Here at Compassion Behavioral Health, our team is always in search of the latest and greatest treatments for our patients. We are pleased to offer a new cutting-edge technique, known as neurofeedback with VR. Let’s take a closer look at what neurofeedback with VR entails and how it can benefit patients with physical and mental health disorders.
Neurofeedback uses a computer-based program to assess a patient’s brainwave activity and provide immediate feedback. Through sounds or visual signals, it reorganizes or refrains these brain signals.
Neurofeedback sessions teach patients to regulate their moods, improve their brain function, and relieve the symptoms of a variety of disorders. They can lead to positive, long-lasting changes in their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.
While neurofeedback has been proven to deliver great results on its own, VR or virtual reality can enhance them even more while increasing the likelihood of success. It may also increase a patient’s motivation, interest, and sense of control. Here at Compassion Behavioral Health, we proudly pair neurofeedback with virtual reality.
Our patients participate in neurofeedback via interactive 3D environments like games or videos. They may float up a river, hang out with animals in a jungle, and more while using neurofeedback to train their brain. This drug-free program will change the environment or screen to safely and effectively manipulate brain wavelength.
Feedback is significantly improved when it’s in the form of a game or video than solely audio-visual content. Studies have also discovered that neurofeedback with VR has not only led to greater learning success, it has also been more effective for improving inattention and impulsivity than two-dimensional neurofeedback sessions.
As we noted, VR is much more immersive than a traditional neurofeedback session. It can hold a patient’s attention for longer while still providing them with the necessary feedback to treat their brain function.
This increased immersion leads to more successful sessions and, as a result, patients are more likely to see results from neurofeedback with VR.
Neurofeedback with VR can be used to treat patients with conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep disorders, and more. It can also help those who have suffered from strokes or concussions.
Since neurofeedback with VR is a drug-free treatment, patients do not have to worry about the potential side effects that come with medication. This makes it a safe option for children, pregnant women, and those who are looking for an alternative to traditional treatments.
Last but not least, neurofeedback with VR is simply more fun! It’s an engaging and interactive treatment method that people can look forward to participating in.
Yes, VR neurofeedback is safe. It is a non-invasive approach that is broadly used to help treat a variety of conditions. The only possible side effect may be feeling dizzy or nauseous while wearing a headset.
This revolutionary treatment is particularly helpful for patients facing conditions like:
Neurofeedback can allow patients to retrain specific areas of their brain and restore its optimal function.
If you have never experienced a virtual reality program before, the technology could be either exciting or anxiety-inducing. What does it feel like when your senses are transported from physical reality to a digital display?
First, the headset is fixed over your eyes and adjusted for comfort. The headset completely eliminates peripheral vision so that you only see what is on the VR display.
Depending on the VR headset you use, some may require handheld controllers to operate. These will perform the hand functions in your display for you and allow you to interact with the game or video you are experiencing.
Depending on the program used in your treatment session, the headset may prompt you to move your arms or legs to interact. If you start to feel dizzy or nauseous during a session, let your therapist know so that you can take a break.
