{"id":77429,"date":"2025-07-02T00:03:44","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:03:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=77429"},"modified":"2025-07-02T00:03:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:03:44","slug":"tuning-our-brains-like-musical-instruments-does-neurofeedback-really-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/tuning-our-brains-like-musical-instruments-does-neurofeedback-really-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Tuning our brains like musical instruments: Does neurofeedback really work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Would you like\u00a0<\/span>to see your thoughts<\/span><\/em>\u00a0live and try to change the ones you don’t like? In general terms, that’s what\u00a0<\/span>neurofeedback<\/span><\/em><\/a>\u00a0is all about . It’s a\u00a0<\/span>“training technique”<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that allows us to observe our brain activity in real time to learn how to modulate it voluntarily, thanks to the use of electroencephalography (EEG).<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s imagine the brain as a musical instrument. Brain waves act like notes that can be chaotic at first. However, through feedback practice, patterns begin to be identified and the harmony between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors improves. In other words, neurofeedback\u00a0<\/span>could<\/span><\/em>\u00a0help “tune” the brain.<\/span><\/p>\n

But is this a melody with a solid scientific basis, or are they just isolated chords with no connection to each other? This article explores whether\u00a0<\/span>neurofeedback<\/span><\/em>\u00a0can participate in the orchestra of effective therapies or whether it needs further rigorous testing before taking center stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Composing thanks to electroencephalography<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>purpose of electroencephalography<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is to record the tiny\u00a0<\/span>electrical signals<\/span><\/a>\u00a0generated by neurons. To do this,\u00a0<\/span>small electrodes<\/span><\/a>\u00a0are placed on the scalp following a standardized system called the ”\u00a0<\/span>10-20<\/span><\/a>\u00a0” electrode pattern. This method ensures that\u00a0different areas of the brain are\u00a0<\/span>adequately covered .<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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International System for Extracranial Electrode Placement. The term 10-20 refers to electrode placement 10% to 20% of the total distance between specific locations on the skull. Letters indicate the area (Fp, prefrontal; F, frontal; C, central; P, parietal; T, temporal; and O, occipital), while numbers designate the hemisphere (even for the right, odd for the left), and midline electrodes are marked with a z; thus, Fz is located frontally on the midline. Adapted from Novo-Olivas et al., 2010.<\/p><\/div>\n

The captured brain signals are then translated into waves based on their frequency, measured in\u00a0<\/span>hertz<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(Hz), and their amplitude, measured in\u00a0<\/span>microvolts<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(\u03bcV). These waves (which are also used to analyze\u00a0<\/span>synchronization between different brains<\/span><\/a>\u00a0) are taken as an indicator of the person’s mental state.<\/span><\/p>\n

Briefly, waves and their association with mental states\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span><\/a>\u00a0as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n