Biofeedback Essay, Research Paper

Biofeedback therapy is a treatment technique that enables people to use signals emitted from their own body to monitor and improve their health. It is the “use of instrumentation to mirror psychophysiological processes of which the individual is not normally aware and which may be brought under voluntary control (Biofeedback pamphlet).” These processes include heart rate, respiration, skin temperature, electrodermal response, muscle tension and other bodily functions that are usually controlled involuntarily. The prefix “bio” means “life” and the word “feedback” means the return of data to its origin. So, biofeedback is “biological information with is returned to the source that created it so that source can understand and have control over it (O’Hair, D.).” The principles of biofeedback date back more than a half a century. “Biofeedback” is a term that was coined in the late 1960’s. The theories involved in biofeedback and psychophysiology began with the study on homeostatic mechanisms. The human organism insures its survival through the maintenance of homeostasis. In order to control or altar behavior, a person must have information that is available through the senses. In biofeedback, the client obtains information about his biological state from feedback from the sensors. Margolin and Kubic (1944) conducted an early example of this kind of feedback. They used a subject’s amplified respiration and heart beat to induce a hypnotic induction. Even though the subjects were not told to adjust these physiological functions, the feedback of their biological system was used to alter their conscious and emotional state (O’Hair). The principles of operant conditioning have often been used by people to explain biofeedback. In operant conditioning, any activity that approximates the desired behavior or response is reinforced or rewarded. By using these types of conditioning, feedback is received. In 1969, Neal Miller demonstrated that animals could learn to change levels of their autonomic functions on the basis of contingent reinforcement. Miller gave rats feedback on its behavior when they were rewarded for moving in the desired physiological direction. They were able to increase the temperature in their ears, which showed that they could alter their peripheral vascular system. Biofeedback has developed considerably within the years. In the early part of the 1960’s first attempts were made at applying biofeedback for managing stress. The majority of health care professionals did not accept biofeedback. The public felt that biofeedback was an experimental procedure used by researchers only. Therefore, it stayed on the outside of conventional psychology and medicine. In 1968, the Biofeedback Society of America was assembled by a group of professionals who believed that biofeedback could make a substantial addition to behavioral medicine. With their persistence they were able to organize their efforts and initiated to research further new methods of biofeedback training. Within the last 10 years in the United States, the use of biofeedback has become a commonplace in many practices of psychology. Along with the uses of relaxation techniques, such as autogenic therapy, “biofeedback has now become universally acclaimed as an important method to learning how to achieve a state of deep relaxation (O’Hair). Today clinical biofeedback techniques are used to treat an assortment of conditions (Runck, 1983). Some include:+ Stress and anxiety+ Digestive system disorders+ Tension headaches, migraine headaches, and other types of pain+ Raynaud’s disease ( a circulatory disorder which causes uncomfortably cold hands)+ High and low blood pressure+ Paralysis and other movement disorders+ Epilepsy+ Cardiac arrhythmia (abnormalities in the rhythm of the heartbeat)Biofeedback training is provided by a variety of specialists ranging from psychologists to psychiatrist to physical therapists, internists, nurses and even dentists. Many use other techniques in accordance with biofeedback. Clients are commonly taught different types of relaxation techniques such as, imagery, autogenics, breathing and passive progressive relaxation. They may be taught how to elude or face stressful events through recognizing situations that may provoke their symptoms. The goal of biofeedback training is voluntary self-regulation which is the “ability to achieve the bodily changes without the feedback instrument” (Danskin and Crow, 1981). There are three things that are necessary in accomplishing the goal of voluntary self-regulation. First, receiving immediate, precise, and ongoing feedback of “internal biological processes” through feedback from the biofeedback sensors. Next is interpretation of the information. The client must learn what the data means. The last thing is application of the knowledge obtained in training to the clients’ daily life. A patient must practice what is learned in order for it to become an integral part of themselves (Danskin and Crow, 1981). At the University of California, Riverside Counseling Center the typical length of treatment using biofeedback is six sessions, meeting one time per week for approximately 45 minutes. During a session of biofeedback, the client is hooked up to sensors that feedback to a specially designed computer program. The sensors feedback information about the clients internal states. The biofeedback technician and the client can monitor several biological functions at any one time.

One sensor placed on the client is the pneumograph. It is a tube that is wrapped around the waist, just below the rib cage of the client and is connected with a velcro strip. This particular sensor measures respiration. It measures the number of breaths taken per minute and the expansion of the diaphragm, which indicates how deep and complete the breath is. Learning how to breathe correctly is pertinent to the treatment of insomnia and high stress. The heart rate and blood volume pulse are measured through the photoplethysmograph (PPG) sensor. This sensitive device is placed on the client’s thumb and uses a “light source and a photodetector to monitor the change in blood flow in the vessels beneath the skin (Biofeedback Pamphlet).” This is used to help in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. A thermograph is used to measure skin temperature. It is a wire thermometer that is usually placed on the client’s finger. It helps in the “determination of the amount of blood flowing through tiny vessels in the skin and tissues beneath it (Miller). A high skin temperature is considered a sign of general relaxation and lack of stress. By learning to control the rate and amount of blood flow in their hands, people can warm them at will. This technique helps relieve migraine headaches by reducing tension in constricted arteries. It does the same thing for Raynaud’s Disease. In electromyographic (EMG) feedback, muscle tension is measured by “an electrode picks up the signals produced by microelectric pulses between nerve endings and muscle fibers (Miller).” The technicians can place the sensor on any major muscle. Common places are the arm, neck, shoulder and forehead. EMG feedback shows the differences between the state of relaxation and contraction in a particular muscle group. EMG is used to treat tension headaches since much of the discomfort results from extreme muscle contractions in the forehead and scalp. It is also helpful in the treatment of pain syndromes that deal with chronically taught muscles and muscle spasms after accidents or sports injuries (Miller). Electrodermal biofeedback measures the galvanic skin response. It uses a dermograph, which is placed on two fingers, to measure skin moisture. Dry skin is related with relaxation. Most people tend to sweat under states of stress or arousal, so relaxation training decreases the signal, with is feedback to the client. This sensor is good for conditions such as anxiety disorders and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). Other sensors that are used (not at U. C. Riverside) include the electroencephalograph (EEG), commonly called brain wave training. Blood pressure feedback may also be used. This is to help with hypertension. There are also some experimental forms of biofeedback. Stethoscope feedback is used to treat people with functional diarrhea. A stethoscope is positioned over the intestines and the client and doctor listen to the activity heard in the organs. Stomach acidity level feedback is to aid in the training of the reduction of the amount of stomach acid in order to reduce ulcer activity. During a biofeedback session, the client is hooked up to the sensors then is told to relax. They are given 10 minutes of relaxation time. During this time many clients listen to music, such as ocean sounds or classical. They may also practice a relaxation technique. After the 10 minutes, data is printed up and graphs of the sensors output are shown to the client. They are analyzed and compared to previous session’s data in order to see where improvements have been or need to be made. This is so the client knows which areas to focus on. Biofeedback training is not for everyone. A client must put effort into the program if it is to work for them. They need to analyze the areas in their daily routines that may cause them stress. They must also take time out daily to practice biofeedback and the different relaxation techniques they are taught. It can be very effective for a person if the effort is put forth. Bibliography1. Biofeedback Pamphlet. UCR Counseling Center, Veitch Student Center.2. O’Hair, D. Biofeedback: Review, History and Application. Http://www.users.cts.com/crash/d/deohair/psychoph.html3. Runck, B. What is Biofeedback? U.S. department of health and human services DHHS publication no. (ADM) 83-1273, 1983. Http://www.healthy.net/library/articles/biofeedback/biofeedbackwhatis/htm4. Miller, L. What Biofeedback Does (and Doesn’t) Do. Psychology Today, November 1989, 22-24.5. Danskin, D. G. and Crow, M. A. Biofeedback: An Introduction And Guide. Mayfield Publishing Company, 1981.