LENS Neurofeedback | Brain Optimization

To LIE:

1. To speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive.

2. To express what is false; convey a false impression.

In every election cycle we are carpet bombed with candidate speeches and ads from both sides followed by talking heads' analyses, fact checker's posts and politician’s excuses and cover-ups for mis-statements.

We all know that politicians lie and television ads are deceptive. So, what's the big deal?

I mean, does anyone really believe that adding vitamins, calcium, omega 3 oils, etc. to junk foods somehow makes them better and healthier than regular junk foods?

Or, does anyone really believe that evolution is just a theory, the same as creationism? And, that angels are real? Or, that global warming is a hoax?

Did America believe that Saddam Hussein was responsible for taking down the World Trade Centers and that he had weapons of mass destruction?

We live in a world of politics, marketing, and religions that feed us an incessant diet of lies and myths to the extent that ascertaining the truth, which requires critical thinking and analysis, is much more difficult.

Propagandists from Joseph Goebbels to Lee Atwater, Karl Rove and Fox News have known and used this, as do all marketers/advertisers:

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it....the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie.”

The bigger question is why do lies work? Why is it so easy to believe a lie, and often harder to see the truth? The answer may have to do with both how our brains are wired and how we evolved as a social species.

Among other things, the wiring has to do with memory which evolved to allow us to quickly adapt to new experiences and situations. The more important and meaningful ones, those most likely to be relevant to future situations, get tagged with emotional signals for rapid retrieval in decision making, thinking and analysis.

We humans have two distinct types of memory: declarative or explicit memory; memories of facts and events involving conscious/active and direct retrieval. And, non-declarative or implicit memories that are expressed through behaviors/actions (habits, skills, conditioning; such as riding a bike, tying your shoes, typing, driving, etc.)…actions easily executed without thought.

There are two aspects of implicit memory that help explain why repetition of lies, or anything else (ads/slogans, etc), is effective at influencing your interpretation of the world and hence, your behaviors.

The mere exposure effect: the more we are exposed to something (object, person, product, politician, etc) the more we come to prefer it, whether or not we recollect ever having seen it.

The illusion-of-truth effect: we are more likely to believe that a statement is true (political slogans/ads, religious canons, propaganda, marketing, etc.) if we have heard it before (a familiar statement)—whether or not it is actually true—even if we have no recollection of having heard it before.

One can easily see how easily we can be misled and manipulated and the dangers therein.

In addition, the fact that we evolved as social pack animals probably also makes us prone to deception.

Social interaction, being emotionally connected and part of a group, requires cooperation that seemingly is hardwired into our brains..ie: “our tendency to trust and cooperate with others is rooted in brain anatomy and function.” However, some of us are less trustworthy and cooperative than others.

In her book Evil Genes, Barbara Oakley, writes: “We all know that genes have dramatic effects on virtually every aspect of the human body—height, weight, skin color, and even the ability to process oxygen. But sometimes we forget how important genes are in shaping personality. And, while no single gene by itself can predict personality....alleles of particular genes can help underpin the dysfunctional behavior that can lead to a problematic personality or full-blown pathology. In a sense, you might call them evil genes.”

While most of us want to believe we are honest we know that, at times, we rationalize some of our actions and cheat just a little, to benefit from small dishonesties. Those that rationalize more are comfortable with cheating more.

Those among us, who lack obvious psychopathology, but believe that lying, cheating, deceit and manipulation are acceptable forms of behavior to achieve self-gain are sometimes called Machiavellian personalities; and, all-to-often, describe politicians.

Machiavelli's, The Prince, was published in 1532. In it he gives “matter-of-fact instruction that rulers must be prepared to lie, cheat and steal to hang on to their thrones — all the while acting the part of the benevolent leader.” Does that sound way too familiar?

The good news is that for most of us, “the brain appears to be so strongly wiredfor cooperation that we do the right thing, just because morality works as a social institution.”

Learning Disabilities Continue To Rise

According to a recent CDC report: “About 1 in 6 ( = 16.6% * 73 million kids =12,161,800) ) children in the U.S. had a developmental disability in 2006-2008, ranging from mild disabilities such as speech and language impairments to serious developmental disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and autism.” As under-reporting in parent surveys is common, this probably represents an underestimate. And, the rates are continuing to rise.

That is a stunning statistic yet it is barely a blip on the radar of national consciousness.

Instead of developmental disabilities, let's say that a report surfaced declaring that 1 in 6 U.S. children had some communicable disease, a new form of the flu or mumps, etc. What would happen then? 1 in 6 is pandemic! It would be the top news story 24/7, and there would be a national public outcry for a coordinated government response; probably calls for quarantine and widespread vaccinations.

Why the laid back response to a pandemic rate of mental health issues among our kids?

I have a theory:

In terms of care, the government and parents erroneously believe that everything that can be done for these kids is already being done...almost exclusively in the form of medicating.

Outside of talk therapy and drugging kids, the medical model has nothing to offer.

Doctors prescribing guidelines and habits are inextricably tied to “drug companies that are no more concerned or focused on patient health than a restaurant is to its patron’s diets and waistlines: both increase profits by selling more.” Specifically, drug companies create and market diseases by reshaping public perceptions of normal, to expand diagnoses and drug use. The drugging of our children has significantly increased BigPharma’s market and profits.

As with most diseases medicine treats only the symptoms, while the root causes of the problems remain unaddressed.

So, kids drugged--case closed...as we sit in horror and watch; not only as the problem accelerates, but also as the wake of adverse events, caused by chronically medicating developing brains and nervous systems, rapidly rises.

According to the CDC report: “while it is not exactly clear why the number of children with developmental disabilities is increasing, researchers said, factors such as parents having kids later in life, more premature births, and the use of fertility treatments could be contributing.”

Because the root cause of the problem is so obviously, absolutely, and purposefully obfuscated, ignored, and/or trivialized… no real solutions are investigated, proposed, or implemented. And, the rates of developmental disability soar, while we scratch our head and wonder…why?

The root cause of the problem is clearly environmental: the cumulative toxic overload (body burden/human toxome) in fetus’ and children’s developing brains and central nervous systems. From pollution to pesticides to chemical foods and personal hygiene products, to multiple diagnostic ultrasounds, and dozens of immunizations, and much more, our children are literally marinating in a toxic brew from the moment of conception, with widespread devastating impact on their health. Our planet is sick and getting sicker, and so are we. And, our children’s developing brains and bodies are most at risk.

Add to that the ignorance and arrogance of a medical model that functions as if delivering babies pre-maturely, by unnecessary c-sections and early inductions of pregnancy (before eons of evolution and natural law dictated the full development of the brain, central nervous, and all other organ systems) would have no consequences.

These are the real problems.

The bottom line is that unfettered capitalism is polluting our world. To rein it in would require governmental intervention, oversight, and regulation which industry successfully fends off threatening a devastating economic impact. In short, business interests and the economy are more important than both human health and life. In fact, human disease is one of the major driving forces of the economy.

TBI - The Signature Injury Of The Iraq War:

Read "Brain Trauma In Iraq"

This fascinating article, Brain Trauma in Iraq—Published by MIT in Technology Review,--identifies TBI (traumatic brain injury) as the signature injury of the war.

“Thanks to better body armor and rapid access to medical care, many soldiers whose injuries would have been fatal in previous wars are returning alive—but with brain injuries.”

The statistics are stunning. “According to the most recent Pentagon data 244, 217 military men and women have been diagnosed with TBI, often caused by one or more exposures to bomb blasts.” This number does not include the far more common untold thousands more who are believed to have experienced undiagnosed mild traumatic brain injuries/concussions.

The article goes on to discuss the anatomy of an explosion [how the IED’s (improvised explosive devices), upon detonating “set off a chemical reaction in which anywhere from a few to hundreds of kilograms of explosive expel their energy in a microsecond, compressing the surrounding air into a powerful shock wave…and also produce electromagnetic pulses (waves of electric and magnetic fields) that may cause surges in current and voltage”]…and their effects on the brain.

Case Report: LENS Neurofeedback - Cerebral Palsy: 6 Year Old Female

"New data show 1 in 278 children have Cerebral Palsy."

Most Prominent Problems List:

Strength / motor control

Stamina / energy

Speech

Focusing-->vision

1st Day Response: (Quoting mother's emails and writing)

She was able to hold her head up, and seemed like she wanted to hold it up better. This was exciting.

She reached with the right arm and lifted it up onto the table and her hand was very open. This is unusual. That would normally take a lot of work.

She was really looking around a lot more.

She was able to sit up much better than usual (stronger)and hold her head up more easily, more often.

She was really looking around and interested in what was going on. This was different. Then she started to push herself up from sitting to standing. With my help she stood up. She did this 3 times. She used to do this often, but it has been at least 1.5 years since she has done this. She stood very strongly.

1st Full Week:

Noticeably more alert and stronger.

More visual attention when people talk to her.

More awake. Less fatigue.

Able to sit up better on her own. We can put her in wheelchair without the harness and she sits up straight. She can sit on my lap without leaning against me.

Significant change in right hand/arm morbility. Uses right hand/arm more...more relaxed.

Trying to feed herself at school. Trying to talk more.

Moving lots more, lots more! All limbs moving a lot, and much more equally to each other. We are now unable to leave her unattended on the couch because she will roll off--even in the direction that has been difficult for her to roll.

More sounds, more words. She has responded to questions saying 'yea', instead of signing yes. She also said 'done' today when we went swimming, and even said 'Lisa" (mom's name).

Right arm continues to improve. I can't believe it!

She is happier than she usually is. There are episodes that i might classify as euphoric. She is laughing so much and is so over the top happy.

She is working hard to hold cup by herself and tried pushing away any offered help.

2nd Week  (All of the above continue to improve.)

Today the report home from school is that she did all her letters and her shapes today. As a context, she only got through 4 letters for most of kindergarten. She is getting so strong. We were doing some tummy time exercises with her, and I started crying at how well she was doing. It was light years ahead of where she was pre-LENS. Standing is improving.

Trying to talk more.

3rd Week:

This was a “wow” week already! She is definitely stronger and doing much better with her head. She is over the moon happy. And last night, it was getting late and she was tired, and with both hands, reached up and took off her glasses. She has never done anything like that before. The physical feat was great and so was just her awareness that she could take them off if she wanted to. We were in shock.

As for the mother: 40 year old female

Most Prominent Problems List

PTSD

Anxiety

Sleeplessness

Energy loss

1st Treatment/ 1st Week: (All are direct quotes)

I have been able to sit and work productively for 6-7 hours straight. My mental focus is very enhanced, and my mental stamina is unbelievable. I am so much less tired overall, have more energy, and happier.

My husband reports that I look brighter, happier, and more like the old me. I am smiling much more.

Feel more relaxed. I got anxious the other day since I wasn't feeling so anxious.

It is easier for me to not jump in and try to fix everything for everyone or to assume that things are my fault and I am to blame for so many negative events.

I am so relieved. I feel like I am getting my life back.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

She related a dream to me that she had...

The doctors were telling me that they didn't know what to expect with the cerebral palsy, and that this-that-and -the other thing might happen. I cut them off and said: "I don't have to worry about that anymore. She is 6 years old now."

State of The US Health Care System:--

Would you, or any other American, say no to a health care system that:

1. Provided universal coverage; cradle to grave medical and preventive care and prescription drugs for every citizen; coverage that couldn't be denied --regardless of pre-existing conditions or prior health history, or terminated for any reason—loss of job, development of significant medical problems, etc.

2. Allowed any patient to see any doctor, any specialist, any surgeon, and any hospital in the country, and the insurance must pay the bill.

3. Has insurance that has no deductible—bills are paid from the first dollar billed.

4. Has insurance that pays doctor and hospital bills within a week, and patients are reimbursed for their costs at the end of each month.

5. Has insurance premiums that are dirt cheap (ie: in 2007: a single person making $20,000/year paid $12.25/month, and the employers share of the monthly premium was $208.00).

6. Has waiting times to see physicians about the same as in the US, for patients with insurance.

7. Does a better job of curing people whose diseases are curable and doesn't allow more than 22,000 of its citizens die every year of curable diseases, as does the US, for lack of access to basic medical care.

8. Has insurance administrative costs below 5% (vs 20% in the US), meaning more money is spent on direct care.

9. That spends less than half the per capita costs in the US ($3165.00: 10% GNP vs $7000.00: 17% GNP).. with everyone covered vs 50 million uninsured in US.

10. Has zero personal bankruptcies due to medical bills vs >700,000/year in the US.

11. Is NOT socialized medicine, but is a system of private doctors treating patients who buy health insurance to cover most of the cost; and allows those who want to, to buy supplemental insurances, at low cost, to cover what the basic insurance doesn't cover: face-lifts, tummy tucks, erectile dysfunction, etc.

12. Has a national card for each patient with digitized medical records of every doctor visit, referral, injection, operation, x-ray, diagnostic test, prescription, etc to improve doctor to doctor communication and decrease medical errors and deaths; and, has all of the billing information down to the dollar amount per visit/treatment, and how much the insurance will pay the doctor and reimburse the patient as well.

13. Has the highest rated quality of care, most cost-efficient and highest customer satisfaction in the world.

What is described above is the health care system of France. France, like all of the other developed countries, except the United States, made the moral decision of solidarity that health care is a right guaranteed to all of its citizens; that the moral imperative to provide basic medical care, prevention and prescription drugs is fairer, works best for their society and the health of the nation, and is most cost-efficient.

The US, on the other hand, does not have a health care system. It is a fragmented for-profit market, driven by the imperatives and principles of profit and growth; where health care is a commodity, bought and sold, like cars and televisions and discriminates on the basis of wealth; where profit and growth—as in all other corporate enterprises—supersede the interests of the society, the individual, and even life.

Compared to other developed nations, our market approach to disease care has failed the customer in terms of quality, access and costs. Specifically, it is 37th in quality, while at the same time being the most discriminating, unfair and most expensive non-system in the world, with the highest rates of medical errors and death, all yielding one of the most unhealthy populations of any developed country. But, it does continue to provide massive profits to the corporations that run it.

The next time you hear a politician or talking head scream socialized medicine, death panels, rationing, the end of free markets, etc. recognize them for who they are, and their fear-mongering for exactly what is. They are the standard bearers for the status quo and the mouthpieces of the vested interests to protect corporate profits, and nothing more. You see, we already have socialized medicine in the form of Medicare and the VA; the two most cost-efficient, highest quality and most highly rated systems in the country. We already have rationing and death panels—insurance administrators who deny claims, coverage, and cancel policies, and craft insurance premiums that make health care unaffordable to tens of millions.

Our market driven system is bankrupting our country, businesses, and individuals. The most obvious question no-one asks is: Who benefits from it? Answer that, and you will see why the status quo is so important and why we, as Americans, are so sick. Here's a clue: follow the money.

We're # 1! We ain't even close, in health care and so many other ways.

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Relationship Between Brain, Nose & Penis:--

In the amazing book, Nature via Nurture, I read an incredible thing about the relationship between the brain, the nose and the penis that will make you re-think mind-blowing.

(Paraphrasing pgs: 138-9)

The story begins in 1856 when a Spanish medical doctor did an autopsy on a 40-year-old man who had no sense of smell, a small penis and very small testes.

Anyway, many years later, it turns out, embryologically speaking, that the primitive cells for smell send axons to the area of the brain that will form the olfactory lobe. On their way, they lay down, and travel along, fascicles/rails to get there. If anosmin (a protein that acts as a cell-adhesion molecule) is not present the axons derail, and the rails do not get laid down....hence anosmia (lack of sense of smell).

Amazingly, the cells for sexual development in males begin in the nose, in the vomeronasal organ. They neuronally migrate along the rails/fascicles laid down by the developing olfactory axons. In the absence of anosmin and the rails, the cells never reach their target to trigger the release of gonadotropin releasing hormone. In the absence of gonadotropin releasing hormone, the pituitary is never stimulated to release leutinizing hormone… hence the small penis/testes.

Gentlemen, you know who you are.

Go figure…evolution; incredibly efficient, and funny too!

Developmental Learning Disorders:--

Whenever modern medicine claims to be better than nature, run away…quickly.

In a no-brainer (pun intended), modern science has revealed that infants born full-term do better than infants delivered prematurely. “Even for infants born full-term, a little more time in the womb may matter. The extra time results in more brain development...” Specifically, babies born early have a higher chance of learning and developmental issues, as well as other health issues, than babies born full-term.

Outside of medicine, this should come as a surprise to no-one. Throughout history, and across all animal species, babies are born when they are completely developed; and, by the way, without the assistance of doctors. Only modern medicine could conceive of, and sell, the concept of delivering babies early (prematurely) for the convenience of the doctor and/or the mother.

I apologize for using the oven analogy, but seriously...unless they had to, would a doctor or mother take a cake out of the oven 10 minutes early and expect it to be fully baked? And, that’s just a cake!! And, isn’t that what premature means?

Millions of years of evolution decided how long the human embryo needed for gestation; for complete development of all organs and organ systems at full-term.

To be surprised that there are consequences (in this case developmental learning disorders) as a result of toying with nature is either naïve or arrogant. Our misguided belief that we can operate outside of the laws of nature undermines our health every time.

Of course there are rare exceptions, and I will give a nod of awe and respect to medical doctors for the near magic they perform in saving many babies truly born prematurely. On the other hand, hands off pregnant mothers until they deliver according to nature’s law.

The following is an article from the Berkshire Eagle:

Optimizing the Brain: Process Goes After Negative Effects of Mental Illness

By Amanda Korman, Berkshire Eagle Staff, Feb 28, 2011:--

The brain is a complicated country, the tools for treating its maladies always in rapid evolution. One man here has been utilizing a "low-energy" neurofeedback system, or LENS, since October to treat patients with mental illness. The apparently simple program of receiving frequencies to "correct" the brain's negative patterns, gaining ground in the medical community, has also yielded largely positive patient response.

North Adams practitioner Peter May said that LENS is applicable to problems including attention deficit, autism, migraines, insomnia, brain injury and anxiety.

"The brain sometimes gets stuck in maladaptive patterns," said May, a chiropractor by training. "[LENS] acts as a catalyst to activate your brain's self-regulatory capacity to optimize brain function."

May wields the LENS computer program and series of sensors that attach to the patient's earlobes and around the skull over a series of treatments.

Dr. Mary O'Malley, a psychiatrist at Berkshire Medical Center who has trained in neurofeedback, said LENS has a good reputation in her field. Its practitioners need not be physicians, she added.

"These [neurofeedback] are potent tools, and it's great to see that they're getting more use out in the medical system and elsewhere," she said.

O'Malley explained the process simply: "It looks at how the brain is a little bit stuck ... then asks the brain to shift out of being stuck using low-impulse frequencies."

LENS won't help everybody, May said, but “I am helping about 75% of patient that I see.”

O'Malley pointed out that LENS is often used in conjunction with other clinical diagnosing techniques -- which May doesn't do. However, she said, even just the technology itself can be helpful.

That said, not all those who work with the brain feel as confident in LENS's potency on its own.

Beth Adams, a neuro-trauma rehabilitation specialist in Salem, is more circumspect that neurofeedback alone could create lasting change in a patient with a brain injury, which is one of the ailments May lists as being able to treat.

Adams, who is also on the board of directors for the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, wasn't familiar with LENS specifically, but said that a combination of therapy, medications and neuro-psychological evaluation are methods that could better facilitate brain-injury healing.

"If somebody is wanting to facilitate neurofeedback, look at the big picture to encompass all types of therapies," she said.

May feels that the patient responses speak for themselves.

May's patient Ashley, 17, who requested not to have her last name printed to protect her privacy, came to May for LENS treatment after years of poor luck treating ADD, depression and anxiety. She dropped out of high school after her junior year because of emotional problems that medications like Wellbutrin and Paxil weren't ameliorating.

As of this week, Ashley has received four LENS treatments, and her mother said her improvement in mood was almost instant.

"She used to say, ‘I just want to know what's wrong with my brain,'" her mother said. "When we left his office [the first time], she said, ‘I feel like a weight's been lifted off my shoulders."

At May's request, patients write a record of their feelings after treatment, and the compilation has a litany of stories like Ashley's -- the somber, difficult child who suddenly is willing to rake leaves with his siblings; the parents who stop yelling at their children; the depressive kid who begins to take an interest in a sick relative. People also reported negative effects, like spikes in anger, which May believes is the brain's way of beginning to address its dysfunction.

"This is the most amazing thing I've ever seen," May said, gesturing at the book of comments he keeps in his office. "I could read this forever."

Ashley's mother said she is still somewhat dubious of the method. However, she pointed out, the price of treatment -- $160 the first time; $60 after that -- is on par with what she'd spend on her daughter's medications anyway, and May never promised her instant healing.

In short, it doesn't seem like a gimmick, she said -- that, and it seems to be working.

"I was very skeptical, and I still am," her mother said. "But I can honestly say that I have seen a change in [Ashley] since we started the program."

Ashley said that her anxiety is gone, she's more comfortable in social situations and is having an easier time concentrating while working toward her GED and looking for a job. She's still seeing her psychiatrist but is off all her medications, her mother said.

"This has helped me more than any medication or any therapy session has in my entire life," Ashley said.

O'Malley, the BMC psychiatrist, said that LENS and neurofeedback is a treatment alternative that she views as a useful tool in the difficult terrain of mental illness.

Witness A Miracle:--

I continue to be amazed at the quickly-realized and profound changes patients are experiencing in their lives with LENS treatments.

The principle of healing that underlies LENS is consistent with that of chiropractic and other holistic forms of therapy. The true miracle of the body is that it is self-regulating and self-healing; that the mind/body is genetically hardwired for homeostasis (balance), and wants to be healthy. LENS taps into that potential, using 'small doses of brain wave biofeedback carried on wisps of electromagnetic fields', to catalyze change, inviting the brain to restore and optimize its function.

A healthy, balanced and regulated central nervous system (CNS) produces the right brain wave, with the associated neurochemistry, in the right amount, at the right time, for any given circumstance. A dysfunctional brain does not.

Scientists believe that the brain's defense against significant stressors and trauma creates neural gridlock and CNS dysregulation. Communication and connectivity within the brain is impaired. This, in turn, creates dysfunctional brainwave patterns and neurochemistry-- creating constellations of symptoms. These manifest as a variety of chronic functional neurological problems.

These include: (The Healing Power of Neurofeedback, by Stephen Larson, pg. 84) [ullist class="plusses red"]

Mood disturbances: emotional lability, depression or anxiety, irritability, anger, explosive behavior.

Energy depletion: lethargy, chronic fatigue, or fibromyalgia

Chronic pain: localized or generalized, including headaches and muscle spasms.

Sleep disorders: from sleep onset to nocturnal awakenings, to daytime sleepiness.

Cloudy Sensorium: mental fogginess; the world seems inaccessible/far away

cMemory Problems: forgetfulness, short and long-term disturbances.

Cognitive Problems: regarding clarity, focus, planning, sequencing, and/or organizing.

Problems initiating behavior and pursuing to completion, procrastination, indecision.

[/ullist]

LENS treatment is not diagnosis-based, but is effective in treating the symptoms described above, as associated with a dysfunctional, dysregulated brain. LENS has a more broad-spectrum effect. For instance, it doesn't treat Autism, ADHD or Tourette's, but can be very effective in decreasing or removing any accompanying anxiety, depression, irritabililty, insomnia, anger, etc.. This, in turn, can dramatically improve the patient's life. And, in some cases of Tourettes, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, and more, LENS seemingly helps resolve the problem.

In addition to functional brain problems, LENS can help in cases of structural brain problems as well: cases where the patient has incurred physical damage to the brain itself. I have worked with a patient with an anoxic brain injury; showing slow, but steady improvement and another patient with severe MS, significantly improving her ability to communicate clearly, these cases take more time and progress can be slow, but for some there is help and hope.