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When the space shuttle Atlantis returns from the International Space Station it will mark the end of an era for American space travel. We will all be holding our breath for its final safe landing to end a brilliant 30 year career. Reflecting on this, Lawrence Klein, Vice President and Co-Founder of Thought Technology Ltd., recalls, “One of our company’s proudest achievements was to have its FlexComp Infiniti system chosen as the physiological monitoring equipment used in NASA’s NEEMO-9 project.” Included in this report is a video that explains how biofeedback was used in support of the NASA mission.

Treating chronic migraines with behavioral approaches – such as biofeedback, relaxation training, and hypnosis – can make financial sense compared to prescription-drug treatment, especially after a year or more, a new study found. Longtime behavioral therapy researcher and practitioner Dr. Donald Penzien, University of Mississippi Medical Center professor of psychiatry, coauthored the study.

Competitive athletes should not only practice their sport to improve performance; perhaps they should also practice heart rate variability (HRV). Studies have shown that learning to increase heart rate variability through biofeedback can improve sport performance and help athletes cope with the stress of competition. A link to download the original study is included in this report.

The Fort Jackson Army Substance Abuse Program, which traditionally addresses issues of alcohol and drug abuse, will expand its programs by offering a six-week stress and anxiety reduction class, scheduled to begin Wednesday. Pierre Wilkins, a social worker with ASAP, explained that the goal is for people to identify stressors and stress symptoms and to learn how to reduce their stress levels. A second class building on the first one may become available if the need arises.

A recent investigation published by the British Medical Journal BMJ concluded that Dr. Andrew Wakefield misrepresented or altered the medical histories of all 12 of the patients whose cases formed the basis of a 1998 study linking Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) to childhood vaccines. Regardless of the cause, in the past decade there has been a huge increase in the incidence of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

The Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA), formerly the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America, has filed applications to trademark terms that refer to Board certification in biofeedback. BCIA certifies professionals in Biofeedback, Neurofeedback, and Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback. Included in this report are links to several full-text articles for those who want to learn more about BCIA.

Many jobs that require repetitive movements can cause injury to workers. Analyzing worker technique and muscle activity in relation to the workstation can provide answers to how an injury is incurred and how to prevent it in the future. With the assistance of surface electromyography (SEMG), an ergonomic analysis of worker behavior, posture, and movement can be conducted. The publisher provides the original, full text study free of charge. Check the end of this report for a download link.

Ambassador to Germany, Dr. Peter Boehm, and the Canadian High Commissioner to Dusseldorf, Leslie Reissner, paid a visit to the Thought Technology Ltd. booth at Medica, where 137,000 visited for 4 days. Included in this announcement is a video interview with Olivier Jean (short track speed skating gold medalist) and Dr. Pierre Beauchamp (sports psychologist) who discuss the use of biofeedback in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Although the video is obviously produced by Thought Technology to promote their biofeedback devices, it is actually a very interesting demonstration of the use of biofeedback, including neurofeedback, in professional sports.

A new treatment program teaches people who suffer from panic disorder how to reduce the terrorizing symptoms by normalizing their breathing. The method has proved better than traditional cognitive therapy at reducing both symptoms of panic and hyperventilation, according to a new study. A video demonstration is included in this report whereby the researcher explains how the treatment works with a participant.