Neurofeedback comes in two primary forms: Directed and Non-Directed. Directed systems utilize a brain scan to determine which areas are needing most attention and then the neurofeedback is set up to target those areas directly. Non-Directed systems, like NeurOptimal® brain training, do not require a brain scan as they allow the brain to ‘choose’ which areas it will correct first.
This is an important distinction and the basis of my thoughts on why NeurOptimal® brain training is a better choice for most people.
When given the chance, the brain will always protect the body and do what is required to keep it safe and thriving. For instance, fat surrounds toxins to protect us from toxins in our system and keep us alive and healthy. So, fat is often our body’s way of protecting us. Thus, when you lose weight, you often feel sick until you flush out the newly released toxins. Or, another example is when someone is in the ocean, freezing. The body will start to shut down the extremities and keep the blood in the center to keep the most important organs alive. In other words, our brains are SO smart that they know what is best for us and will do what is required to sustain life first.
In my opinion, NeurOptimal® brain training supports the brain in this endeavor to take care of what is most important first. I have another example. When my son started brain training with NeurOptimal® almost 3 years ago, he was 8 y, 2w old. He weighed 48 lbs, he was wearing size 4/6 clothes and he was bony. He ate like crazy, but didn’t grow and didn’t gain weight. We started NeurOptimal® and after several months we started to see growth. Now, almost three years later, our 10 year old is 108 lbs, 4’8.5″ and wearing size 12 clothes, easy. In the last year, we’ve gone from shoe size 12 to size 6.5 mens. The growth has been amazing.
BUT, is that what we got NeurOptimal® for? Not really. We were concerned with his emotional growth and executive functioning. But his brain was smart enough to know that he wasn’t thriving. He was too small, too bony, and unable to retain the nutrients required to grow.
His brain was so smart, it started to give the correct signals to his eyes and his stray eye started to pull itself inward and began to track in sync with his other eye.
His brain was so smart, it began to filter out noises and while his hearing is still impeccable, he doesn’t hear EVERY conversation anymore. He can handle loud places much better.
As we have continued in brain training, he is now starting to be concerned with his appearance. He is calm while he showers and gets his hair washed. He’s willing to brush his teeth. He fusses over his hair and clothes.
In fact, just the other day, he was disgusted at the way someone was eating and instead of screaming and trying to clean their face for them, he just turned in his chair and looked away. THIS IS BIG!
He is doing better in school. He is more in charge of his emotions. Do I wish we’d made more progress in these areas? Yes. A resounding yes. However, these corrections his brain has chosen to make are a foundation – to my way of thinking – that will allow the changes to come in executive functioning and emotional control to have something to rest on. The changes that have happened so far are part of his lower and mid-brain areas.
Left alone – non-directed – the brain knows what it needs to function most optimally. It knows that the early childhood markers need to be developed before it can worry about good handwriting. It knows that it’s more important to see correctly than to sit still in the chair. It knows that balance is more important than organizing files in alphabetical order.
I like the idea of the brain finding and filling in the cracks and holes, creating a foundation for itself, and then making progress that it can stand up to, thus I choose non-directed neurofeedback with NeurOptimal®.