Did you know that the average human attention span is shrinking? In 2004, psychologist Dr. Gloria Mark, who specializes in human attention research, benchmarked the average on-screen attention span at 150 seconds. Eight years later, that became 75 seconds. By 2017 or 2018, Dr. Mark clocked it at 47 seconds.
The shrinking of the average attention span means people are constantly switching their attention from task to task. This is not good, according to Dr. Mark, because constant attention shifting increases stress and degrades performance.
Consider peak brain training if you’re feeling burned out at work or in school. It can help you lengthen your attention span and minimize your susceptibility to distractions impacting your cognitive performance.
Deep focus is crucial to peak performance. The good news is that you can train your brain to be more focused through neurofeedback training.
Biofeedback Therapy
Neurofeedback training is a specific type of biofeedback therapy, a drug-free, non-invasive health management method that operates from the premise that people can control their bodies. You just need to be aware when your body is doing something undesirable so you can correct your behavior.
Biofeedback therapy uses advanced sensors and computer programs to monitor an individual’s vital signs (e.g., heart rate, muscle tension, and skin temperature). It then reports or feeds this information back to the individual so they can work on controlling their physiological responses.
Ultimately, biofeedback hones your control over your body’s responses. Over time, as you become more proficient at controlling your physiological reaction to stimuli, you can feel more confident in your ability to modulate your physiological responses. Therefore, biofeedback therapy can empower you so you can address and mitigate issues like chronic pain, stress, and hypertension.
Neurofeedback Training
Neurofeedback training is essentially biofeedback therapy for the brain. In neurofeedback, the sensors and computer programs monitor brain waves. By making you aware of the way your brain functions, neurofeedback therapy trains you – particularly your brain – to control your own brain activity.
Neurofeedback therapy aims to minimize undesirable brain patterns and increase desirable brain activity. This is why it’s a suitable method for enhancing peak brain performance.
Neurofeedback training will call your attention whenever your brain shows patterns associated with distraction and attention switching. This way, you can consciously and deliberately focus and alter your brain activity.
Over time and after multiple sessions, your brain will become better at countering undesirable brain patterns. Eventually, your brain will be so good at controlling its functions that you should find it easier to concentrate and focus.
The Neurofeedback Training Process
The neurofeedback therapy process typically goes like this:
#1. Consultation
When you first meet with your brain training specialist, tell them about your goals. What exactly do you want to achieve through neurofeedback therapy?
#2. Neuropsychosocial Assessment
Neurospychosocial assessment lets your therapist evaluate your brain’s strengths and weaknesses. This is the benchmark for assessing your brain’s cognitive performance later.
#3. Training Plan Customization
Based on your neurofeedback training goals and the results of your neuropsychosocial assessment, your therapist will create a neurofeedback therapy training plan for you. It will be customized according to your circumstances, preferences, and requirements.
#4. Neurofeedback Training
Next, you will come for brain training sessions at the agreed-upon dates and times. The number of sessions will depend on your customized neurofeedback therapy plan.
#5. Neuropsychosocial Assessment
After you have completed your neurofeedback sessions, your therapist will conduct another neuropsychosocial assessment. The results will be compared to your benchmark values to quantify and assess your progress.
Neurofeedback Training Sessions: How They’re Done
A neurofeedback session begins with you seated on a comfortable chair, headphones on, in front of a TV monitor showing a movie or some other show. Electroencephalogram (EEG) sensors will connect you to a machine that will read and monitor your brain activity throughout the session.
These sensors will feed your brain signals to a computer program. When undesirable brain wave patterns manifest, the system will immediately make you aware of this by blurring the picture on the screen (or shrinking the video size) and diminishing audio quality.
Once you know you’re exhibiting undesirable brain activity, you will use your brain power to control your brain functions. If you successfully change the negative activity into a positive one, the video on the TV monitor you’re watching will revert to full size or high-definition, and the sound quality will be restored as well.
Neurofeedback Training for Peak Performance
Are you a business process reengineering specialist getting behind on work because you can’t focus? Are you a student whose grades are slipping because you can’t concentrate? In school or the workplace, deep focus is critical to performing well on tasks.
Brain training can help lengthen your attention span, minimize your susceptibility to distractions and restore your ability to concentrate and focus. Through neurofeedback therapy, you can train your brain to become more adept at entering stages of enhanced focus and cognitive function.
Beth is Cloudmineinc’s senior health editor and a certified personal trainer. She has over 10 years experience as a science journalist and is the author of two books. She deadlifts over 315 lbs.