Dave Strand’s blog for using Neurofeedback as a treatment for PCS.

I’ve been training a couple times a week, and I suppose it’s going well.  After each session I feel a little better, more focused, more relaxed.  This relaxed focus does not last for longer than a couple hours.  I haven’t had much success in improving my neurofeedback skills.  I can get the bells to ring, and the meters to react, but my skill level doesn’t seem to be getting substantially better at the tasks.  That will probably come with time.  I’m not totally certain that a good meditation wouldn’t prove the same results, but I will continue to do Neurofeedback and report back.

I’ve been slacking off on the NF treatment lately, but for good reason.

Reason #1.  Sick. I’m sick.  Cold or a flu.  It’s been going around, and I got it.

Reason #2. Preparing for our concert.  I’m in a band, and we have an important gig this weekend for which I’ve been preparing for.

I took a couple days off of work to try and rest and recover.  It seems i’m feeling a bit better, maybe 65% healthy.

Through my trials it seems that two or three of my test runs have had positive results. Now it is time to go back and try to master these exercises to make a lasting impact on my condition.  Here are two that had an positive impact, making me feel more clear, less irritable, less anxious, and even reduced my headaches somewhat.

R/L reversal A/B Session (for irritability, negativity, anxiety)
F3/A1/g/F4/A2 (L) - Alpha Beta Symmetry - EC or EO 5min/20min

Poor alpha blocking (for cognitive issues, memory)
Fz/A1/g/C3/A1 - 2C squish (4-11.9 Hz) - EO 2min/18min

If the stuff above is just gibberish to you, no worries.  It’s just describing where the electrodes are being placed, and what kind of exercise is being performed.  The training above was designed by Peter Van Deusen, who is VERY knowledgeable about this stuff.

Only two more sessions to go before I start brain training!

Can’t wait.

I’ll give you a full update once the trials are complete.

Just wanted to mention that my trial sessions are continuing. I’ll have a more detailed report soon.

This morning I worked on my second test which worked on correcting brain symmetry between the F3 and F4 regions of my brain. This was a good test, and afterwords I felt more ‘centered’ and ‘less anxious’. I took a couple video clips of todays session, to try and illustrate how it works. Forgive my lack of enthusiasm in the video, I was trying to keep my head still while working the camera, and the computer, whilst also maintaining my brain waves. Heh.

Video1- Neurofeedback symmetry test

Video2- Neurofeedback symmetry test

Video3- Neurofeedback symmetry test

So this test will be added to my possible treatment scenarios, since the preliminary run-thru went well.

I have a rather thorough plan outline, with about 7 main tests to perform.  After each of the sessions , which take about a half hour, I am to make a note of any improvements.  This is to basically figure out which exercises will benefit me most.  I have completed 1 session so far, and here’s how it went.

My girlfriend is getting quite good at applying the electrodes, and so the setup went smoothly.  The first test I was to do was an EC (Eyes Closed) test.  It’s pretty neat, actually…  The brain-waves set off different frequencys of sound, and when I hit the right brain frequencies it rewards me by playing a ‘chime’.  Thankfully it seems the programmer was wise in creating a good “Key” for the musical notes to trigger, so it’s actually a quite relaxing tune that the brain is making.  I found it mildly amusing that my music studio keyboards started playing furiously when I turned on the Pendant, because it was accidentally set up to trigger my outbound audio equipment.  Anyhow, I fixed that without much of a problem and before long my session had begun.  I was able to trigger the chimes easier towards the end of the session, which I thought was pretty cool.

Results after test one were:  No noticable improvement, nor did I feel any better. If anything I felt a little spacey, but every-so-slightly more focused.  Don’t ask me how I can feel more focused and more spacey, but I don’t think this session was the right one.

I plan to do another session tomorrow morning, or tonight.

I got my training plan, based on my assessment, this morning!   Next step is to study the plan, get wired up, and get start on my ‘brain exercises’ or ’sessions’.

About a year ago I went in for MRIs to see if there was anything they could see regarding my 15 year headaches. The doctors said they could still see signs of the severe concussion I had when I was very young. I took some photos of the MRI for you guys to peer at. Forgive the quality, we merely held them up to the window with a white-board a foot or two behind the glass.

I am now working with Pete from TLC on my plan. It may be a couple days before I get the results.

I think we might have gotten it right this time.  I didn’t blink too much this time, and I think everything went smoothly.  If you pros can take a look at some of these images and let me know if you think it looks good, then I’ll probably ship off my assessment this week to get my plan laid out.

Thanks for all the help, guys and gals!

Dave Strand Assess XLS

Dave Strand Raw Filez