HEG Neurofeedback with Breathing Software Application User Guide
Contents
1. Reset BL Pressing this button resets the baseline to the current HEG reading Gain Current HEG reading minus the baseline This allows you to assess the overall change achieved in your session Note the overall gain does not necessarily reflect the worth of the training session If it is low it doesn t mean you didn t do useful work Averages are calculated over 60 seconds 4 1 5 Breath Display This is simply shows a bar graph of the breath see 3 in figure 4 above The bar increases in height during inhalation and drops back again during exhalation The signal is automatically calibrated so it will fit to the chart each breath begins at the same place During the initial calibration phase see section 3 1 1 the chart will not display properly If it doesn t look right after this the system may not have calibrated to your breath properly you can recalibrate the breath signal see section 3 1 1 4 1 6 Long term Display HEG E Breathing Rate mE Ratio E Event Marker Figure 8 Long term displays Figure 8 shows the variation of the parameters HEG breathing rate and I E ratio in the longer term five minutes and upwards Like the short term display this chart operates in auto centre mode The trace will be continually adjusted so that it s most recent right hand section displays in the middle of the vertical range Click on the coloured squares top left to select which parameter scale is displayed There are three ass2. from right to left or in other words the horizontal range Note that increasing the period after processing has started can have unpredictable consequences so I recommend you make your selection before pressing play Unit Only available for some device types Select either Fahrenheit or Celcius as the unit of infra red temperature This applies to all the displays not just the short term HEG chart 4 1 3 Rate of Change Display i 3 12 16 20 24 33 a2 Rate of Change Avg 10 05 Sensitivity High 1 Period 325 1 2 3 ZO Figure 6 HEG rate of change display This chart figure 6 shows the HEG rate of change or in other words the gradient or slope of the HEG trace shown in the short term HEG chart section 4 1 2 above The central horizontal line is zero When the trace goes above this line it means the HEG signal is increasing and its colour 1s green When the trace falls below the line it means the HEG signal is falling and its colour changes to red The further away from the zero line the faster the HEG signal is changing Since the goal of training 1s to increase or at least maintain the HEG reading you should aim to keep this graph in the green as much as possible The bar graph at the right of the display shows the current rate of change this chart always has the same scale as the adjacent chart The three combo box controls positioned below the chart and described in the followin
3. 4 1 4 Numeric DiISPI AYS cc cc ccec cee cece eeceeceeceeceeceeceeceeeaeeeeeeaeeeeaes 12 4 1 9 Breath SAY accurcenanndecnunsiagsussareendactansee eeciicanaantoearnmmenbaenes 12 4 1 6 Long term DISplay ccccceccecceeceeceeceeceeceeteceesseeaeeseeseeeeeaes 13 4 1 7 Threshold Displays and Controls cccceccecseceeseeeeseeeeneees 14 4 1 8 Audio CRO AN ac cede detect cinianesesnedumaneeteedsdntcucsiewiaeenesseeesencsses 15 2 ek cee ee en a E A ee ae Oe E re 15 Breath TONG o ccpaiv seincindniensceicanneadsnesuoaebesaieusasedwaleeaeeerdsweeminisenseeatenreasacss 16 Threshold eee ee a ee ee 17 Mind a ON E E E E E E 18 sl eicicl 6 FEDON eee ener ee E N T ETR 19 Sei RORO O DUONE E See ee een en nee eee 19 5 2 Adding Notes to a REDOrt 0 eccccccccceceeceeeaeeeeeeeeceeseeteeeeeeaeeeeaes 19 5 3 Sample SESSION EDOM sissies cuscneccvincawiiudnerennsidiereindictanncenweasoncsnnadeteweds 20 Oe REDOT reira enet on adidas genase me botaueaetee eatenadeediandcanant 22 A ONS iriri A E EET EE E i 22 HEG amp Breathing Application User Guide copyright Glyn Blackett page 1 Introduction This guide introduces the Hemoencephalography HEG Neurofeedback with Breathing application part of York Biofeedback s Mind Body Training Tools suite This set of applications 1s designed to develop skills in mind body awareness and self regulation particularly in a context of mindfulness and meditation practice The guide
4. 5 To generate and open a session report click the button labelled 2 in figure 1 A dialog window opens in which you can select various options see figure 11 below The software creates the report in html format It will be opened using your computer s default web browser e g Internet Explorer Note that a live internet connection is not needed The html file is saved so you can for example email it to someone See the Installation and Set up Guide for details of file storage Report Options Overwrite existing report Add notes to report HEG Breathing Mark data points Minimum HEG reading 90 F Figure 12 Report options 5 1 Report Options Most of the options should be self explanatory If you change your mind about options on seeing your report you can regenerate the report by clicking the report button 2 in figure 1 then checking Overwrite existing report Options relating to either HEG data or breathing data are found under separate tabs Combo box controls allow you to set maximum or minimum values for several of the parameters Setting these limits is a basic way of excluding artefacts for example if you moved during the session so that the flow of air over the HEG sensor caused cooling Data points outside these limits are excluded 5 2 Adding Notes to a Report You can choose to write some notes for your session report Checking Add notes to report top right of the dialog allow
5. You can choose to deactivate either of the thresholds so that the feedback sound only relates to one You can configure the two thresholds as described in section 4 1 7 To summarise you can set the threshold condition e g above or below the level and also drag the bars in the display to control the threshold limits The value of using the threshold is that the feedback is generally less intrusive freeing you to focus on your direct experience The feedback only comes in when you ve drifted out of your desired psychophysiological zone For the sound the software actually plays back a recorded file This is one of a set of files found in the media folder in the HEG with Breathing designs sub folder 1 e generally speaking C Program Files BioEraPro design Y BF HEG_ Breathing media There are six files named 1 wav 2 wav and 3 wav etc 1 to 3 apply to the HEG threshold while 4 to 6 apply to the breathing rate threshold If the HEG threshold condition 1s set to outside and the upper threshold is exceeded then file 2 wav 1s played or else if the lower limit is crossed then file 3 wav is played For all other threshold conditions file l wav is played If the breathing rate threshold is set to outside and the upper threshold is exceeded then file S wav is played or else 1f the lower limit is crossed then file 6 wav is played For all other threshold conditions file 4 wav is played You can have the appli
6. has two purposes firstly to explain what HEG actually is and secondly to teach you how to use the software though it 1s more of a reference than a tutorial Other training material is available on the York Biofeedback website address above HEG is a way of measuring changes in the brain s metabolic energy consuming activity The brain consumes more energy when you engage in mental activities that require focus HEG neurofeedback is thus a means of training or exercising the brain at a physiological level with the aim of boosting mental performance and emotional balance Neurofeedback training seems to induce lasting change it stimulates neuroplasticity in the brain Typically the HEG sensor is positioned over the forehead where it monitors the Prefrontal Cortex PFC This region of the brain is heavily involved in executive function described in section 3 2 3 If you re new to HEG neurofeedback I suggest the basic HEG neurofeedback application is the place to start The HEG neurofeedback with breathing application offers some of the same capability but I designed it to be more directly relevant to mindfulness practice by monitoring both breathing and brain state changes The feedback is designed firstly to help you focus on the breath and secondly to flag drops in brain activation which I see as opportunities for distractions to arise In other words the feedback cues you to intensify your awareness at these times so that you don
7. pitch range Breathing Rate The faster the breathing the higher the pitch of the midi notes One note is played for each breath The trigger is the beginning of the inhalation The note reflects the duration last breath completed The pitch range is mapped to a parameter range defined by the breathing rate range control in the long term chart 2 in figure 8 actually this sets the upper limit while the lower limit is fixed at 3 0 bpm HEG Threshold HEG rate of change controls the pitch the faster the rate of change the higher the pitch The pitch range 1s mapped to the parameter range defined by the two HEG threshold levels The advantage of this option is that it allows you to precisely control the parameter range and thus the sensitivity of the feedback by moving the threshold levels This only makes sense if you have two threshold levels visible so you should select outside for the threshold condition control 2 in figure 7 Inverse HEG Thr This option works in the same way as the above HEG threshold except that the faster the rate of change the lower the pitch i e the mapping between the parameter range and the pitch range is inverted BR Threshold Again breathing rate controls the pitch as in the breathing rate option above but this time the parameter range over which the pitch varies 1s controlled by the breathing rate threshold levels analogously to the HEG threshold option above You can set some opti
8. that something very significant is about to happen something that you ll want to remember all your life The mind is rapt poised expectant with all the senses peeled and yet calm and still Your intent is to move the graph upwards Imagine that you could move it by the power of your intent as though you had a psychic power A useful metaphor can be found in the Star Wars series of films in which Jedi knights such as Luke Skywalker learn to to channel the mystical force You need some emotional commitment behind your intent You have to really want that graph to move upwards And yet this motivation must remain positive if it tips over into frustration or self criticism or performance anxiety then this will work against you Don t be overly attached to the outcome of your exertions Appreciate that your brain has limitations The graph will not always head upwards at times your brain will tire Take mini breaks when you need to then re engage your intent On the other hand the occasions at which the graph drops are your working ground or your learning ground With practice you ll learn to turn them around so that the HEG signal quickly returns to increase What kind of influences cause the HEG signal to drop In my experience there are two main ones The mind becomes bored or fatigued and drifts into a slothful low energy or even sleepy state e Negative emotion perhaps triggered by a passing thought
9. Tab of the Platform Application Figure 1 above shows the HEG Neurofeedback tab of the Platform application Press the button labelled 1 to launch the application Make sure you have your BioEra licence key dongle inserted into a USB socket After a few seconds two new windows will appear on your screen 2 1 Hardware Set up The physical aspects of hardware set up how to connect and use your sensors etc are dependent upon the type of amplifier you are using and are covered in a separate document Hardware Set up Guide Before you start the application you configure the device set up ioj x options accessible by clicking a button in the Set up tab of the Platform In the dialog select the type of amplifier biofeedback O device you are using in both the HEG and the breath source Device GP8 E controls Note all the source settings are remembered the next L time you start the Platform See the Installation and Set up Guide for further details of device set up Figure 2 amplifier status You may select Simulator in each of the source controls In simulator mode you can learn how to use the software without the encumbrance of actually sampling the breath The application simply uses recorded data as a source Once you have started the application you should see this choice reflected in the device status display in the top right corner of the main window see figure 2 The lamp shown as a red square in figure 2 shou
10. YORK BIOFEEDBACK www york biofeedback co uk Glyn Blackett HEG Neurofeedback with Breathing Software Application User Guide Table of Contents Ja iee a 6 EA no ea ea oe ne ee ee 2 2 Launching the e s st 11 04 ner ee nese ae eee eee 3 2 1 Hardware Setup sssrinin anaa aA AA ENEAK NEN 3 3 Physiological Parameters cccccccscceecseeceeseeceeceeteeceeceecaeeeesseeaeeceeseeseeceeeeeees 4 SHR aa E inaevnatsarg meinnsasienned waite an tthaaemennp eee 4 321 1 Breathing GCalbrat l eee e E ne een eee 4 Manual FRe COMIDEAHOLL crd2ccehexcsacdues enaeeeecusswosasanseensyaniences doncusaanacomanncanatns 4 3 1 2 Derived Breathing Parameters ccccccccseceeceeceeeeeeeeeeeseeeees 5 AE atactason tie eerie ec ocinrsnce eee ee aa area stewie tin ce octeiec ean eatiacencoteaints adaeacoeees 5 3 2 1 HEG Rate f Chang eee eee Ne 6 3 2 2 S6ns0r Fe pies na ccecetductendctienccennd aiiai a ii eai 6 3 2 3 Executive FUNCTION ccc ccc cca ececeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaeaeeeeeeuvavaeeeeenes 6 3 2 4 Working with HEG Neurofeedback cccecececeeceeeeeeeeeeeeees T A User gi Gla 6 ne ee ee ee ce ee E es ae eee eee baa 9 A Man VN OON cinse a er e EEN 9 4 1 1 Standard Controls Start Stop etc cee eec ee eeeeeeeeeees 9 4 1 2 Short term HEG LIS DIA sctesnstjanvnnsccisisnatiuwesvnsaivenhnrisunee ens vesasucbaviucan 10 4 1 3 Rate of Change DISDIAY viiciccisicisinoneninadceviwaatenasiaseseanwsinaininatanavs 11
11. ange 1s averaged over the course of a breath then this value is used to calculate the pitch for the next breath This option is designed to help you focus on the breath at the same time as having the feedback warn you when the brain begins to deactivate Inverse HEG This option works in the same way as the above HEG threshold except that Threshold the faster the rate of change the lower the pitch i e the mapping between the parameter range and the pitch range 1s inverted I personally find the inverse option to be more natural when I m doing well the pitch is low which I find more aesthetically pleasing Breathing Rate The faster the breathing the higher the pitch of the midi notes The breathing rate calculated for one breath is used to determine the pitch of the tone over the next breath The pitch range is mapped to a parameter range defined by the breathing rate range control in the long term chart 2 in figure 8 actually this sets the upper limit while the lower limit is fixed at 3 0 bpm BR Threshold Again breathing rate controls the pitch as in the breathing rate option above but this time the parameter range over which the pitch varies is controlled by the breathing rate threshold levels analogously to the HEG threshold option above Threshold Threshold based feedback was introduced in section 4 1 7 above When this option is activated a sound is played whenever either of the threshold conditions is met
12. back If you don t want to use this feature leave it set at zero As an example of how you might use threshold based feedback suppose you wish to maintain a steady breathing rate of around 6 breaths per minute while at the same time keeping a steady level or increase in the HEG signal First set the HEG threshold to warn you if the HEG signal starts to decrease set the condition to below and drag the single level to around zero Second set the breathing rate threshold feedback right side to inform you if the breath is either too fast or too slow set the condition to outside then drag the threshold levels so that the upper is say around 7 bpm and the lower is say around 5 bpm 4 1 8 Audio Feedback Midi Heo gt o Breath Tone inv HecTr gt o Threshold gt In 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Figure 10 Audio feedback controls Audio feedback allows you to use the application with eyes closed useful in meditation practice You can choose how much and how often the feedback is activated and thus how intrusive it is The controls figure 9 are found at the bottom of the main window There are three forms of audio feedback available With each you can choose which physiological parameter to base the feedback on Each has an on off button appearing as green triangles 2 5 amp 7 in figure 9 but switching to red squares when the feedback is turned on Each also has an independent volume control sliders 3 6 and 8 in fi
13. cation play sounds of your choice by simply substituting these files with your own For example you could record a message in your own voice There are lots of programs that you can use to do this such as Audacity a freeware application Your recording needs to be saved in WAV format 4 2 Support Window Figure 10 shows the support window It displays the breath s air temperature signal together with various aspects of the breath detection method see section 3 1 1 The two lamp displays at the bottom black squares in the figure as they are turned off will flash briefly whenever the application detects 1 beginning of the exhalation left lamp and 11 beginning of the inhalation right lamp Press the Calibrate button to recalibrate the breath as described in section 3 1 1 Ay Second BioEra 3 151 EMG_B_Main Avg Max Ex Thr Avg Min In Thr Calibrate 14 22 0 49 T 0 77 Figure 11 support window The charts show aspects of the calculation of the breath s turning points In the bottom left is the button used to recalibrate the breath see section 3 1 1 5 Session Reports The application records data so that you can generate a report for your sessions The report contains summary data and graphs showing the progression of the feedback parameters over the whole session Note that the HEG data in the session data file 1s averaged according to the setting of the short term HEG display control 1 in figure
14. e of threshold based feedback 1s that a discrete feedback event such as a bell ring is triggered whenever the feedback parameter exceeds some limit The value of using the threshold is that the feedback is generally less 1 intrusive freeing you to focus on your direct experience The feedback only comes in when 2 you ve drifted out of your desired psychophysiological state In the HEG Neurofeedback with Breathing application there are two threshold displays one for HEG and one for breathing rate They are situated at either side of the long term display HEG to the left 8 in figure 4 and breathing rate to the right 4 in figure 4 The HEG threshold display and controls are shown in figure 9 the other threshold is functionally similar The HEG threshold is based on the rate of change as in the Basic HEG application The control settings for the HEG Rate of Change Figure 9 Threshold displays and controls display see section 4 1 3 above apply to the threshold signal too the averaging is the same and the range of the bar graph sensitivity is the same as the rate of change chart 4 5 6 7 For the breathing rate threshold the range of the bar graph is the same as that of the long term display set using combo box 2 in figure 8 For this application the main feedback event is a sound such as a bell ring but also the lamps light up 3 in figure 9 not lit in this case Audio aspects of threshold based feedbac
15. g table can be used to configure this chart Rate of Controls the level of smoothing of the signal With a shorter average you will see Change Avg all the fine grained changes With a longer average these are smoothed out but the signal will be slower in responding to change I suggest a setting of 10 seconds as a starting point Sensitivity Controls the vertical scale or range of the display With a higher sensitivity setting the range will be smaller so changes will appear more prominently The zero line is always fixed in the centre of the chart If the trace tends to disappear off the top or bottom of the chart choose a lower sensitivity Conversely if the trace is bunched tightly around the zero line choose a higher sensitivity Period This controls the length of time it takes for the traces to traverse the whole chart from right to left or in other words the horizontal range Note that increasing the period after processing has started can have unpredictable consequences so I recommend you make your selection before pressing play 4 1 4 Numeric Displays 1 2 3 4 Figure 7 Numeric displays and associated controls The numeric displays figure 7 are situated at the bottom of the main window above the audio feedback controls They should be mostly self explanatory except for these Baseline The HEG reading at the beginning of the session or more precisely 30 seconds into the session to allow a settling period
16. gure 9 graded on a scale of 0 100 For midi and breath tone feedback it is necessary to use a range of the feedback parameter just as for graphical feedback The range defines what values of the parameter correspond to the highest and lowest notes available Rather than creating separate controls the ranges are taken from the graphical range controls details are given below Midi When midi feedback is turned on a musical note is played repeatedly whose pitch varies with the chosen feedback parameter The combo box 1 in figure 9 controls the parameter used as the basis of midi feedback You can choose from those listed in the table below Note that changing the selected parameter causes the application to restart processing so it is better to make your choice before you start your session The pitch varies over a parameter range set by other controls see the table below for details HEG When the HEG signal rises the midi note rises in pitch Notes are played every half second The pitch range is mapped to the parameter range defined by the Range control in the short term display 2 in figure 5 The midi feedback has an auto centre feature analogous to that of the short term HEG display This means that when the HEG signal change has been large enough that the midi note reaches either its highest or its lowest pitch then pitch is recalibrated so that the current HEG reading gives a note right in the middle of the
17. has the same effect as pressing the red asterisk with your mouse i e it is an alternative 4 1 2 Short term HEG Display Average 10 05 Fange 0 1 Period 32 2 A A A 1 2 3 Figure 5 Short term HEG display The chart in figure 5 above shows the progression of the HEG signal over the short term Note this chart operates in auto centre mode The trace will be continually adjusted so that it s most recent right hand section displays in the middle of the vertical range The three sometimes four combo box controls positioned below the chart and described in the following table can be used to configure this chart Average Range Period Controls the level of smoothing of the HEG signal With a shorter average you will see all the fine grained changes With a longer average these are smoothed out but the signal will be slower in responding to change Controls the vertical scale of the display or the difference between the upper and lower limits of the vertical axis Note that in auto centre mode the scale is fixed but the actual upper and lower limits are constantly changing Selecting Auto produces a different behaviour the system will automatically calculate the best range to best fit the chart based on the variation over the period of the chart In this case the range will not stay fixed but will vary over the session This controls the length of time it takes for the traces to traverse the whole chart
18. hat over training can cause lasting problems In the very early days of training I suggest no more than five minutes of active training at a time but you can probably quite quickly build up to 20 minute sessions or longer though it is reasonable to take rests during this time Remember that HEG neurofeedback sessions are about exercising the brain If brain activation increases but then falls back again well you ve still exercised the brain Compare it to lifting dumbells you have to lower them back again In other words achieving a net increase over the course of a HEG training sessions 1s not the important thing Don t get overly focused on the numbers You can assume that if you practise exercise regularly neuroplastic changes will happen in the brain automatically in the longer term My design intent has been to support mind training not simply brain training by enhancing and augmenting your subjective awareness rather than detracting from it This is another reason not to get overly focused on the feedback or overly goal oriented with respect to the feedback Instead find a way for the feedback to enhance your subjective awareness In practice this means letting the feedback be more in the background of your broad awareness Audio feedback is useful in this regard as it allows you to practise without watching the screen Keep emotionally positive as much as you can or at least avoid falling into negative emotions Getting f
19. is activating the rate of change is above zero the HEG signal is increasing and the higher the rate of change the stronger the activation When the brain is becoming less energetically active the rate of change 1s less than zero or negative The HEG signal is falling 3 2 2 Sensor Placement The standard location for the sensor is the centre of the forehead The region of the brain behind this point is a particularly important are known as the Prefrontal Cortex PFC The PFC has been described as the brain s executive control centre Its functions are discussed in the following section You could use any other site on the scalp for HEG neurofeedback but I advise you to know what you are doing if you decide to move away from the centre of the forehead It s possible that you could unwittingly train an unhelpful imbalance Also note that hair blocks the signal in other words the sensor cannot see through hair 3 2 3 Executive Function To summarise HEG neurofeedback trains up increased activity in a key brain region the PFC More highly evolved in humans than in any other species the PFC endows us with our uniquely human abilities traits and intelligences a set of skills known in neuroscience as executive function and including The ability to hold the mind steady in its focus e Body regulation by modulating the Autonomic Nervous System ANS the PFC influences many of the body s automatic visceral responses e E
20. k are covered in section 4 1 8 below The bar graph has either one or two movable levels two are shown in figure 9 labelled 1 and 2 which define the threshold limits To change these limits simply drag the bars with your mouse The numeric displays 4 and 5 show the settings You can set different conditions to be met for the threshold event to be triggered via the combo box control 6 in figure 9 The options are listed in the table below Between Two limits are used the condition is met whenever the parameter is both below the upper limit and above the lower limit Outside Two limits are used the condition is met whenever the parameter is either above the upper limit or below the lower limit Above A single limit is used the condition is met when the parameter is above this Below A single limit is used the condition is met when the parameter is below this Off The threshold will not be active Use this option if you re only interested in one of the two thresholds i e turn the one you re not interested in off The HEG threshold has an additional control 7 in figure 9 which allows you to say that feedback should be triggered only if the threshold condition is met for a certain period of time This 1s a way of in effect filtering out fluctuations of brief duration which you may not consider as significant especially if you have a relatively low level of averaging The control sets the length of time needed to trigger feed
21. ld change to green when you press the play button If you do not see this happen it means that the application has not been able to establish a connection with your device Check it is plugged in and that the batteries are not flat For some devices you ll see a button rather than just text Pressing this button opens up a dialog that allows you to adjust settings related to the device such as COM port The specifics depend on the device see the Hardware Set up Guide for more details If you re using different devices for measuring HEG and breath you ll see two buttons labelled 1 and 2 and also two lamps Clicking the buttons allows you to configure device settings 1 for the HEG device and 2 for the breath device For some device types there are no settings to configure so the buttons are inactive Again the lamps should turn green when the devices start the left for the HEG device and the right for the breath device 3 Physiological Parameters This section describes the physiological parameters that the application measures namely breath and HEG 3 1 Breathing The breath sensor is actually a temperature sensor placed just below the nostril From the changing temperature of inhaled and exhaled air the system is able to detect the turning points of the breath and therefore derive breathing rate This method depends on a reasonable current of air coming through the nostril It should still work 1f you breathe with your mo
22. lose enough to the centre that the trace will easily and consistently cross to register a turning point ONTE iFirst Deriy meee High Exhale Low Inhale 6 g 13 15 T Figure 3 A well calibrated breathing signal 3 1 2 Derived Breathing Parameters From the detection of the breath turning points the software calculates e Breathing rate and average breathing rate the averaging period is 1 minute e The ratio between the durations of the inhalation phase and exhalation phase of the breath This is shortened to I E Ratio or simply I E A 1 minute average is also calculated These two are shown in the long term display see section 4 1 6 and figure 8 and can be used as the basis of audio feedback section 4 1 8 They are also shown in the numeric displays see section 4 1 4 3 2 HEG HEG is a way of measuring changes in the brain s metabolic activity There are two forms of HEG sensor known as nIR near infra red and pIR passive infra red The former was developed by Dr Hershel Toomim and the latter by Dr Jeffrey Carmen For the purposes of training they seem to be largely equivalent and the software works with both types In either case the sensor detects changes in blood flow and metabolic activation these two being tightly coupled in the brain Again in either case the sensor detects activity only in the outer region of the brain known as the cortex and only from an area close to the
23. motional balance the ability to temper over arousal and over stimulation and to summon and maintain energy and clarity in the absence of external stimulation Also the ability to modulate emotion triggering signals coming from other brain regions such as the amygdala which triggers fear and anger e Motivation and emotional drive the ability to formulate values goals and purposes The ability to formulate a considered plan of action and to hold to it in the face of distractions as well as to update it appropriately The ability to check impulsiveness e Empathy the ability to appreciate the minds of other people and to understand how our own behaviour impinges upon them Ultimately this includes our moral awareness PFC functioning has been found to be compromised in several emotional and neurological disorders including depression and ADHD HEG neurofeedback can be used therapeutically with these disorders but you don t have to have a disorder to benefit HEG neurofeedback is an optimal performance training tool Data suggests HEG neurofeedback produces lasting benefits it s thought that it stimulates structural change in the brain In other words it stimulates the brain s neuroplasticity 3 2 4 Working with HEG Neurofeedback This section gives some guidelines on how to direct and apply the mind in order to increase the HEG signal measured at the forehead Aim to feel intensely awake alert and present Imagine
24. ociated combo box controls labelled 1 to 3 in figure 8 HEG Controls the vertical scale of the upper HEG chart or the difference between the upper and lower limits of the vertical axis Click the orange square upper left of chart to see this scale displayed on the chart s vertical axis In auto centre mode the scale is fixed but the actual upper and lower limits are constantly changing Selecting Auto produces a different behaviour the system will automatically calculate the range to best fit the chart based on the variation over the period of the chart In this case the range will not stay fixed but will vary over the session BR Range Controls the vertical range of the blue breathing rate trace in the lower chart Make this range larger if the blue trace appears to be off the top of the chart You can reduce it for greater sensitivity as your breathing slows down Period Controls the horizontal time range in other words how long it takes the trace to traverse from right to left Note that increasing the period after processing has started can have unpredictable consequences so I recommend you make your selection before pressing play The red I E ratio trace has a fixed range of 0 to 2 The bold line in the centre of the chart is at 1 0 meaning that when the red trace is below the line the exhalation phase lasts longer than the inhalation phase usually desirable 4 1 7 Threshold Displays and Controls The essenc
25. ons for midi feedback notably the instrument piano by default from the Platform i e before starting the application See the Installation and Set up Guide for further details Breath Tone A tone is played which follows the breath The pitch gently ascends and descends in pitch for each inhalation exhalation respectively Each breath has a relatively narrow range in pitch The tone sounds during the movement of the breath and falls silent at the turning points This form of feedback is very useful if you are using the breath as your point of focus At an overarching level the pitch varies with the selected feedback parameter the lower the parameter value the deeper the pitch A combo box control 4 in figure 9 allows you to choose which parameter to use as the basis of feedback Note that changing your selection forces the application to restart processing The choices are listed in the following table HEG Threshold HEG rate of change controls the pitch the faster the rate of change the higher the pitch The pitch range is mapped to the parameter range defined by the two HEG threshold levels The advantage of this option 1s that it allows you to precisely control the parameter range and thus the sensitivity of the feedback by moving the threshold levels This only makes sense if you have two threshold levels visible so you should select outside for the threshold condition control 2 in figure 7 The rate of ch
26. or memory or perhaps by a negative judgement of your own performance In either case the practice is to rebalance the brain as quickly as possible Sometimes the signal begins to fall but you re not consciously aware of any reason for it neither of the above two seem to apply I think it s best to understand these occasions as openings for distraction if you let the trend continue unchecked for long the mind will drift into some form of distraction but if you respond and turn the signal round no problem Responding to mild boredom often isn t easy Looking at a line on a computer screen is inherently a pretty boring situation I think this is an important part of the context for training You have to generate the arousal internally not rely on the external stimulation If you were watching a really interesting film 1t might be a lot easier to maintain brain activation but you re probably already good at that and don t need to practise On the other hand you don t need to focus exclusively on the graph you can broaden your focus out to include your environment and other sensory channels besides vision as long as you can maintain your intent Be careful not to over train As with physical exercise there is a window of opportunity for change not enough effort and nothing really changes in the longer term but over do it and you risk fatiguing the brain and perhaps giving yourself a headache However there is no reason to think t
27. ort in html format It will be opened using your computer s default web browser e g Internet Explorer Note that a live internet connection is not needed The html file is saved so you can for example email it to someone See the Installation and Set up Guide for details of file storage Report Options show v Max W Min W Mean W Netchange HEG Breathing iv Mark data points Minimum HEG reading 90 F x j Camel Figure 13 Report options 6 1 Report Options The application report options dialog is an adapted version of the session report options dialog Many of the options are the same and should be self explanatory See section 5 1 above As with all of the application reports in the suite there is a chart for each of the main parameters tracked in the application in the case of the HEG amp Breathing application that means HEG score breathing rate and inhalation to exhalation ratio For each chart you can opt for line graphs for the maximum minimum mean and net change The line graphs have one point per session
28. ousice controls Re IBL Midi HEG Th amp k B ath Tone er raem gt H Threshold amp 7 Numeric i a l displays 6 Long term display 5 Audio feedback controls Figure 4 User interface 4 1 Main Window This section explains the controls in the main window how to configure feedback 4 1 1 Standard Controls Start Stop etc A set of buttons Play Stop and Pause are the same in all the applications in the suite They should be self explanatory The Epoch control sets the time period at which data is written to the session data file This data file is used to generate session reports which are described in section 5 below For the HEG application only HEG data is written Choosing a lower time period generates more data For example if you select 2 seconds then the application will write HEG readings to the session data file once every two seconds The button marked with a red asterisk is a simple event marker You can use it to mark adventitious happenings and changes in session conditions e g you turn on or off breath pacing It is particularly useful for coaches and therapists Events thus marked are represented in the long term chart see section 4 4 below by a vertical white line They are also recorded in the session data file and are shown in session report charts as dotted vertical lines see section 5 Note that pressing the escape key during a session
29. rustrated when the signal doesn t go up and getting anxious if it doesn t go up or you think you can t make it go up are two traps that can cause drops in the signal Another point worth making is that in the context of training it is sometimes enough just to maintain the brain s energy level without needing to increase metabolic activity Of course there 1s ultimately a ceiling to the HEG signal it can t keep on increasing for ever more In other words training is about avoiding drops rather than achieving gains 4 User Interface When you first start the application from the Platform you will see two windows The main window is shown in figure 4 below while the support window is shown later figure 10 The support window allows you to check that breath detection is working properly see the discussion of breath calibration in section 3 1 1 I expect that most users will rarely need to make reference to it 2 Short term 1 Standard controls HEG display 3 Rate of change display Se Bia 447 HEG B Main S 2 O Di 05 16 ema s vork plofeedhack _www york biofeedback co sk Simulator y5 g ail J i 9 j Average 100S Range o1 Penod 325 Rala ofChangeavg 10 05 Sensitivity Higni Period 325 3 Breath display 8 HEG i 4 Breathing threshold 1 4 J p l threshold controls SMM eG iesala foutsice 2s O moshec ae BR 200pm Penod 5min BRThreshold f
30. s you to do this You may wish to add notes after having first seen the report In this case simply click the button 2 in figure 1 again and check the Add notes option This will regenerate the report with your added notes 5 3 Sample Session Report Training Session Report Training Application HEG Neurofeedback with Breathing User Name Default User Session Date 28 03 12 22 01 IR Temperature Infra red Temperature 5 10 Session Time in Minutes HEG Summary Data Parameter Value Starting Reading 92 46 End Reading 92 96 Max Reading 92 99 Net Change 0 51 Breaths Per Minute LE Ratio 0 8 0 6 Breathing Rate i i i h i f z j 7 j k i jp ig al R i af Pa aN i E 4 fy ba a s aw wA bet is Iy a A O a N AT l ee J 0 5 10 15 Session Time in Minutes Inhalation to Exhalation Ratio 14 1 2 0 4 0 2 0 5 10 15 Session Time in Minutes Breathing Summary Data Parameter mean max min s0 Breathing Rate 6 2 bpom 10 7 bpm 4 6 bpm 1 1 bpm 6 Application Report An application report summarises all the sessions for the currently selected user in charts and a table To generate and open an application report click the button labelled 3 in figure 1 A dialog window opens in which you can select various options see figure 11 As with session reports the software creates the application rep
31. sensor By metabolic activity I mean energy consuming processes in brain cells The brain consumes more energy when you engage in mental activities that require focus HEG neurofeedback is thus a means of training or exercising the brain at a physiological level with the aim of boosting mental performance and emotional balance In HEG neurofeedback we train the signal upwards not downwards Typically the HEG sensor is positioned over the forehead where it monitors the Prefrontal Cortex PFC This region of the brain 1s heavily involved in executive function described more fully in section 3 2 3 Thus HEG is a vehicle for training executive function 3 2 1 HEG Rate of Change The absolute value of the HEG signal is of little relevance we can t infer anything about brain state from it Rather it is changes in the HEG reading that count To repeat when the HEG signal increases we infer the brain became more active For this reason it is useful to calculate the rate of change of the HEG signal Much of the feedback in the application is actually based on this calculation for example see section 4 1 8 on audio feedback below The rate of change is equivalent to the slope or gradient of the HEG graph A zero rate of change means that the HEG reading 1s stable or unchanging and that the brain 1s maintaining its energy level without either increasing or decreasing it This state doesn t tend to last very long When the brain
32. t drift towards sleepiness dullness agitation etc Whilst training brain activity should support mindfulness practice it is a means to an end not an end in itself I designed the software so that the feedback should enhance your subjective awareness rather than detract from it The guide assumes that you have read the Software Installation and Set up Guide and therefore know how to start the application The application works with several devices For an up to date list of supported hardware please see the York Biofeedback website 2 Launching the Application g York Biofeedback Software Mind Body Training Tools Set up Seep eee Selected Trainee Default User Heart Rate Variability HEG Neurofeedback HEG Neurofeedback Application HEG Neurofeedback with Breathing Application Basic Video DVD Audio 1 Pe Start HEG amp Breathing Application Breathing Start HEG Neurofeedback Application EMG Muscle Tension GSR amp Skin Temperature View HEG Neurofeedback Session Report 2 pe View HEG amp Breathing Session Report Ca metry View HEG Neurofeedback Application Report 3 pe View HEG amp Breathing Application Report Documentation Documentation EEG Assessment HEG Neurofeedback User Guide HEG Neurofeedback amp Breathing User Guide EEG Training YORK BIOFEEDBACK MIND BODY TRAINING TOOLS www york biofeedback co uk Ny Figure 1 HEG Neurofeedback
33. uth open as long as your nose 1s not completely blocked Speech will disrupt the normal air current and will give rise to unreliable breathing calculations 3 1 1 Breathing Calibration The breath detection method requires a short period of time to calibrate to your breath This happens automatically during the first 20 seconds of any session i e after you press play It s important that you breathe naturally and evenly and not too slowly through the nose during this time Note that the breath signal will not display properly until proper calibration is established Manual Re calibration If for any reason you lose reliable breath detection during a session e g you have to remove and reattach the sensor there is a way to recover in the support window there is a button labelled Calibrate that you simply press You should breathe naturally and evenly and not too slowly for a few breaths prior to pressing If this doesn t work you can stop and restart the application Generally the breath detection once established is very reliable and you should not need to re calibrate during normal use Figure 3 shows you what a well calibrated breath signal looks like in the support window The upper trace is the temperature of inhaled exhaled air while the middle trace 1s its first derivative or gradient The yellow dotted lines are thresholds used for the detection of the breath turning points They should be reasonably far apart but c
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