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Bernard Brucker
Bernard S. Brucker, Ph.D., ABPP |
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. This workshop will focus on the important variables that need to be addressed in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback applications in rehabilitation including proper methods for patient assessments, selection of patients, utilization of pre-and post-measurements, data collection, proper report writing and data analysis. Many individuals facing permanent functional losses due to central nervous system damage do have the neuro potential for greater functional recovery even long term post onset. Biofeedback and Neurofeedback techniques can be extremely powerful in gaining this increase in function through more efficient use of the central nervous system, but only if applied properly.
Plenary #68): The Emerging Role of Biofeedback and Neurofeedback in Neuroplasticity
Recent neural and behavioral sciences findings have shown that central nervous system (CNS) cells, if damaged, have potential for remyelinization and axonal repair which can take place years post damage from injury or disease. It is also now known that the CNS can have both dendrite and axonal sprouting in its attempt to regain integrity.While the functional correlates of such neural repair were once thought to be automatic, it is becoming clear that to maximize this neural potential, specific learning techniques at the neuronal level are necessary. Advanced Biofeedback and Neurofeedback are the techniques best suited for maximizing this potential
Details:
Workshop #69): Important Variables for Successful Outcomes for Biofeedback and Neurofeedback Applications in Rehabilitation
It is well known that central nervous system cells in the brain, brain stem and spinal cord are non-replacement structure. As such, patients suffering functional losses from strokes, brain injuries, cerebral palsy and spinal cord injuries are expected to have permanent losses. While it is known that such patients can have functional improvement after central nervous system damage which is enhanced with traditional therapeutic intervention, recovery usually plateaus in about a year. Recent findings from the neural and behavioral sciences have not only shown that there is long term repair in the central nervous system after damage, but that it is possible for the brain to utilize alternate cell tissue to replace lost or damaged cells. It has also been shown that operant learning techniques utilized at the neural level can result in specific learned control of neural responses that would not occur otherwise. There have been a number of reported applications of Biofeedback and Neurofeedback for restoring function after central nervous system damage. However, there had been mixed results and often when used clinically, the method of reporting does not reflect the standard in the rehabilitation field. As a result, this has diminished the power and legitimacy of these procedures in the eyes of our medical colleagues. This workshop will focus on the important variables that need to be addressed in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback applications in rehabilitation including proper methods for patient assessments, selection of patients, utilization of pre-and post-measurements, data collection, proper report writing and data analysis. Understanding operant conditioning paradigms as the underlying procedure for effective neural learning and their applications will also be covered. Many individuals facing permanent functional losses due to central nervous system damage do have the neuro potential for greater functional recovery even long term post onset. Biofeedback and Neurofeedback techniques can be extremely powerful in gaining this increase in function through more efficient use of the central nervous system, but only if applied properly. Further, only proper reporting of results will gain the proper recognition of the effects of these techniques.
Plenary #68): The Emerging Role of Biofeedback and Neurofeedback in Neuroplasticity
Recent findings from the neural and behavioral sciences have shown that central nervous system structure is not as limited as once thought. Basic neuroscience discoveries have shown that central nervous system cells, if damaged, have potential for remyelinization and axonal repair which can take place years post damage from injury or disease. It is also now known that the central nervous system can have both dendrite and axonal sprouting in its attempt to regain integrity. These findings have already influenced emergency medicine and acute care to develop and implement procedures that preserve neural tissue after damage. Perhaps, the most intriguing finding is the brain’s ability to use alternate cell tissue to replace the function of destroyed cells. While the functional correlates of such neural repair was once thought to be automatic, it is now becoming clear that to maximize this neural potential specific learning techniques at the neuronal level are necessary. Advanced Biofeedback and Neurofeedback procedures are the techniques best suited for maximizing this potential and will increasingly become the methods for gaining ultimate function after central nervous system damage. As more neural tissue is preserved in these patients with advanced trauma medicine techniques along with advancements in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback, individuals with central nervous system damage will be able to gain significant increases in function that were previously considered unattainable.
Contact Info:
Bernard Brucker
P.O. Box 21846
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33335
phone: 305-762-3882
fax: 305-795-6090
BBrucker@med.miami.edu