Concussions and other types of traumatic brain injury can leave a lasting imprint on the brain, and not in a good way. Memory loss and brain fog can occur after a concussion, and without proper treatment they can become a permanent problem. Neurofeedback is a valuable tool for treating concussions and other types of traumatic brain injury by retraining the brain and returning it to its pre-injury state.

How a Concussion Affects the Brain

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, jolt, or blow to the head or body that causes the head and brain to rapidly move back and forth. The sudden movement may result in the brain bouncing around or twisting in the skull, which can cause chemical changes in the brain. In some cases, this sudden movement may even cause stretching and damage to the brain cells.

A concussion can be a serious injury, with the true severity of the damage not becoming apparent until a few hours or days following the injury.A headache and confusion are common immediately following a concussion, but in some cases, individuals may develop memory loss, inhibiting their ability to remember the event.

In most cases, the symptoms of a concussion will resolve within a few weeks.However, a concussion may result in lasting problems if it is left untreated or undertreated.

What is Neurofeedback?

As mentioned previously, after a concussion the chemicals in the brain can alter, which can lead to negative changes in brain waves. This can result in problems such as memory loss or brain fog, conditions that make it challenging to complete daily activities. Neurofeedback offers a way for doctors to determine which brain waves have experienced changes.

Neurofeedback, also known as electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback, harnesses the brain’s natural capacity to change as a way to reshape weaknesses in the brain’s function and return the brain’s rhythm back to normal.

Neurofeedback uses EEG technology to influence the activity of the neurons in your brain, which fire in different ways based on what you do, process, and experience. Neurofeedback uses a 19-channel EEG, also known as Z-score neurofeedback. This formation allows the team to visually see whether there is too much or too little activity in specific cortical regions of the brain.

Neurofeedback for Concussions

Treatment always begins with a concussion assessment, which allows the neurofeedback team to determine what areas of your brain need additional care and attention to aid in your recovery.

Over the course of 20 sessions, the brain will be provided 70,000 different opportunities to learn. Repetition helps to create changes in the brain’s behavior, or neuroplasticity. In particular, neuroplasticity is what allows you to reshape your brain and overcome whatever challenges are present.

The brain learns and alters its functioning through these sessions to return its brain waves to normal, relieving the brain of unpleasant symptoms following a concussion, such as brain fog, headaches, and memory loss.

If you are interested in how neurofeedback can help aid in post-concussion recovery, reach out to the team at Abbey Neuropsychology Clinic at (650) 215-6840 to schedule a concussion assessment and determine a treatment plan.

Sources

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_whatis.html

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurofeedback

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concussion