Entries tagged as Featured

A Clinical Outcome Study Of Neurofeedback And Biofeedback For Migraine Headache

On February 2, 2010 / By Chris Fisher / In Featured, Headache, Neurofeedback / No Comments

In a recent meta-analysis involving biofeedback for the treatment of migraine, Grade A evidence [6] was found for the efficacy of the above methods which proved stable over a 17 month follow-up phase [5]. Numerous studies explore peripheral biofeedback [5] but scant studies exist on using neurofeedback methods to treat migraine [7-11]. Although the current study discussed today looks at neurofeedback, it is not the sole intervention. Instead of providing only neurofeedback protocols as the sole modality, the lead author, who is a clinician in private practice, decided early on to utilize evidence-based thermal biofeedback methods in addition to the neurofeedback in order to maximize the patient’s chances of success. (continue reading)

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Diaphragm Mediates Action of Autonomic and Enteric Nervous Systems

On January 8, 2010 / By Stephen Elliott / In Featured, Psychophysiology / No Comments

The relationship between the diaphragm and corresponding actions of the heart and lungs is well established. In this article, we’ll review that relationship as well as explore the diaphragm’s little recognized role in abdominal function.

As the diaphragm moves down (inhalation) the volume of the thoracic cavity increases, the pressure in the thoracic cavity becomes more negative, and the lungs fill with air from the conducting airways leading from the nose and mouth and blood from the venous tree and right heart. There, blood and air meet across the extremely thin alveolar surface to effect gas exchange – oxygen for carbon dioxide. During inhalation, heart rate increases to speed filling of the low pressure environment of the lungs via the right heart and to prevent a precipitous fall in arterial pressure while the lungs store a large volume of blood – on the order of 500+ ml. (continue reading)

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Eric Newhouse’s Crusade To Improve Veterans’ Access To Much Needed PTSD And TBI Treatments, Including Neurofeedback And CES

On December 10, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In CES, Featured, Neurofeedback / No Comments

faces_of_combat_coverPulitzer Prize winning journalist Eric Newhouse illuminates the dire circumstances that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently encounter in his book, “Faces of Combat, PTSD and TBI: One Journalist’s Crusade to Improve Treatment for Our Veterans.” The Behavioral Medicine Report obtained the publisher’s permission to post Chapter 19 where Newhouse discusses the effectiveness of neurofeedback and cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) and the Veterans Administration’s (VA) refusal to support these treatments. This story also includes interviews with Siegfried and Susan Othmer. (more…)

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What is Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation? (Part 2)

On September 30, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In CES, Featured / No Comments

CES_brain_Pt2In Part 1 of this series, a basic introduction to Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES), also known as Cranial Electrical Stimulation and Cranial Electrostimulation, was given that included a technical overview, typical treatment protocols, and common side effects. Next, Part 2 details CES’ proposed mechanism of action and treatment effectiveness with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain, as well as a few closing thoughts. Readers can expect many more future posts on CES and its treatment of various ailments. I anticipate that the first will cover a well-designed CES for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) study. (more…)

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An Interview With Philip Thorpe, Lead Researcher Of The Recent Bavituximab Study

On July 11, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Featured, Public Health / No Comments

green_circular_virus_interviewDr. Philip Thorpe, Ph.D., lead researcher of the Bavituximab study* reviewed on this website, recently agreed to conduct an interview with The Behavioral Medicine Report. The original review of his research turned out to be a highly accessed article that justified a follow-up interview with Dr. Thorpe. I also wanted to clarify my understanding of Bavituximab and its treatment implications and to better determine if the excitement that surrounds Bavituximab is justified. (more…)

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Potential QEEG Markers of Childhood Stuttering And Their Implications for Neurofeedback

On May 16, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Featured, Neurofeedback, QEEG / No Comments

brainmap_deltaResearchers compared the quantitative EEGs (QEEG) of 26 children with a history of stuttering to 21 age matched controls with no stuttering and may have identified important “EEG markers” of pediatric stuttering*. The authors’ epidemiological review of pediatric stuttering finds that this disorder afflicts approximately 1% of prepubertal children typically between 2-7 years of age with an peak onset around 3-4 years old with boys being 3 times more susceptible to this disorder. (continue reading)

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An Introduction to EEG Phenotypes (Part 3)

On May 2, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Featured, QEEG / No Comments

brainmap_orginal_3In Part 1 of this series, I provided a basic introduction to and a list of the 11 candidate EEG phenotypes, while Part 2 covered 5 of 11 EEG phenotypes. Part 3 details the remaining 6 EEG phenotypes with some final thoughts and a wrap up of this popular series. As detailed beforehand, the phenotypes and their implications for neurofeedback mostly draw from the writings of Johnston, Gunkelman, & Lunt (2005), Gunkelman (2006), and Arns, Gunkelman, Breteler, & Spronk (prepublication). All references to scalp locations are based on the International 10/20 System. Fisher & Cordova (2006) provide an excellent descriptive overview of the International 10/20 System complete with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pictures of corresponding physical locations. continue reading)

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A Novel and Potentially Groundbreaking Viral Theory of Autism and Schizophrenia

On March 19, 2009 / By Chris Fisher / In Autism, Featured, Schizophrenia / 1 Comment

dna-brainRoulette William Smith, Ph.D. details a potentially ground breaking theory that purports to unravel the mystery surrounding the underlying causative factors of autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and a host of other mental and physical illnesses in his paper entitled, “Inferring an Autovirulent Epigenetic Etiology for the Autism Spectrum and Schizophrenia*.” Dr. Smith’s theory originated from insights gleamed from 3 co-cited research articles (discussed in the manuscript) combined with a synthesis of other relevant research using logistic reasoning and logistic intelligence.

Smith’s theory is complicated and does not lend itself to a brief overview. Some may find the manuscript a difficult read without at least some background in the neurosciences, infectious diseases, immunology, genetics, logic, methodology, and philosophy of science.  I only intend to provide a generalist overview that highlights the major points. All interested persons are strongly encouraged to read the entire manuscript (download available).

Dr. Smith kindly allowed The Behavioral Medicine Report to publish the latest version of his manuscript so check the end of this review for a PDF download. Please note that the manuscript is not a final version so a few areas need citations (noted by ###) or small formatting changes. (more…)

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