|
Migraine headaches involve intense
pain, often for several hours at a time. They can be extremely disabling and can result in the migraine
sufferer’s inability to function at work or at home. Often the individual has to lie down in a darkened
room until the migraine passes. Migraines
are often preceded by a period of time in which the individual experiences a strange feeling in his or her head or gut, or
other unusual sensations without a headache that is known as an “aura.”
The
exact cause of migraines is poorly understood, but they are thought to be complex neurovascular phenomena that involve misfiring
of the trigeminal nerve, excessive dilation of blood vessels and activity in the brainstem. A combination of neurofeedback, HEG and other biofeedback techniques has been found to significantly
reduce the intensity and frequency of migraine headaches. Some studies have found abnormalities in the
electophysiological (brainwave) activity in migraine patients, which suggest that training the brain to alter its electrophysiological
activity in certain frequency bands might be effective. Clinical studies have indicated that this can be
an effective treatment. Other studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of HEG training, in which cerebral
blood flow is increased in the pre-frontal cortex, which might help the brain inhibit pain sensations. The
type of HEG that we use is called passive Infrared Hemoencephalograpy (pIR HEG). These techniques are combined
with biofeedback-assisted practices for regulating one’s breathing, which balances sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic
nervous system activity, and hand warming, which has a calming effect and might divert blood away from overly dilated blood
vessels in the brain.
Studies which support
the use of neurofeedback in migraine control include:
Carmen, J. (2004). Passive infrared hemoencephalography: four years and 100 migraines.
Journal of Neurotherapy, vol. 8 (4), 23-51.
Stokes, DA & Lappin, MS. (2010). Neurofeedback and biofeedback with
37 migraineurs: a clinical outcome study. Behavioral and Brain Functions, vol. 6 (9).
|
