What neurofeedback is, how it works and what a session feels like

Neurofeedback in brief

Neurofeedback is a form of training in which the brain's electrical activity is read in real time, through sensors placed on the scalp, and the information is sent back to the brain as a signal, usually a sound or an image.

The core idea is self-regulation. The brain receives a "mirror" of its own activity and can use it to adjust itself. The sensors only read. They don't send current and don't put anything into the body.

Perhaps the simplest way to understand it is to compare it with a mirror in a gym. When you do an exercise in front of a mirror, you see your posture and correct it almost without thinking. Neurofeedback offers that kind of mirror for brain activity, which we otherwise can't perceive directly.

How it works, step by step

1. Reading the brain's activity

The brain constantly produces electrical activity, which we can measure at the surface of the scalp through electroencephalography (EEG). It's the same basic technology used in qEEG assessments, except that here the aim is feedback, not assessment.

2. Real-time analysis

Software analyses the signal several times a second and tracks certain patterns and changes.

3. The feedback

When a certain type of change appears, the system sends a signal. Depending on the system, this may be a change in an image, a sound or a brief interruption in the music.

4. Self-regulation

The brain receives the signal and integrates it. The process is largely automatic; you don't have to make a conscious effort.

What NeurOptimal® is

At NeuroFit we use NeurOptimal®, a dynamic neurofeedback system. Unlike some classic protocols, it doesn't ask you to do a particular exercise and doesn't track a "score" you have to reach. There is no predefined target towards which the brain is "pushed".

The sensors follow changes in the brain's activity. When sudden variations appear, the music in your headphones has very short micro-pauses. These interruptions are the information the brain uses. You don't have to do anything other than listen.

For many people this is also the most pleasant part: there is no performance to achieve and you can't "get it wrong".

What a session feels like

• You sit in a comfortable chair and put your phone aside.
• A few small sensors are placed on your scalp and ears.
• You put on headphones and listen to music, with your eyes open or closed.
• You may notice small interruptions in the music. This is normal and part of the process.
• You can relax, think about whatever you like or even doze off.

It doesn't hurt, there is no current and you need no special preparation. Many people describe the session as a quiet, almost meditative break. For others, simply spending an hour without a phone is already an unusual experience.

Neurofeedback doesn't ask you to do anything. It only asks you to be there.

What research says

Neurofeedback has been studied for several decades. Research has investigated effects on attention, relaxation, sleep and cognitive performance, with results that vary by protocol, the population studied and the goal. Some studies have reported promising effects, others more modest ones, and methodological quality varies.

The honest conclusion is that neurofeedback is an active area of research, not a guaranteed solution. Studied doesn't mean guaranteed. We have gathered a selection of studies on our research page, presented editorially, for those who want to read more.

At NeuroFit, neurofeedback is part of a brain wellness experience, not a treatment and not a diagnostic tool.

Neurofeedback in NeuroFit experiences

At NeuroFit you don't choose a device, you choose a state. Neurofeedback appears in three of the four experiences, combined in different ways:

• Focus, together with tPBM and tDCS. Here neurofeedback is self-regulation training in a context dedicated to concentration and clarity.
• Relax, together with CES and taVNS. The music and real-time feedback create a space in which you don't have to do anything, and the brain receives the information and regulates itself.
• Longevity, together with tPBM and taVNS. Gentle, effortless training that fits into a long-term routine, at any age.

The exact combination is set after the safety screening and depends on the experience you choose.

Why regularity matters

Like any form of training, neurofeedback makes most sense as part of a routine. A single session can be a pleasant break. A series of sessions, done consistently, is what research usually investigates. That's why we recommend fitting the experiences into a regular rhythm, for example through NeuroFit memberships, which work on credits.

Who it's for

Neurofeedback is part of NeuroFit experiences for people who want to bring brain care into their routine:

• professionals with days full of decisions and information;
• active people who already have a routine of exercise, sleep and recovery;
• people going through demanding periods;
• people who think long term about their wellbeing.

Before the first session we carry out a safety screening. For NeurOptimal® neurofeedback there are few restrictions, because the system only reads the brain's activity, but the full circuit of an experience also includes other technologies, for which we check eligibility.

Neurofeedback vs. qEEG: what's the difference

Both use EEG, but they have different purposes. qEEG (BrainMap) is an assessment: it records the brain's activity and analyses it quantitatively to give an overall picture. It is a specialised service provided by Emmanuel CliniX. Neurofeedback is training: it uses the real-time signal to give feedback.

In the NeuroFit Plus and Premium memberships, the BrainMap qEEG assessment is optionally included every 6 and every 3 months respectively, depending on clinical eligibility and the specialists' recommendation.

Common myths about neurofeedback

"Neurofeedback reads your thoughts"

No. EEG measures the brain's general electrical activity, not the content of your thoughts. The system doesn't know what you're thinking, feeling or remembering. It only sees patterns of activity.

"You have to be very focused for it to work"

Not with NeurOptimal®. The system doesn't ask you to control anything. You can relax completely, and many people actually doze off.

"A single session should change everything"

Neurofeedback is training, and training works through repetition. One session can be a pleasant break. A routine is what counts.

"It's only for people with problems"

Neurofeedback is also used in performance and wellness contexts, by people without any diagnosis who want to include brain care in their routine.

How to prepare for a session

• Sleep as well as you can the night before.
• Eat something light beforehand so you're not hungry during the session.
• Avoid coming straight from a very stressful situation. If you can't, tell us and we'll take a few minutes to transition.
• Put your phone on silent before you come in.
• Come with clean hair, without oily products on your scalp, for good sensor contact.

What a routine with neurofeedback looks like

An example rhythm for a professional who chooses the Plus membership: two sessions a week, a Focus session at the start of the week and a Relax session towards the end. Over the month, the remaining credits can be used for a psychotherapy session or a Reset session after a harder week. The rhythm is adjusted from month to month.

Frequently asked questions

Does neurofeedback hurt?

No. The sensors only read the brain's electrical activity. They don't send current and don't put anything into the body. You just listen to music.

Do I have to concentrate during the session?

No. With NeurOptimal® there is no exercise to do or score to reach. You can relax, close your eyes or even doze off.

Is neurofeedback a treatment?

At NeuroFit, no. It is part of a brain wellness experience. For medical conditions or diagnoses, we recommend a specialist assessment.

Which NeuroFit experiences include neurofeedback?

Focus, Relax and Longevity, combined with other non-invasive technologies, after the safety screening.