History
The word "biofeedback" was developed in the late 1960s to describe experimental research that sought to train subjects alter brain activity and other involuntary processes. According to PyschoTherapy.com, at the time, many scientists believed that through the mastering of biofeedback, future generations would be able to will themselves into being more intelligent and creative. They also thought drug treatments would become obsolete over time, as more and more people became able to "think" themselves healthier. While these hopes are considered unrealistic today, science has shown there is an extent to which humans can control internal processes.
How it Works
The exact mechanism by which biofeedback works is unknown; however, most scientists believe that relaxation is an integral component. According to PsychoTherapy.com, stressful situations trigger responses from the sympathetic nervous system, which then prepares our bodies for emergencies. Our bodies do this by contracting blood vessels, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, dilating the pupils, releasing sweat and slowing down gastrointestinal processes. Biofeedback is thought to work by teaching patients to change these physical responses to stress through relaxation.
Everyday Biofeedback
Most people have used biofeedback at some point in their life. Common methods include using a thermometer to measure body temperature and weighing yourself on a scale. Both processes provide you with feedback that can then be acted upon. If body temperature is high, this indicates a fever; proper care can then be used to treat it. If weight is high, exercise and better nutrition can be used to help lower it.
Biofeedback Machines
Medical professionals use intricate biofeedback machines to measure internal activities. The machines may be designed for electromyography (EMG), the measuring of muscle tension; thermal feedback, the measuring of skin temperature; and neurofeedback (also called electroencephalography), the measuring of brain waves. When patients are connected to biofeedback machines, they try to mentally activate a beeper or trigger a light bulb flash by changing an internal activity, such as heart rate.
Modern Biofeedback
Medical professionals who provide biofeedback therapy include psychologists, psychiatrists, dentists, nurses, internists and physical therapists. Biofeedback is used to treat a wide array of conditions, including chronic headaches, digestive system disorders, high and low blood pressure, arrhythmias, epilepsy, paralysis, anxiety, depression, constipation, diabetes, muscle spasms, asthma and autism.
Tags: blood pressure, heart rate, internal activities, body temperature, internal processes