Re: Threshold Setting Tips for Home Training?

[Guest guest]

First of all I like to only use manual thresholding.

Assuming we are performing single channel Smr training at let's say cz, I like

to see what the brain does when it receives 100% reward. I set the bar at 2mv

and have the client focus on the smr meter and see how high they can make it go.

With adults I run this for 2 mind and with children 1.5 mins. I call out when

the client sets a new record.

For the next 2min session I raise the bar to 40% and repeat the exercise.

Usually the client can set a new record. I continue these sessions (usually 1

to 3 more) until we find the smr peak (artifact free, of course). All this time

I am noticing where the theta is (2-8 or 2-10 if there is thalpha) so I can

anticipate where to set the bar.

In the next session I set the theta inhibit bar at 80% and explain to the client

she/he continues to score points if They can keep over the bar but will lose the

point if theta is over the bar.

I next add the hibeta (23-38) meter and have the client keep it under 10mv.

Using this technique the client will understand what they are doing.

Games may be added in subsequent sessions.

Adam <admcgove1993@...> wrote:

>Hello,

>

>I'm wondering if anyone in this group would mind sharing some of the different

strategies you use for setting the reward and inhibit thresholds during

training? Either it be a general strategy or ways you adjust the strategy

around various types of protocols (for ex. amplitude, coherence training, ect.)

would be nice.

>

>Are there any DVD's someone could recommend that go into this more in-depth?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Adam,The Level3 workshop (Managing the Training Process) discusses this in some detail.http://www.brain-trainer.com/cgi-bin/shop.pl?shop=get_item & item_id=69

My approach in general is to start thresholds in Auto mode and let them stabilize with the client just watching the screen.  The software figures out where the brain is today and tells us where to set the targets to achieve X% success.  I then prefer to set inhibit thresholds to Manual.  This places the targets for the things we want to reduce at a baseline level.  If the client succeeds in reducing the target activity, his/her percent of success increases and feedback is stronger.  If the target activity increases, the scoring level falls.

I like to leave the reward frequencies in auto mode.  When the brain reduces activity in active frequencies, in many cases it reduces in ALL frequencies--including those you want to increase.  For example, training to reduce the theta/beta ratio from 4, you might begin with Theta of 12 and beta of 3.  If you reduce theta to 8, beta may go down to 2.5, but the ratio will change to 3.2.  Unfortunately, if you set your reward targets and fix them in Manual mode, as the client reduces amplitudes, the beta target will begin to block him from feedback--even though his brain is doing exactly what we want it to do.

Remember that the more thresholds you set (the more training targets), the harder it is for the client to score.  If you have one target (for example a squash or squish, and you set the target to provide feedback 60% of the time, it will give you feedback 60%.  If you have two thresholds--2 inhibits or 2 rewards or one of each--and you set each to 60%, you may get 60% feedback if your brain always moves the two in the right direction at the same time.  But it's more probable that some portion of the time when you are beating one target, you won't be beating the other, and you won't get feedback--and vice-versa..  In fact, worst case scenario, you could end up only getting feedback 36% of the time (60% X 60%).  Add a third target, and the problem increases.  The more targets you set, the higher the reward rate must be set.  With 3 training frequencies, you could set targets at 90% success each and be guaranteed that (if they are all automatically adjusted) the client would receive feedback at least 72% of the time.

The scoring rate is very dependent on the client.  An inattentive person might simple float away if he is scoring 90% of the time regardless of what his brain is doing.  I might use a scoring rate of 50 or 60% to keep that person " honest " .  A more hyper or anxious client could well get very frustrated with less that 80% reward and start " trying " which reduces performance.  Of course with BioExplorer, you can reset the scoring percent in the auto mode while the session is progressing.  You can also easily reset manual targets during the session by clicking the A->M button at the bottom of the Threshold object.

Pete  -- Van Deusenpvdtlc@...http://www.brain-trainer.comUSA 305 433 3160BR 47 3346 6235

The Learning Curve, Inc.

On Fri, Oct 28, 2011 at 8:51 PM, Adam <admcgove1993@...> wrote:

 

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone in this group would mind sharing some of the different strategies you use for setting the reward and inhibit thresholds during training? Either it be a general strategy or ways you adjust the strategy around various types of protocols (for ex. amplitude, coherence training, ect.) would be nice.

Are there any DVD's someone could recommend that go into this more in-depth?

[Guest guest]

Hi AdamI use an automatic threshold for the simple reason it works well and I do not sit in on the client while they are training. I set both reward and inhibits to 85% which is easy enough to gain and allows them to process without too much interference from the feedback getting too hard or easy. RegardsNoel EastwoodPsychologist LearnwiseCanberra, AustraliaPh: 02 6162

0914Fax: 02 6162 0915Web: www.learnwiseaustralia.comPsychology, Counselling, Neurofeedback, Fast ForWordBioexplorer Training videos:- Creating your own Basic Protocols in Bioexplorer; Getting Started in Bioexplorer; Running and Screening Your Session in Bioexplorer, Neurofeedback systems.

[Guest guest]

I train ratios by training down the band you want to reduce and training up the band you want to increase.  Training ratios in BE is a bit dicey.  Try putting a meter on a Ratio filter (using as a ratio or as a percent), then set up exactly the same ratio in an expression evaluator and see how different they are.

Pete-- Van Deusenpvdtlc@...http://www.brain-trainer.comUSA 305 433 3160BR 47 3346 6235

The Learning Curve, Inc.

On Fri, Nov 4, 2011 at 3:53 AM, Adam <admcgove1993@...> wrote:

 

Thank You.

All the information you posted was very helpful.

Are there specific kinds of training where you find it better to have lots of thresholds?

It's interesting to see how manual vs. auto thresholds can relate to one another under certain types of training. If you were to ratio uptrain, would you use the manual threshold as an anchor for a reward " baseline " while using auto threshold on lo-inhibit?

[Guest guest]

Hi Adam, I never use manual thresholds, firstly because it is unnecessary and also because I do not sit in on the client while they are training so it has to be auto. I hope that answers your question. RegardsNoel EastwoodPsychologist LearnwiseCanberra, AustraliaPh: 02 6162 0914Fax: 02 6162 0915Web: www.learnwiseaustralia.comPsychology, Counselling, Neurofeedback, Fast ForWordBioexplorer Training videos:- Creating your own Basic Protocols in Bioexplorer; Getting Started in Bioexplorer; Running and Screening Your Session in Bioexplorer, Neurofeedback systems.IMPORTANT:This email remains the property of Learnwise and Noel Eastwood Psychology. This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended solely for the use

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