RE: Peak Alpha frequency

July 30, 2003

Pete and associates,

Right now I use the Neurocybernetics system. I want to augment this with another system and am considering the BrainMaster or the PocketNeurobics. I am interested in views about what these systems offer in comparison to each other, i.e. the strengths and weaknesses of each, by people who have used these systems in their practice for assessment and treatment. I know Bioexplorer can be used with both, but not exactly what that adds to the mix. I am not much of a tech person so ease of use is also something I would like others' views on in regard to these systems.

Also do you know if the BioExplorer software allows a determination of peak alpha frequency?

Thanks

Joan E. Bullard, PhdMcLean, VAjbullardphd@...

July 30, 2003

Joan,

Starting from your final question: Yes, Bio Explorer does permit not only

determination of peak frequency in any band you define; it also permits you

to train it. Brainmaster 2.0 software also permits you to determine peak

frequency in a band, though it does not presently allow you to train it.

The benefit of BioExplorer being capable of working with both systems is

that it provides a higher quality of graphics and sound to both than either

can offer on its own. The software also offers the capacity to do a

variety of protocols (e.g. ratio training, percent/total training, peak

frequency training, asymmetry training), which cannot be done with the

native software to those devices (though Pocket Neurobics can do ratio and

therefore percent training).

I hope others on the list will comment on the two options in terms of

platforms you asked about. These are some of my thoughts:

Brainmaster is probably the strongest growing tip in this field today. It

is consistently expanding capabilities and there seems to be a true

partnership between front-line users and the developers, probably the best

since Sue Othmer and the Spectrum programmer who died several years ago

(name escapes me) in the prime of EEG Spectrum. The 2.0 software permits

keystroke on-the-fly frequency adjustment like the neurocybernetics

software to which you are accustomed. It does excellent coherence training

as well as having very flexible options for amplitude training. It is not

as well implemented for two-channel training as I hope it will be in coming

versions, though it can perform this. It is minimalist in its

implementation of sound and visual feedback, though both are also

improving. Although others are working on software capability that allows

gathering of assessment data as I prefer to gather it, at this point only

BrainMaster actually does it. It has a nice implementation of graphing

capabilities.

The pocket neurobics unit is less expensive, smaller and more portable. It

is the only unit of which I am aware which is fully capable of training

without any connection to a computer, though, with Bio Explorer, it can

drive a computer display. It now offers a lead interface which allows you

to use your standard electrodes and plug them into the unit. One of the

options has built-in HEG for blood flow training; the other has built in

AVS light and sound driving. I must admit that I have not used the unit

enough to have moved up the learning curve on its menu structure, which I

find more confusing than the more comfortable computer screen version, but

others have obviously learned it and are comfortable with it. It is

remarkably flexibly for such a small unit.

Pete

VanDeusen

Practical Brain Training.

305/251-0337

pvdadp@...

RE: Peak Alpha frequency

Pete and associates,

Right now I use the Neurocybernetics system. I want to augment this with

another system and am considering the BrainMaster or the PocketNeurobics. I

am interested in views about what these systems offer in comparison to each

other, i.e. the strengths and weaknesses of each, by people who have used

these systems in their practice for assessment and treatment. I know

Bioexplorer can be used with both, but not exactly what that adds to the

mix. I am not much of a tech person so ease of use is also something I

would like others' views on in regard to these systems.

Also do you know if the BioExplorer software allows a determination of peak

alpha frequency?

Thanks

Joan E. Bullard, Phd

July 30, 2003

Pete,

I have been reviewing the mails about the issue: Peak Alpha Frecuecy (PAF).

I had also revised many workshops on Meditation I have done the last 3 years, with 15 students each.

The first day.Saturday. I used to hook up them in O1 O2, without feeed back just to observe. We did 10 meditation of 30 minutes every day (with breaks of 5 minutes between each Meditation)

The second day, I used AVS form 12 hz to 8 hz sñowing down in 30 minutes.

I asked the student to pay attention to the moment of the meditation when they feel Better and more warm and relaxed.

The data I collected, reproduced and inverted U or Gauss Bell Shape, Where the 50% of the students ( as population does) falls under the 10.05 HZ of PAF. And the other where distributed Up and down the Alpha band.

So, my question is that many had the PAF in 8.5 HZ and had neither the feeling nor the life of a person who has a "energy drain or tired brain" and felt very good. Not only that, but looks very smart. Something that dont fits with the "High IQ" of people of Higher Alpha PAF.

In the higher frecuency in the AVS part ot the entrainment, the lower PAF students DON´T FEEL GOOD.

This was the same to the Higher PAF students. But inverse.

THey feel good and warm in the High Frecuency Spectrrum of Alpha , and reject the lower band in the AVS part ot the entrainment.

Well thats what I have seen.

The last issue in that in the moment any of them produces the greatest spindles in uV or Bursts of Alpha (the Eagle Shape in Brain Mirror) (that is why I created the QDS, with the swithces. Originally to fallow this progressive increasing " Alpha Burst momentum" From Occipital to Frontal.) All moves to 10 HZ band to 10.05.

So I saw they have a every day PAF and the "Special Moment in Meditation" PAF.

The funny, well not funny, but interesting issue, was that there I had the student we called the "paranoid guy" . Remember the 12,05 Half Alpha and half Lobeta , in CSA a half light blue hill and the other side was green. In the TOP exactly joineed the 2 colors.He moved also to 10.05 HZ in " Alpha Burst momentum" From Occipital to Frontal.)

Warm regards,,,,,,,,GrandPA.

www.qeeg.com.ar

July 31, 2003

,

This is very interesting. I agree, as you say at the end, that it is very

likely that we produce different alpha states in meditation from those we

produce when we just close our eyes for one minute. There is no question

in my mind that meditation is an " altered state " , which opens the door into

different parts of our mind/brain. What I am more likely to see in the

assessment, which asks the client to close his/her eyes for only one minute

in a very non-meditative type of situation, is the eyes-closed alpha

response--not the meditative response.

I believe there is very good evidence, both in the research on aging and on

alpha, that significant slowing of the peak alpha frequency below 10 Hz is

related to low motivation, foggy mental states and often to sleep problems.

I have certainly experienced this myself and have experienced the change

that takes place after I work to speed alpha back up to 10 Hz or above.

Pete

VanDeusen

Practical Brain Training.

305/251-0337

pvdadp@...

Re: Peak Alpha frequency

I have been reviewing the mails about the issue: Peak Alpha Frecuecy (PAF).

I had also revised many workshops on Meditation I have done the last 3

years, with 15 students each.

The first day.Saturday. I used to hook up them in O1 O2, without feeed back

just to observe. We did 10 meditation of 30 minutes every day (with breaks

of 5 minutes between each Meditation)

The second day, I used AVS form 12 hz to 8 hz sñowing down in 30 minutes.

I asked the student to pay attention to the moment of the meditation when

they feel Better and more warm and relaxed.

The data I collected, reproduced and inverted U or Gauss Bell Shape, Where

the 50% of the students ( as population does) falls under the 10.05 HZ of

PAF. And the other where distributed Up and down the Alpha band.

So, my question is that many had the PAF in 8.5 HZ and had neither the

feeling nor the life of a person who has a " energy drain or tired brain "

and felt very good. Not only that, but looks very smart. Something that

dont fits with the " High IQ " of people of Higher Alpha PAF.

In the higher frecuency in the AVS part ot the entrainment, the lower PAF

students DON´T FEEL GOOD.

This was the same to the Higher PAF students. But inverse.

THey feel good and warm in the High Frecuency Spectrrum of Alpha , and

reject the lower band in the AVS part ot the entrainment.

Well thats what I have seen.

The last issue in that in the moment any of them produces the greatest

spindles in uV or Bursts of Alpha (the Eagle Shape in Brain Mirror) (that

is why I created the QDS, with the swithces. Originally to fallow this

progressive increasing " Alpha Burst momentum " From Occipital to

Frontal.) All moves to 10 HZ band to 10.05.

So I saw they have a every day PAF and the " Special Moment in Meditation "

PAF.

The funny, well not funny, but interesting issue, was that there I had the

student we called the " paranoid guy " . Remember the 12,05 Half Alpha and

half Lobeta , in CSA a half light blue hill and the other side was green.

In the TOP exactly joineed the 2 colors.He moved also to 10.05 HZ in "

Alpha Burst momentum " From Occipital to Frontal.)

July 31, 2003

Hi Pete.

I think we are always talking of O1 O2. Yes or not?

Or are you also seeing this for P3 P4 C3 C4 F3 F4 And T3T4.

I tell you this becaue, I was thinking (remember that I am new on this , so the only thing I can do is "think" and relate what I know (if I remeber) about neurophisiology) That The Alpha we see in O2 O1 is result ot Thalmic Pacemaker. Also in C3 C4. I am not sure if the one we see on P3P4 and T3 T4 are the same. It seems that the cortex macrocolums that has a perpendicular relation to the skull, in general has a firing neuronal behaviour , that are " vertical" (upwards and downwards) in relation to the cortex layers , and the Thalamic Pacemakers. But also, It seems there is "another" alpha" that is the result of a "horizontal spread" and it means "Local Neuronal Iddling process", most related to ERS than to the action of the Thalamic Pacemaker. So this last, will be a indirect sign of blood floow and "post task matabolic restoration of neuronal action".

As if each neuron has his reasting period, or groups of neuros.

I have also read that studie that was done with many aged population that explains that when alpha drops and dissapears ....you have only ONE YEAR MORE,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I also will like to ask our List friend of the last mail Gilbert <john2002@...>

If his Protocol for Rise indirectly PAF SMR in the rangeof 10-14, 11-14, 11-15 is Eyes Closed or Eyes Open in PZ.

Warm regards

www.qeeg.com.ar

August 1, 2003

,

When I talk about alpha training, I am usually talking about the Parietal

lobes, usually at P4. As anyone who has trained with me is aware, I have

taught for some time that the way to speed up alpha is to train up 10-13 Hz

and train down 3-9 Hz. This is relatively close to what suggests.

However I have only recently begin trying to use software which has the

ability to train peak frequency directly, so I can't say from my own

experience--as does--that it doesn't work.

It's my understanding that most all alpha comes from thalamic pacemakers

(though I'm less certain of Temporal sites). That's why alpha is so

potentially synchronous a rhythm.

Pete

VanDeusen

Practical Brain Training.

305/251-0337

pvdadp@...

Re: Peak Alpha frequency

Hi Pete.

I think we are always talking of O1 O2. Yes or not?

Or are you also seeing this for P3 P4 C3 C4 F3 F4 And T3T4.

I tell you this becaue, I was thinking (remember that I am new on this , so

the only thing I can do is " think " and relate what I know (if I remeber)

about neurophisiology) That The Alpha we see in O2 O1 is result ot Thalmic

Pacemaker. Also in C3 C4. I am not sure if the one we see on P3P4 and T3 T4

are the same. It seems that the cortex macrocolums that has a

perpendicular relation to the skull, in general has a firing neuronal

behaviour , that are " vertical " (upwards and downwards) in relation to the

cortex layers , and the Thalamic Pacemakers. But also, It seems there is

" another " alpha " that is the result of a " horizontal spread " and it means

" Local Neuronal Iddling process " , most related to ERS than to the action of

the Thalamic Pacemaker. So this last, will be a indirect sign of blood

floow and " post task matabolic restoration of neuronal action " .

As if each neuron has his reasting period, or groups of neuros.

I have also read that studie that was done with many aged population that

explains that when alpha drops and dissapears ....you have only ONE YEAR

MORE,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I also will like to ask our List friend of the last mail Gilbert

<john2002@...>

If his Protocol for Rise indirectly PAF SMR in the range

of 10-14, 11-14, 11-15 is Eyes Closed or Eyes Open in PZ.

August 2, 2003

Hello everyone

I have been interested in this thread and have been working with a client who is

showing some interesting effects. She is the one I wrote about earlier who had

extremely high coherence in the SMR band. When I look at her fft brain mirror

on the 2.0 brainmaster - her whole activity range is up a whole frequency range.

There is a wide surging at smr (similar to what I ususally see in alpha) and

then a dip in for beta (like I usually see with smr)and then wide surging at

hibeta. I asked her to close her eyes to check to see what band expanded and it

was definitely smr. I had been training bipolar smr at c3/c4 as Pete suggested

with the high coherence in that band but smr is high even with a bipolar

placement. I then did a 2 channel training at C3/A1/G/C4/A2 and tried a

windowed squash but smr was way out of proportion to what I would expect in that

protocol as well. When I asked her to close her eyes for a few minutes, her

amplitude did start to expand to include some of alpha as well as smr (the

surging got wider). She described this experience as her brain feeling heavier

which was akin to relaxation for her - not unpleasant. She has severe migraine

headaches and tenses up when she tries to relax as shown on the hand temperature

feedback. She has anxiety and depression secondary to physical and emotional

abuse during childhood. She shows no abnormality in the temporal area -her

assessment showed primarily balance issues along with fast wave coherence. Any

suggestions of how best to work with her?

Thank you

Tegan