Frequently Asked Questions
Frank Duffy, MD, Director of the Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory at Children’s Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliated institution states: “In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy, it would be universally accepted and widely used. …if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy, it would be universally accepted and widely used.” |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What comprises the Inner Act Training?
- What is the purpose of the training?
- What words are used to describe the experience of a power performance?
- What types of people will the training help?
- Does Power Performance Training “wear off?”
- What is the Interactive Metronome?
- Please describe Mental Imagery
- What is Biofeedback?
- What is Neurofeedback?
- What is the difference between Neurofeedback, EEG Biofeedback and Brainwave Biofeedback?
- Are there different approaches to Neurofeedback?
- What Neurofeedback technologies does Inner Act use?
- How effective is Neurofeedback training?
- What Happens in a Neurofeedback Session?
- What changes can I expect from Neurofeedback training?
- How long has Neurofeedback been used?
- What locations are served by Rae Tattenbaum and Inner Act?
What comprises the Inner Act Training? Return to Top
Rae Tattenbaum has had extensive experience with students, professionals, athletes, and people from all walks of life helping them retrain their minds’ resources through a customized combination of the following tools:
Neurofeedback Training
The Inner Journey
Open Focus®
One-on-One Coaching
What is the purpose of the training? Return to Top
What words are used to describe the experience of a power performance? Return to Top
- Focused attention to the task at hand
- Absence of self consciousness
- An ability to control breathing and adrenaline
- No fear of failure
- Personal control
- An intuitive experience
- Effortlessness
- An altered state of consciousness
- Automatic response: No thinking
What types of people will the training help? Return to Top
Does Power Performance Training "wear off?" Return to Top
What is the Interactive Metronome? Return to Top
The Interactive Metronome® (IM) is a patented Biofeedback technology program that may unravel the mystery of rhythm and timing and their importance in human performance. Developed nearly a decade ago to improve overall performance for musicians and children/adults with special needs, the IM has also shown strong results in academic performance.
The program uses an auditory guidance system with interactive exercises to accurately measure and improve a person’s timing, concentration, focus, coordination, reading/math fluency and mental processing speed. It is the only program shown to improve cognitive as well as the physical skills essential for learning and development.
Nearly a decade of research shows a correlation with IM and academic achievement in areas such as mathematics, language, reading and attention to task. More than 700 students nationally completed the IM program and were tested on the Woodcock-Johnson III standardized tests to measure its effectiveness. The results were as follows:
- Math Fluency: 1.66 grade level increase
- Reading Fluency: 2.21 grade level increase
- Processing Speed: 2.69 grade level increase
Please describe Mental Imagery Return to Top
Mental Imagery is a process by which you create a three-dimensional moving picture in your mind that mimics the real event you are preparing for, be it SAT testing, a business presentation or a stage performance. This imagery creates a template or blueprint of achievement and activates many of the same neural circuits associated with doing the activity. The imagery strengthens connections between the motor cortex and your physiology.
This process is strengthened through EEG Biofeedback sessions, where we frequently train over the same region of the brain that is utilized for imagery, known as the sensory motor strip. Clients who do this integrated program at Inner Act experience imagery that is much more powerful and helpful. You are taught to feel yourself in the activity and to control the image. All senses are utilized as you construct, pre-event, event, and post-event moving mental images.
The imagery is utilized to:
- Practice and rehearse
- Increase learning
- Develop strategies
- Establish arousal level
- Establish new skills
- Encode breaths
- Develop internal motivation
- Design triggers for action
- Alternate activation and resting
What is Biofeedback? Return to Top
The goal of Biofeedback is to improve the communication between the mind and the body. For the past 35 years, Biofeedback has been used to regulate blood pressure, asthma, headaches, and to optimize performance in elite athletes. With the use of technology, Biofeedback allows the client to learn to normalize physiological processes such as muscle tension, respiration, and blood pressure.
Inner Act’s platform for Biofeedback is Thought Technology’s equipment, which is the platform most utilized for elite athletes. We often combine Neurofeedback and Biofeedback training to provide significant positive improvement in our clients’ training results.
What is Neurofeedback? Return to Top
Neurofeedback, also known as EEG Biofeedback, is a form of Biofeedback based directly on the brain’s electrical activity. The brain normally generates electrical activity as a result of its functioning. In Neurofeedback, tiny sensors are placed on the scalp, allowing the electrical activity of the brain to be recorded and analyzed by a therapist’s computer. This is not an invasive procedure. The electrodes are simply “listening” to the electrical activity of the brain. The sensors are attached with a safe, easily removed, conductive adhesive gel. While the therapist monitors the session on one computer, the patient receives visual and audio feedback from another computer through images and sound that are controlled directly by their brain.
The brain uses visual and auditory information to re-organize itself and release old patterns of “stuckness”. As the process gives positive reinforcement to the client, they are learning to relax and to increase alertness and focus. The client soon realizes that fidgeting, daydreaming, planning events, worrying and other brain activity interrupts the feedback.
Neurofeedback enables the central nervous system to return to its own natural, healthy rhythms from various states of turbulence and inefficiency. As the brain recovers from instability, it is further trained to regulate and synchronize itself toward a state of optimal functioning. When the brain learns to operate with increasing efficiency, flexibility and resiliency, individuals experience many improvements in their lives.
What is the difference between Neurofeedback, EEG Biofeedback and Brainwave Biofeedback? Return to Top
These are all names that describe the form of Biofeedback that is based directly on the brain’s electrical activity. At Inner Act, we use the term Neurofeedback.
Are there different approaches to Neurofeedback? Return to Top
Yes! The quality of Neurofeedback training directly correlates to the level of knowledge and skill of the practitioner and the sophistication of the Neurofeedback technology being used. Rae Tattenbaum established Inner Act in 1995 and is a recognized leader in the field of Neurofeedback and the innovator of a ground-breaking methodology. As a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist, she is devoted to helping people reach their full potential through the use of Neurofeedback and related self-mastery techniques. She participates in many different research and interest groups in her field.
At Inner Act, we have standardized on the most advanced Neurofeedback technologies and treatment approaches available. We have researched and purchased many different Neurofeedback products and software platforms, selected according to the clients’ needs. We upgrade our technology monthly. In doing so, we consistently provide our clients with the most up to date technology available in the field of Neurofeedback.
What Neurofeedback technologies does Inner Act use? Return to Top
At Inner Act, we use the most advanced Neurofeedback technologies and treatment approaches available. We research and purchase different Neurofeedback products and software platforms according to our clients’ needs. We upgrade monthly to consistently provide our clients with the most current technology available in the field of Neurofeedback.
Inner Act uses two main types of Neurofeedback technology: The EEG Spectrum International Platform, and the Zengar Platform.
Early on we standardized on the EEG Spectrum Platform, currently known as EEGer. This platform is produced by a clinician-owned company, and the technology is driven by research, EEG practitioners and client needs. Our work in power performance is done on this platform.
This software has been researched extensively for effectiveness with attention, autism, attachment, learning and performance. EEGer is used for site-specific training and specific placements and for power performance to increase or decrease a specific brain frequency. Sensors are placed at specific sites, depending on the evaluation, research and/or a brain map. EEGer provides real-time EEG traces with many advanced options including alpha theta training.
The Zengar Platform is an approach that works comprehensively across all available brainwave frequencies rather than a limited subset. The software adapts to the client’s response to Neurofeedback as the training occurs. The brain receives information about what it has done and uses this to re-organize itself.
In the Zengar Platform, the program knows when a self-regulatory mechanism has stopped functioning. The software then triggers the orienting response by creating a very brief pause in a musical phrase. This break in the continuity triggers the brain’s orienting response. The brain can then activate the self-regulatory mechanisms and return to a state of optimal functioning.
How effective is Neurofeedback training? Return to Top
Neurofeedback training is very effective. The training’s efficacy has been proven by over 300 controlled studies throughout the world. For an extensive list of research, white papers and books, go to Articles and Media.
What Happens in a Neurofeedback Session? Return to Top
Sensors are attached to the scalp with EEG paste which then pick up brain waves. It is painless and does not involve the application of any voltage or current to the brain, so it is entirely non-invasive.
A computer processes the brain waves and extracts certain information from them. The ebb and flow of your brainwaves are shown to you in the form a video game or shifting video display. The specific brainwave frequencies rewarded and the sensor locations on the scalp are unique to each individual.
While you’re sitting back in a comfortable recliner, the sensors that have we have placed on your scalp track your ability to enter the state of relaxation. For thirty minutes, you will listen to feedback and watch a screen as the software detects changes in your EEG.
What changes can I expect from Neurofeedback training? Return to Top
This Neurofeedback process of learning reinforces optimal brainwave states through the use of advanced technology. When the client voluntarily produces desirable brainwave patterns (those associated with higher levels of attention, focus, and mental relaxation) these patterns are rewarded and reinforced. This process is called “feedback” because it informs the client of their success in making the desired brainwave changes at a given moment.
As the process gives positive reinforcement to the client, they are training themselves to relax, increase alertness, and focus. It also trains them to stop fidgeting and decreases their impulsive approach to tasks. After a few sessions, these abilities begin to become ingrained in the patient until the skill becomes automatic. In this process, they learn strategies and quieting techniques that will ultimately be used without the computerized feedback.
As part of the process, patients are also given one-on-one counseling sessions by the Rae, which include discussion, motivational tapes, and relaxation techniques accompanied by soothing music.
How long has Neurofeedback been used? Return to Top
Neurofeedback has been utilized in training epileptics to manage seizures for over twenty-five years. It has been used for solving attention problems for over twenty.
What locations are served by Rae Tattenbaum and Inner Act? Return to Top
The Inner Act offices are located in West Hartford, Connecticut in the Northeastern area of the United States. Clients typically seek treatment from Connecticut, New York City, Boston, and New York, Masssachusetts and the New England states. Typically those traveling from farther away arrange intensive sessions and/or the 4 or 10 day intensives and then continue working on their own with phone or email based supervision.
Rae has worked with clients of chronic pain therapy, chronic pain specialists, and clients of Connecticut, Boston, New York and New England psychotherapists, and welcomes questions or contact from therapists interested in referring a client.