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(412) 212-2333
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39 White Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
(412) 212-2333
info@steelcityneurofeedback.com
39 White Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
ILF neurofeedback uses real-time brainwave monitoring to passively help individuals learn to regulate their own brain activity. Neuroscience is a rapidly-evolving discipline, and more is continually being discovered concerning the plasticity of neural networks, or neuroplasticity. ILF neurofeedback impacts mental and physical well-being by training the brain to achieve healthier patterns that reduce symptomology. Through this brain training, ILF neurofeedback can improve focus, reduce anxiety, enhance mood, and support overall mental well-being.
ILF neurofeedback improves brain functioning by focusing on extremely low frequency brain waves. ILF can be safely done with clients of any age, from infants to the elderly. Neurofeedback is non-judgmental and non-triggering. Neurofeedback is a safe, non-invasive and non-verbal approach to engaging the brain to self-regulate.
Infra-low frequency (ILF) neurofeedback is a non-invasive brain training technique that uses computer settings to encourage specific brain wave frequencies. ILF neurofeedback can be used to regulate symptoms associated with a variety of conditions, including:
Neurofeedback (NFB) is a form of brain training to improve self-regulation and executive functioning. Infra-Low Frequency (ILF) neurofeedback is a specific type of neurofeedback that focuses on regulating symptoms with low frequency brain waves.
ILF neurofeedback is a safe and non-invasive approach to engage the brain’s capacity for self-regulation. Neurofeedback does not require mindfulness, concentration or cognizant learning. ILF neurofeedback is a “low-barrier” non-invasive modality that requires no effort on the part of the client, and it can be done with clients of any age.
Sometimes due to the consequence of events in life, people's brains can get stuck in hyper-vigilance or hyper-excitability and can become dysregulated. Neurofeedback helps clients get unstuck and to develop new neural pathways that reduce or eliminate their symptoms, without drugs or psychotherapy.
ILF neurofeedback focuses on training the brain to regulate its electrical activity at very low frequency ranges, typically below 1 Hz. This method is distinct from traditional neurofeedback approaches, which typically target higher frequency brainwave bands (such as Alpha, Beta, or Theta).
Your brain produces enough electricity to power an 8 watt light bulb. ILF neurofeedback measures the brain's electrical activity via electrodes which are placed on the scalp. These electrodes are connected to an EEG (electroencephalogram) system that records the brainwaves across different regions of the brain. Other types of neurofeedback focus on the major frequency bands which include Delta (0.5–4 Hz), Theta (4–8 Hz), Alpha (8–12 Hz), Beta (12–30 Hz), and Gamma (>30 Hz). With ILF neurofeedback, however, the focus is specifically on the Infra-Low Frequency range, typically below 1 Hz.
The EEG system detects the brain’s electrical activity in real time, which includes both fast and slow oscillations. All equipment and software are FDA-approved as class II medical devices.
In a typical ILF neurofeedback session--which last 30 to 45 minutes--four or five EEG sensors are placed on the client's scalp. These sensors identify brain wave activity which shows up on the practitioner's screen. Meanwhile, clients watch a video or play a video game that gauges the brain's performance. If the client is playing a video game, a character might speed up or slow down. If they're watching a video, the picture may get larger or smaller. A vibrating stuffed animal may also be used to provide real-time feedback. The feedback requires no conscious effort or active participation on the part of the client.
After the brain activity is recorded, a threshold is set for the target frequency that the practitioner wants the brain to focus on. This threshold is based on the individual's baseline brainwave patterns and their treatment goals. For example, for someone with anxiety or PTSD the goal might be to train the brain to produce a specific type of low-frequency wave, such as those associated with deep relaxation or regulated arousal states.
The feedback loop is essential in neurofeedback. With ILF neurofeedback, the individual receives real-time feedback on their brainwave activity through visual, auditory, or tactile cues. This includes watching a video, playing a simulation game, listening to music or holding a stuffed animal that vibrates. When the brain produces activity that is close to the identified target frequency (or optimal brainwave state), positive reinforcement is provided. This feedback is delivered through visual displays, sounds or vibrations.
ILF neurofeedback typically focuses on very slow oscillations (or infra-low) frequencies, which are sub-hertz frequencies (below 1 Hz). These frequencies are believed to be involved in important processes such as self-regulation and global brain network coordination. These frequencies are often associated with the brain’s ability to synchronize or organize its activity at a large-scale network level, affecting overall brain functioning.
Practitioners may train the brain to increase or decrease specific brainwave activity within these low-frequency ranges. For instance, increasing the power of infra-low frequencies might help with enhancing brain self-regulation and reducing dysregulation in conditions such as anxiety, PTSD, or trauma. Decreasing excessively high-frequency brain activity in this range may help address conditions related to overstimulation, such as ADHD or hyperarousal states.
During the training process, the individual sits comfortably with the EEG system connected to their scalp. The ILF neurofeedback protocol usually lasts between 30 to 45 minutes per session. Over the course of several sessions, ranging anywhere from 10 to 20 sessions, the individual is trained to modify their brainwave activity in real-time.
Steel City Neurofeedback does not push a specific number of sessions. ILF is not a cookie-cutter approach. We work with each individual to develop a customized, goal-driven plan. If you achieve your goals quicker, we did our job well and you not only achieved your goals, you also saved money.
If the brain’s activity moves closer to the desired infra-low frequency, the individual might hear a pleasant sound, see a visual cue, or experience a change in the video on the screen. If the brain moves away from the target frequency, the feedback might become less pleasant, or the visual display might change. This reinforcement trains the client's brain to return to and stay at the targeted frequency.
This process encourages the brain to naturally "learn" to maintain the desired state and self-correct without conscious effort. Over time, the brain learns to self-regulate its activity, creating lasting changes in the brain's electrical patterns even after the training sessions have ended. Some clients return once or twice a year for a "tune up" to keep their brain functioning optimal.
ILF neurofeedback operates on the principles of neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections, and the ability to stabilize the autonomous nervous system. By providing the brain with consistent feedback and rewarding the desired brainwave patterns, the neural networks involved in those patterns are strengthened. Along with balanced between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, the result is more stable, regulated brainwave activity over time, with the potential to improve cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, and behavioral outcomes.
The changes in brain activity brought about by ILF neurofeedback can have long-lasting effects. After the training, many people experience a reduction in symptoms of conditions like anxiety, depression, insomnia, and ADHD, as their brain learns to better regulate itself.
⇒ See our list of clinical application for ILF neurofeedback.
ILF neurofeedback is a highly specialized form of neurofeedback that targets very low-frequency brainwaves below 1 Hz. It works by providing real-time feedback to the brain, encouraging it to regulate its activity within optimal frequency ranges. Over time, this leads to improved brain functioning, emotional regulation, and symptom reduction for a variety of mental health and neurological conditions.
If you’re in the Pittsburgh area and are interested in ILF neurofeedback, contact us online or call us at (412) 212-2333. We look forward to working with you to achieve optimum brain health.