from the outer scalp at specific points on the head using Intellectrodes™. Ultimately, this process produces personalized exercises to balance and optimize your brain.
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Click to View/DownloadNevada Prison Demonstration (pdf)Purpose: To establish effectiveness of Brain State Conditioning™ with inmates in a prison setting over a short training time period. The scope includes performance of Brain State Conditioning™ for six inmates within a three week time period, chosen by Warden Lenard Varé of the Southern Nevada Correctional Center in Jean, Nevada. Brain State Conditioning™ was accomplished with these inmates between August 27 and September 13, 2007. |
How Are We Different?
BrainWave Optimization™ is based on many aspects of science in Biofeedback and in Neurofeedback which have been historically used to assist people to over-come pathologies. However, Brainwave optimization™ should be differentiated from Neurofeedback and Biofeedback.
The basic differentiation of these modalities is based on the following:
- Biofeedback - is a type of learning used to lessen negative reactions for the individual, based on increasing the awareness of the biological process in order to off-set or stop the pathology as it begins to happen biologically and is applicable during the occurrence of the pathology. For example; panic attacks have biological indicators before the attacks hit, if you can learn the biological indicators you can lessen the panic attack by either degree and/or duration. Biofeedback is oriented to solve diagnosed problems in the client.
- Neurofeedback - is a type of learning used to lessen negative reactions for the individual, based on increasing the awareness of the neurological process in order to off-set or stop the pathology as it begins to happen neurologically. For example; training sensory-motor neurological frequencies to be more dominant for some athletic events. Neurofeedback is oriented to solve problems defined by a normative data base or model along with those problems and symptoms diagnosed by practitioner and client. Neurofeedback will usually be provided to clients in a medical model and will require 30 to multiple hundreds of sessions to achieve desired results.
- Brainwave Optimization™ – is a type of brain optimization based on brain observance. It is based on a Quantum Physics understanding vs. a Newtonian Physics understanding of the individual, and this philosophical difference cannot be too heavily stressed as it makes everything intended different. Brainwave Optimization™ seeks to show the brain itself – be a mirror for the brain in its ever more optimized state. The client is not trained with learned behavior. In fact a client may sleep through a session and still realize results because the brain can view itself without direct client participation. While not optimal, it is always more efficacious to have the client participate, it is not mandatory.
For example, clients adversarial to the training, such as those with adolescent misbehavior or antisocial behavior issues, can still be assisted to balance and harmonize their brain and achieve a greater homeostasis.
Brainwave Optimization™ is oriented to solve problems having to do with the balance and harmony of the brain energy and is not based on comparison of the client with a normative data base. It is not based on a diagnosis or the symptoms which are presented. Brainwave Optimization™ is based on the degree of balance and harmony the brain contains and seeks to increase this balance and harmony.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Brain Training Sessions like?
Brain Training sessions last about 1 hour 45 minutes to two hours, and are deeply relaxing. Many people start seeing results immediately, but deeper lasting results can range between 5 - 30 Brain Training sessions depending on your desired outcome and need.
You relax in an "anti-gravity" chair, while a Brain Training technician places several EEG sensors on your scalp. You wear earphones and begin a series of mental visualizations and tasks. As your brain is working, you hear a symphony of sounds, which are the unique sounds of your brain feeding its activity back to you. Embedded in these sounds is a positive feedback loop that encourages and stimulates your brain to create more neuro-nets.
What is the Assessment procedure?
During your first visit, the Brainwave Optimization provider will conduct an introductory review where you can discuss your goals and the areas of life where you would like to see improvement. Next, the assessment is performed to gather data from different parts of your brain. Our proprietary software processes the assessment and goal data to produce an individualized training plan just for you!
How many Sessions do I need?
Every brain, like every person, is unique. The recommended minimum is 1 assessment and 10 sessions, which comprises our 5-Day Brainwave Optimization Intensive package. Each session uses your customized protocols to train your brain toward balance and harmony over 5 days, typically with 2 sessions per day. You will need to schedule enough time to fulfill the training in this short period of time, and it is best if possible, to book the week off work or make sure to minimize your stress level that week.
Does anything get fed into my brain?
The EEG sensors are 'read only' and simply listen to the frequencies emanating from your brain. At no time is anything fed into the brain via these sensors. You wear earphones (like the ear buds on an iPod) and listen to tones and frequencies that the computer generates based on the activity in your brain, in real-time. There are a variety of different protocols and types of sounds that you will hear. Depending on the protocol, you will often hear "reward" tones when you are training the brain in the desired frequency area.
Is it permanent or will I have to keep coming back for training?
Training can be permanent if you follow the advice of your practitioner. Normally it is best to receive your initial 10 Sessions within a short period of time, rather than having one training session and waiting a long time until the next one. (However, in more severe cases we may recommend to space the sessions out.) Unlike training muscles, which atrophy after lack of use, the brain naturally seeks homeostasis (a balanced, stable condition), so after you have trained it is more difficult to get out of balance, and easier to return to balance. A bit like riding a bicycle, once you have learned how to balance it is easy to remember and difficult to force yourself out of balance without a natural desire and tendency to remain in balance.
What can I expect during the week of my brain training sessions?
How your brain responds is different for each client but fall into a couple of general areas. If you haven't been sleeping well, you may sleep very deeply after the first few sessions and may feel tired for the first few days of training. This is because you have been sleep deprived, even if you think you are sleeping through the night. Do you wake up fully rested or do you feel like you could go back to sleep immediately upon waking? Do you wake up in the middle of the night and then find it hard to go back to sleep? These are all symptoms of stress so when you receive training your body may react by sleeping more.
Otherwise, you may feel energized very quickly and feel more awake, bright and ready to take on the world with renewed enthusiasm. Many people are more depressed than they realize and may feel like a weight has been lifted off them. Some people report increased focus and steady energy throughout the day, instead of requiring naps and frequent coffee breaks. For some, energies or thoughts from the subconscious will tend to surface so they can be effectively dealt with at a conscious level.
Can anything bad happen to me?
After brain training, you may realize that you no longer desire depressants, drugs or stimulants, such as alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine - even sugar. To some this may sound like a drawback, but the brain training you receive helps you remain in balance, negating the desire for such 'uppers' or 'downers', instead, you remain buoyant and balanced for longer periods of time and feel more balanced and harmonized! If this condition sounds like a negative one to you, this brain training may not be what you want.
Does it hurt?
No. There is nothing that can hurt you. In over 50 years of biofeedback and neurofeedback there hasn't been a single reported incident. Many clients report that it is fun and relaxing.
Are there any clients it doesn't work on?
We cannot work with clients who are taking Beta blockers. These medications are usually prescribed for heart conditions, but are also found in some eye drops. Otherwise we can work with basically anyone over the age of approximately 8 years old.
Is this a magic pill that will cure everything that ails me?
No. Depending upon your issues coming in, we might recommend a variety of other healing modalities which would be discussed during the initial consultation. With that being said, Brain Training has produced remarkable, positive and lasting effects in many areas.
Does it interfere with prescription medications?
No it does not.
How long is a Session?
Our brain training sessions are quite extended, and are approximately 1 3/4 hours in duration. Plan for two hours for each brain training session.
What is the recommended number of Sessions for this process to really be effective?
For a client to gain the maximum benefit from the Brain Training process, an Assessment followed by a series of 10 Sessions are initially required. These are typically completed within 5 days. Some clients feel that after an integration time of several months or longer following their "5-Day Brain Training Intensive", they prefer to book an additional set of Sessions in order to go deeper.
How soon before results are evident?
Results can often be noticed following the first two Brain Training Sessions. Each person is different, therefore the outcome is unique to that individual.
How are results seen?
The length of time and way that results manifest varies from person to person. It depends on your individual brain. For example, clients with addiction or anger issues usually feel results immediately and people around them quickly notice changes. Clients with less significant imbalances usually show more subtle results which are often noticed first by the people around them, like family members, friends, associates at work, etc. Benefits felt by most clients, regardless of the issues that brought them in are, sense of calmness, relaxation, reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep - and the list goes on.
Is this process effective to enhance performance, such as sports, academic performance and work productivity?
Yes. In fact, one of the first success stories was a young college student who went from almost failing to excelling, making the Dean's List and graduating with a 3.8 grade point average within a few months. The technology is also used to increase and improve sports performance for athletes. There are protocol sets that we can work with to specifically enhance the brain-body connection.
Is this a magic pill that will cure everything that ails me?
No. Depending upon your issues coming in, we might recommend a variety of other healing modalities which would be discussed during the initial consultation. With that being said, Brain Traing has produced remarkable, positive and lasting effects in many areas.
Who should use this technology?
It is works well for most people - whether you have major issues or behaviors that need improvement and change or if you just want to feel more relaxed, calm and clear-minded - it's for a better life.
Is this process covered by insurance?
Please contact your insurance company, as many are now covering biofeedback.
How far in advance should I book?
We can be booked a month in advance, so it is best to plan ahead.
How do I secure my booking?
After arranging a schedule, a 50% deposit is required to secure your booking. The balance is then due at the beginning of your series.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, cheques, Visa or Mastercard. Ask about options for students and income assistance clients.