What is Biofeedback
BIOFEEDBACK is a clinne or more physiological functions including, but not limited to relaxation, increasing muscle flexibility, increasing blood flow, decreasing blood pressure, lowering heart rate, increasing blood oxygenation, lowering stress levels and pain reduction using approved biofeedback devices.
‘Bio’ is the Greek prefix meaning ‘life’. Feedback is a term for receiving information on current behavior. Biofeedback is used to influence or modify future behavior. Thus biofeedback is the process in which a client is given information about specific body events through the use of instrumentation. The advantages are obvious: non-invasive, non-drug therapy, and preventative value.
Biofeedback is a method which teaches subjects to control bodily functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, headache, pain, and muscle tension through a process which includes conditioning, feedback instrumentation, behavior modification, and adaptation mechanisms. With biofeedback, the individual can increase awareness and learn self-regulation of some bodily functions.
- A research methodology and training procedure through which people can learn voluntary control over their internal physiology.
- Gives quantitative and repeatable data.
- Develops an increased awareness of relevant internal physiological functions.
- Establishes control over these functions.
- When a technique is mastered (i.e.: relaxation training), the subject has to continue the training to continue to benefit.
The EPFX/SCIO and a Cybernetic Loop
- A basic principle of Cybernetics is that one cannot change a variable in a system unless new information is added.
- By feedback (sound, image, etc.) new information on the variable (behavior) is made available.
- Cybernetic feedback makes learning possible.
- Trainees receive clear and direct feedback about their internal states, helping them to learn to control such functions, leading to a healthier lifestyle.
