HEG Neurofeedback Software Applications User Guide
Contents
1. 1 Audio File Names The software will look for files in the nominated folder beginning with a number You can use only numbers for the file name e g 01 wav or you can add a more descriptive title but you must follow the number with an underscore character e g O1_trackone wav When you rip tracks from your CD using software such as Windows Media Player it will normally add the number for you but not the underscore character In other words you ll have to rename the files by hand 8 2 Audio Formats The application can play files in either wav format or mp3 format You must select the format that matches your files using the Format combo box control 9 in figure 15 Note most CD ripping software programs such as Windows Media Player have the option to rip to either of these two formats 8 3 Audio Buffer Length A combo box control 10 in figure 15 sets a property called buffer length I will not attempt to explain exactly what this means but from a practical point of view there are two important points s The longer the buffer length the more latency there can be in the feedback meaning that the change in the feedback can lag behind the actual change in brain state e Ifthe buffer length is too short the sound may contain clicks and crackles I recommend you set the buffer length as low as possible without introducing clicks and crackles 9 Session Reports The application records data so that you can ge2. Biofeedback software does not include any video codecs and York Biofeedback cannot offer any technical support for video codecs and formats 6 3 1 Using Videos in Speed Mode Not all video files can be played with varying speed this depends on the video codec used to create the video file Jonathan Toomim has created a set of animated flight videos using the VP6 codec for use with his HEGStudio software They are ideal for for using video speed as the feedback modality This software is available free of charge and can be downloaded from http sourceforge net projects hegstudio files it works with Jonathan s Peanut device 7 DVD Application Feedback Using the DVD application the trainee watches a DVD film displayed in a second window figure 12 below and the feedback distorts or disturbs the normal audiovisual presentation of the film In other words feedback is aversive it causes undesirable disruption when the HEG signal falls As with the video application feedback is based on HEG rate of change There are several optional modes for feedback controls are located at the bottom of the main window see figure 13 below These options are covered in section 7 3 In brief the options are e Volume the DVD s volume varies with HEG rate of change going quieter when the signal drops s Brightness the DVD picture goes darker when the rate of change signal drops e Pause the DVD pauses when the signal
3. could also choose to give yourself rewards too 5 1 3 1 Audio Files This section is rather technical and is probably only relevant to expert users The audio files can be found in a folder named media in the HEG designs sub folder i e generally speaking C Program Files BioEraPro design Y BF HEG media There are three files named L wav 2 wav and 3 wav If the threshold condition is set to outside and the upper threshold is exceeded usually meaning the HEG signal is increasing then file 2 wav is played to reward the trainee or else if the lower limit is crossed meaning the HEG signal is falling then file 3 wav is played as a warning and a cue to re engage focus For all other threshold conditions file l wav is played It will be either a reward or a warning depending on the condition set You can have the application play sounds of your choice by simply substituting these files with your own For example you could record your own messages in your own voice There are lots of programs that you can use to do this including some freeware applications Your recording needs to be saved in WAV format 6 Video Application Feedback This application presents feedback through the medium of a video The video player is displayed in a second window see figure 10 below The feedback is based on HEG rate of change Second BioEra 3 059 HEG_Main_2W N w KR Figure 10 Video feedback window You can choose be
4. drops e Interference white noise hissing is played when the signal drops Second BioEra 3 059 HEG_Main_2W a s rA A 9 DYD Menu E 6 1 2 3 4 5 Figure 12 DVD feedback window Important note the operation of the DVD player within BioEra depends upon a software component a DVD decoder Microsoft Windows provides a default decoder but it offers limited scope for applying feedback within the DVD player and in my experience it often does not work at all Other decoders are available as part of DVD player software products such as WinDVD However York Biofeedback cannot offer any guarantee that they will work The DVD application is offered as is and York Biofeedback cannot offer technical support in the case that the DVD player doesn t work for you Basic HEG Application User Guide copyright Glyn Blackett page 22 7 1 DVD Properties You can configure the DVD decoder options by clicking the DVD Properties button at the bottom of the main window 1 in figure 13 DVD Properties Iv TC fio IV Apply brightness fib IV Applypause fib V Pause outside TP Je Apply interference fib 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Figure 13 DVD feedback controls Pressing this button will open a dialog window figure 14 where you can select the DVD decoder you want to use To repeat the default Microsoft decoder often does not work in my experience If you have installed other DVD software on your system such as WinDVD then you should s
5. you ll learn to turn them around so that the HEG signal quickly returns to increase What kind of influences cause the HEG signal to drop In my experience there are two main ones s The mind becomes bored or fatigued and drifts into a slothful low energy or even sleepy state e Negative emotion perhaps triggered by a passing thought or memory or perhaps by a negative judgement of your own performance In either case the practice is to rebalance the brain as quickly as possible Sometimes the signal begins to fall but you re not consciously aware of any reason for it neither of the above two seem to apply I think it s best to understand these occasions as openings for distraction if you let the trend continue unchecked for long the mind will drift into some form of distraction but if you respond and turn the signal round no problem Responding to mild boredom often isn t easy Looking at a line on a computer screen is inherently a pretty boring situation I think this is an important part of the context for training You have to generate the arousal internally not rely on the external stimulation If you were watching a really interesting film it might be a lot easier to maintain brain activation but you re probably already good at that and don t need to practise On the other hand you don t need to focus exclusively on the graph you can broaden your focus out to include your environment and other sensory channels besides
6. In simulator mode you can learn how to use the software without the encumbrance of sensors leads etc The application simply uses recorded data as a source Some of the supported devices present the HEG signal as a temperature If you re using one of these devices a combo box control allows you to select either Celcius or Fahrenheit Once you have started the application you should see your device selection reflected in the device status display in the top right corner of the main window see figure 2 The lamp shown as a red square in figure 2 should change to green when you press the play button If you do not see this happen it means that the application has not been able to establish a connection with your device Check it is plugged in and that the batteries are not flat etc For some devices you ll see a button rather than just text Pressing this button opens up a dialog that allows you to adjust settings related to the device such as COM port The specifics depend on the device see the Hardware Set up Guide for more details 3 About HEG Neurofeedback 3 1 What Is HEG Neurofeedback Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback in which the physiological signal being measured comes directly from the brain so it s a form of brain training Whereas most forms of brain training work with the brain s cognitive performance neurofeedback works directly with the brain s physiological and metabolic functioning There are two fo
7. P Gain 0 00 Pass Time 00 07 HEG A 94 2211 5 Numeric Baseline 1 93 92 Displays 0 29 Reset BL AudioAvy 100s v Range 005 Tone Midi gt 7 Long term HEG display invert 6 Audio feedback controls Basic application Figure 3 User interface 4 1 Standard Controls Start Stop etc A set of buttons Play Stop and Pause are the same in all the applications in the suite They should be self explanatory The Epoch control sets the time period at which data is written to the session data file This data file is used to generate session reports which are described in section 9 below For the HEG application only HEG data is written Choosing a lower time period generates more data For example if you select 2 seconds then the application will write HEG readings to the session data file once every two seconds The button marked with a red asterisk is a simple event marker You can use it to mark adventitious happenings and changes in session conditions e g you turn on or off breath pacing It is particularly useful for coaches and therapists Events thus marked are represented in the long term chart see section 4 1 4 below by a vertical white line They are also recorded in the session data file and are shown in session report charts as dotted vertical lines see section 5 Note that pressing the escape key during a session has the same effect as pres
8. YORK BIOFEEDBACK www york biofeedback co uk Glyn Blackett HEG Neurofeedback software Applications User Guide Table of Contents Bletz tee EE 3 2 Launching the ele e TEE 4 2 1 Feedback Modalttes ccccccccccccseeccceeecseseeeeeseeeeeeeceeesseeeeeeesseeeeseaeeees 4 ER ER A ALA ENER 4 2a BN DEE 5 E ele n Reser eee eee ee ane reat ener eee ee ener re ee 5 2 2 Hardware SQtU E 5 3 About HEG Neuroteecdhback 6 3 1 WbaileHEGNeuroteedbhack 6 3 1 1 Rate of Change of HEG Gonal 6 3 2 Sensor PIACOMENML 2 25565 cscc ccessdeecsecceeedeacs cccussieddenecdssseeadencadeeaads Seasssseass 6 3 3 Executive FUMCHOM cac00ii lt scccdaiestasteds ievacaccddenssaetdedeodadscdeesdvstehedinebieliveade 7 3 4 Working with HEG Neuroteedback 7 34A 1 Training Eeer 8 4 User Interface Common Elements 10 4 1 Standard Controls Start Stop etc 10 4 2 Short term HEG Display 11 4 3 Rate of Change E E 12 4 4 Controls for Working with Training Periode 13 wh INNS E 14 46 Long term Ey es acces tc cet acme es etedias roms teen temas cicada ea 14 4 7 Threshold Display and Control rannen r eeern rrene 15 5 Basic Application REGO back siiisiciczsisiceccsshevseaevescetuiadaeess SEL de SEBES See 17 5 1 1 TOME PEGODACK EE 17 5 111 Invert Check BOX oniinn iaeia cecsteecedsccebeuesanseeedevessontacatens 17 5 1 2 Midi Feedback 17 5 1 3 Threshold based Feedback 17 513A Audio d 18 6 Video App
9. art based on the variation over the period of the chart In this case the range will not stay fixed but will vary over the session Controls the horizontal time range in other words how long it takes the trace to traverse from right to left Note that increasing the period after processing has started can have unpredictable consequences so I recommend you make your selection before pressing play 4 7 Threshold Display and Controls The threshold controls allow you to set 3 pe WW Treshold joelow vl Duration fos specific limits with respect to the feedback sm l Cu parameter For example you can make a Si 1 discrete feedback event such as a bell ring 20 contingent upon the signal crossing the limit you ve set In the HEG application the threshold works on the HEG rate of change The rate of change average control 1 in figure 5 see section 4 3 above applies to the threshold too and the range of the threshold bar graph is the same as that of the rate of change display 1 e controlled by the sensitivity setting 2 in figure 5 You can use the threshold with one or two levels For example with a single level you can have a bell ring whenever the rate ir Figure 8 Threshold display and controls of change goes below zero i e the HEG signal starts to decrease With two threshold levels you can define a specific range of interest and have your feedback vary over this range The threshold co
10. cribed in the following table can be used to configure this chart Rate of Controls the level of smoothing of the signal With a shorter average you will see Change Avg all the fine grained changes With a longer average these are smoothed out but the signal will be slower in responding to change I suggest a setting of 10 seconds as a starting point Sensitivity Controls the vertical scale or range of the display With a higher sensitivity setting the range will be smaller so changes will appear more prominently The zero line is always fixed in the centre of the chart If the trace tends to disappear off the top or bottom of the chart choose a lower sensitivity Conversely if the trace is bunched tightly around the zero line choose a higher sensitivity Period This controls the length of time it takes for the traces to traverse the whole chart from right to left or in other words the horizontal range Note that increasing the period after processing has started can have unpredictable consequences so I recommend you make your selection before pressing play 4 4 Controls for Working with Training Periods The concept of training periods was 1 introduced in section 3 4 1 as a way of concentrating the effort of training within Training Periods Duration T v Uess Begin TP short bursts By default the feature is TP Time turned off This section explains how to 4 00 00 activate and use training periods 5 p GEN Figure 6
11. d in the next section 5 1 2 Midi Feedback A midi note is played repeatedly whose pitch varies with the HEG signal The combo box control 2 figure 9 also applies to midi feedback defining the HEG range and thus the sensitivity as for tone feedback Midi feedback has the same auto centre feature as tone feedback Averaging is applied as for tone feedback The same combo box control 1 in figure 9 sets the averaging period You can set some options for midi feedback notably the instrument piano by default from the Platform i e before starting the application See the Installation and Set up Guide for further details 5 1 3 Threshold based Feedback Threshold based feedback was introduced in section 4 7 above To summarise threshold feedback is based on the HEG rate of change and you can choose the threshold condition e g above or below the limit etc and the levels of the threshold When this option is activated a sound is played whenever the threshold condition is met The value of using the threshold is that the feedback is generally less intrusive freeing you to focus on your direct experience The feedback only comes in when you ve drifted out of your desired psychophysiological zone For example you can set it so that a bell rings whenever your brain energy begins to fall or more precisely the HEG rate of change drops below a certain limit In this case the feedback functions as a kind of warning but you
12. dback is disengaged This applies to both visual and auditory feedback When you feel rested and ready to begin again you press the button to begin another round of training at which point the system turns on the feedback again Thus working with training periods is a kind of interval training you may be familiar with in gym work You can choose to activate the training periods feature By default it is turned off Further details are given in section 4 4 below 4 User Interface Common Elements This section explains the charts and controls of the application s user interface As discussed earlier there are four different forms of the application Section 4 covers the elements common to all of them Subsequent sections cover the individual applications in detail Figure 3 below shows the Basic application s window Only the audio controls at the very bottom of the screen are specific to this application These are covered in section 5 2 Short term 1 Standard Controls HEG display 3 Rate of change display A ra 3 147 HEG_Main gt DW E ui 04 42 zk 2 York Biofeedback wvew york biofeedback co uk Simulator Average 10 0S v Range 10 2 j32S vj Rate of Change Avg 10 0S Si ity Medum Period 32s e 8 Threshold 4 Training Controls TT EOS EZ Bese 0s LT Range auto Penod Smin Training Periods Duraton 305 JI eem Begin Te m Period matt Controls TP Baseline 94 10 T
13. dback to enhance your subjective awareness In practice this means letting the feedback be more in the background of your broad awareness Audio feedback is useful in this regard as it allows you to practise without watching the screen Keep emotionally positive as much as you can or at least avoid falling into negative emotions Getting frustrated when the signal doesn t go up and getting anxious if it doesn t go up or you think you can t make it go up are two traps that can cause drops in the signal Another point worth making is that in the context of training it is sometimes enough just to maintain the brain s energy level without needing to increase metabolic activity Of course there is ultimately a ceiling to the HEG signal it can t keep on increasing for ever more In other words training is about avoiding drops rather than achieving gains 3 4 1 Training Periods The mental application involved in HEG neurofeedback is quite intense As I mentioned the brain can easily become fatigued especially in the early days of training Intense focus is more naturally done in short bursts inter spaced with rests To facilitate this pattern of working I incorporated a design feature known as training periods The idea is very straight forward you set an interval of time for a burst of training and when you re ready to begin a training period you press a button to begin it The system times the period and at the end of it the fee
14. ee options for them in the combo boxes Even with other decoders the DVD player is unreliable There appear to be differences between versions of these products If you have problems I suggest you try selecting Manual codec settings in the manual options tab this sometimes helps xi xi Settings Manual options Element Settings Manual options Element DVD video decoder Microsoft DTV DVD Video Decoder v Manual codec setting M Drive meee Video codec Microsoft DTV DVD Video Decoder v Audio codec Microsoft DTV DVD Audio Decoder v Navigator codec DVD Navigator zl Use system construction Iv Brightness available SW Contrast Available IT Saturation Available IT Hue Available E Sharpness Available r Gamma Available E i Cancel Apply Cancel Apply Figure 14 DVD properties dialog 7 2 Threshold Controls The settings of the threshold controls section 4 7 above are key to the operation of the DVD application The two levels define the limits of the variation All the feedback modes are forms of aversive conditioning meaning the trainee is punished by degradation of the DVD picture and sound quality when brain activation drops For example using brightness feedback the DVD picture is at normal brightness when the HEG rate of change is above the upper threshold level As it drops below the picture darkens reaching its worst at the lower threshold level and below Clear
15. ght that it stimulates structural change in the brain In other words it stimulates the brain s neuroplasticity 3 4 Working with HEG Neurofeedback This section gives some guidelines on how to direct and apply the mind in order to increase the HEG signal measured at the forehead Aim to feel intensely awake alert and present Imagine that something very significant is about to happen something that you ll want to remember all your life The mind is rapt poised expectant with all the senses peeled and yet calm and still Your intent is to move the graph upwards Imagine that you could move it by the power of your intent as though you had a psychic power A useful metaphor can be found in the Star Wars series of films in which Jedi knights such as Luke Skywalker learn to to channel the mystical force You need some emotional commitment behind your intent You have to really want that graph to move upwards And yet this motivation must remain positive if it tips over into frustration or self criticism or performance anxiety then this will work against you Don t be overly attached to the outcome of your exertions Appreciate that your brain has limitations The graph will not always head upwards at times your brain will tire Take mini breaks when you need to then re engage your intent On the other hand the occasions at which the graph drops are your working ground or your learning ground With practice
16. l appear on your screen g York Biofeedback Software Mind Body Training Tools Set up rt Rate Variability Selected Trainee Default User HEG Neurofeedback HEG Neurofeedback Application HEG Neurofeedback with Breathing Application 1 pe Basic Video DVD Audio Start HEG amp Breathing Application Breathing 2 aa Start HEG Neurofeedback Application EMG Muscle Tension GSR amp Skin Temperature 3 p View HEG Neurofeedback Session Report View HEG amp Breathing Session Report Capnometry 4 Ben HEG Neurofeedback Application Report View HEG amp Breathing Application Report Documentation Documentation EEG Assessment HEG Neurofeedback User Guide HEG Neurofeedback amp Breathing User Guide EEG Training YORK BIOFEEDBACK MIND BODY TRAINING TOOLS www york biofeedback co uk e Figure 1 HEG Neurofeedback Tab of the Platform Application 2 1 1 Basic In this version of the application you are offered some simple audio feedback options e Tone pitch varies with the HEG signal e Midi a musical instument e g piano sounds notes whose pitch varies with the HEG signal e Threshold a bell sounds whenever the HEG signal or more specifically the rate of change crosses a threshold The application is covered in detail in section 5 2 1 2 Video The software plays a video whose speed varies with the HEG signal The video moves forward when the HEG sig
17. l values of the HEG reading are device dependent 9 2 Adding Notes to a Report You can choose to write some notes for your session report Checking Add notes to report top right of the dialog allows you to do this You may wish to add notes after having first seen the report In this case simply click the button 2 in figure 1 again and check the Add notes option This will regenerate the report with your added notes 9 3 Sample Session Report In the graph the yellow areas represent training periods You can see clearly that active attention makes a difference during the training periods the signal consistently rises and then falls again outside of the training periods Training Session Report Training Application HEG Neurofeedback User Name Default User Session Date 03 04 12 21 13 93 95 93 9 93 85 IR Temperature 93 8 93 75 HEG Summary Data Infra red Temperature 20 Session Time in Minutes Parameter Value Starting Reading 93 71 End Reading 93 92 Max Reading 94 04 Net Change 0 21 10 Application Report An application report summarises all the sessions for the currently selected user in charts and a table To generate and open an application report click the button labelled 3 in figure 1 A dialog window opens in which you can select various options see figure 17 As with session reports the software creates the a
18. lays The numeric displays show the following data HEG Current HEG reading Baseline The HEG reading at the beginning of the session or more precisely 30 seconds into the session to allow a settling period You may reset the baseline to the current HEG reading at any time by pressing the button Reser BL Gain Current HEG reading minus the baseline This allows you to assess the overall change achieved in your session 4 6 Long term Display 1 2 LT Range Auto Period Smin 3 Training Period Figure 7 Long term HEG display The long term display figure 7 shows the variation of the HEG signal over the longer term Training periods if you re using them are shown as dark red bands you can see three of them in figure 7 There are two controls associated with the chart positioned above it and labelled 1 and 2 in figure 7 They are described in the following table LT Range Controls the vertical scale of the main chart or the difference between the upper and lower limits of the vertical axis Note this chart operates in auto centre mode The trace will be continually adjusted so that it s most recent right hand section displays in the middle of the vertical range Period This means that although the scale is fixed the actual upper and lower limits are constantly changing Selecting Auto produces a different behaviour the system will automatically calculate the best range to best fit the ch
19. lication Feedback 19 6 1 Threshold Controls cccccccccccssseecececceesseceeseeeseeceesesseaaseeeeeeseaeeeeeea 20 6 1 1 Rewarding and Aversive Feedback 20 Basic HEG Application User Guide copyright Glyn Blackett page 1 6 2 Using Audio Feedback nnt 20 6 3 Technical Notes on Video Format 21 6 3 1 Using Videos in Speed Mode 21 7 DVD Application Feedback tennen nnt 22 T DVD Propertie eebe eege b hee 23 1 2 Threshold er de EE ER 7 3 Feedback Opttons cccccccccccsssscececeeesseeceeseseeeeeeeeeseseaeeeeeseseaeeeesaaees 24 E Dee 24 Gra ell 24 T23 PAUSES D RE 24 7 3 4 Pause Outside Training Period c cccccscccssseereeeeeseenereee 24 3 leen e 24 8 Audio Application Feedback 25 Gangler File Names sisicic0cc a decedescedsvenienended davanes EEA EE EEA 25 8 2 Audio Giele EE 25 8 3 A dio Buffer Ee E 26 9 Session REDOM S 002 icevdscnceatewdesadsvendeaeeaeteaatedansaiasticdctabaatasnewed sven Bee dee e 27 ORE POM ODUOMS sarsi aena aeaa E ian e EA EAEAN REDENS 27 9 2 Adding Notes IoabRenort nnt 27 9 3 Sample Session REpOf iien EEL EEEE NRR 28 10 Application Repor ET 29 10 1 Report OPTIONS eseria a E a EEN 29 Basic HEG Application User Guide copyright Glyn Blackett page 2 1 Introduction This guide introduces the Hemoencephalography HEG neurofeedback application part of York Biofeedback s Mind Body Training Tools suite This set of applications i
20. ly the settings of the threshold levels are important For aversive feedback as I ve described it it makes sense to have the upper level around zero rate of change and the lower level obviously below this in the negative range The sensitivity setting is also important Some experimentation will probably be necessary to get the right settings for you as an individual and also for the type of device you are using The horizontal bar chart below the DVD player 7 in figure 12 displays the HEG rate of change and the range or scale is set by the two threshold levels i e the bar ranges between the lower and upper levels 7 3 Feedback Options You can choose to apply feedback in various forms or modes using the checkbox controls in figure 13 You can apply just one mode or a combination or even all of them This section describes these options in more detail 7 3 1 Volume When the HEG rate of change is at or above the upper threshold level the volume is normal Below the upper level the volume gets quieter reaching a minimum at or below the lower threshold level Note the minimum volume is non zero Normal or maximum volume can be set using the slider control 6 in figure 12 Also your system volume setting applies 7 3 2 Brightness This option works analogously to volume mode Brightness is normal at or above the upper threshold and gets progressively darker as the rate of change drops below reaching a peak of darkness at
21. ly you would use reward feedback with speed mode so that positive increases in HEG signal increase the speed At the same time backward movements are a form of aversive feedback With brightness mode you might use aversive feedback so that decreases in the HEG signal produce unwanted darkening 6 2 Using Audio Feedback You can use audio feedback to accompany the video feedback The application can play a looped sound track whose volume varies with HEG rate of change in the same way that the video speed or brightness does In practise I intended this form of audio feedback to be used in one specific way in conjunction with an animated flight video I use a sound track of an aircraft engine To use the audio feedback in this way you need an audio clip that you can play in a loop For example you can download samples from this website http www soundjay com propeller plane sound effect html note you need wav format You should select your audio file by pressing the button Select Audio 3 in figure 11 this opens a standard windows dialog You can set the maximum volume using the slider 4 in figure 11 6 3 Technical Notes on Video Format There are several different formats for video files such as avi and mp4 Distinct from the video format is the video codec a software component used to create video files For any video to play regardless of its format your computer needs to have the right video codec installed York
22. nal is increasing and optionally backward when it is decreasing You train by willing the video forward Alternatively the brightness can vary with the HEG signal The application is covered in detail in section 6 2 1 3 DVD The software plays a DVD When the HEG signal changes adversely i e goes down the sound is distorted and the DVD can optionally be paused when the signal goes below a threshold The application is covered in detail in section 7 2 1 4 Audio The software plays in sequence a set of audio files which might for example be ripped from a CD e g an audio book Similar to the DVD application undesired changes in the HEG signal cause the sound to be distorted The application is covered in detail in section 8 2 2 Hardware Set up The physical aspects of hardware set up how to connect and use your sensors etc are dependent upon the type of amplifier you are using and are covered in a separate document Hardware Set up Guide Before you start the application you configure the device set up SIE options accessible by clicking a button in the Set up tab of the Platform In the dialog select the type of amplifier biofeedback Device GP8 W device you are using in the HEG source control Note all the source settings are remembered the next time you start the EN Platform See the Installation and Set up Guide for further details EE Figure 2 amplifier status One of the device options is Simulator
23. nerate a report for your sessions The report contains summary data and graphs showing the progression of the HEG signal over the whole session Note that the HEG data in the session data file is averaged according to the setting of the short term HEG display control 1 in figure 4 To generate and open a session report click the button labelled 2 in figure 1 A dialog window opens in which you can select various options see figure 16 below The software creates the report in html format It will be opened using your computer s default web browser e g Internet Explorer Note that a live internet connection is not needed The html file is saved so you can for example email it to someone See the Installation and Set up Guide for details of file storage Report Options Overwrite existing report Add notes to report HEG Mark data points Minimum HEG reading 90 F Figure 16 Report options 9 1 Report Options Most of the options should be self explanatory If you change your mind about options on seeing your report you can regenerate the report by clicking the report button 2 in figure 1 then checking Overwrite existing report top left in the dialog Setting a minimum HEG reading is a basic way of excluding artefacts for example if you moved during the session so that the flow of air over the sensor caused cooling Data points falling below the minimum value are excluded Note that typica
24. ntrols differ slightly between the four HEG applications The Video DVD and Audio applications always use two levels and in other respects are simpler than the Basic application This section describes the controls as you see them in the Basic application The precise behaviour of threshold based feedback is governed by two controls combos and 2 in figure 8 which are described in the following table Condition Sets the condition for the triggering of feedback for example the signal going above Duration the threshold The condition determines whether there are one or two levels This control is only available in the Basic application There are four options listed in the subsequent table This control allows you to say that feedback should be triggered only if the threshold condition is met for a certain period of time This is a way of in effect filtering out fluctuations of brief duration which you may not consider as significant especially if you have a relatively low level of averaging The control sets the length of time needed to trigger feedback The lamp displays labelled 3 in figure 8 allow you to discriminate the left hand one lights up as soon as the signal crosses the threshold while the right hand lamp will only light up if the signal exceeds the threshold continuously for the required duration This control is only available in the basic application The following table lists the possible threshold condition
25. on for example see section 4 3 below The rate of change is equivalent to the slope or gradient of the HEG graph A zero rate of change means that the HEG reading is stable or unchanging and that the brain is maintaining its energy level without either increasing or decreasing it This state doesn t tend to last very long When the brain is activating the rate of change is above zero the HEG signal is increasing and the higher the rate of change the stronger the activation When the brain is becoming less energetically active the rate of change is less than zero or negative The HEG signal is falling 3 2 Sensor Placement The standard location for the sensor is the centre of the forehead The region of the brain behind this point is a particularly important are known as the Prefrontal Cortex PFC The PFC has been described as the brain s executive control centre Its functions are discussed in the following section You could use any other site on the scalp for HEG neurofeedback but I advise you to know what you are doing if you decide to move away from the centre of the forehead It s possible that you could unwittingly train an unhelpful imbalance Also note that hair blocks the signal in other words the sensor cannot see through hair 3 3 Executive Function To summarise HEG neurofeedback trains up increased activity in a key brain region the PFC More highly evolved in humans than in any other species the PFC endo
26. or below the lower threshold level In my experience brightness mode is the least reliable option in terms of the operation of the DVD decoder 7 3 3 Pause DVD When this option is checked the DVD will pause when the HEG rate of change drops to or below the lower threshold level and won t play again until the signal comes back above it 7 3 4 Pause Outside Training Period This option is not really a feedback mode when checked the DVD will only play during training periods Training periods were described in section 3 4 1 If you are not using the training periods feature this option has no effect 7 3 5 Interference White noise a hissing sound is played to obscure the DVD s soundtrack At or above the upper threshold level there is no hiss Below this the hiss comes in its volume increasing the lower the rate of change reaching a maximum volume at or below the lower threshold level The slider control 7 in figure 13 set the maximum hiss volume 8 Audio Application Feedback The audio application is designed to offer HEG feedback in the context of a listening concentration exercise As with the video and DVD applications feedback is based on the HEG rate of change The software plays audio files and whenever the HEG signal falls the audio quality is distorted The trainee must increase brain activation in order to recover the normal sound In other words the feedback is a form of aversive conditioning the trainee i
27. orms of audio feedback available tone midi and threshold based Each has an on off button appearing as green triangles 3 5 amp 7 in figure 9 but switching to red squares when the feedback is turned on Each also has an independent volume control sliders 4 6 and 8 in figure 9 graded on a scale of 0 100 5 1 1 Tone Feedback When activated a continuous tone is played whose pitch varies with the HEG signal Pitch varies over a fixed range i e there is a maximum and minimum pitch You can select the HEG range which corresponds to this pitch range using the combo box control labelled 2 in figure 9 This defines the sensitivity of tone feedback Using a smaller HEG range gives more sensitive feedback Tone feedback has an auto centre feature analogous to that of the short term HEG graph meaning that when HEG signal change is sufficiently large to take the pitch outside of its range the pitch is reset to the middle of the range The HEG signal is averaged to smooth out the variation in the same way as it is for graphical feedback however there is a separate control labelled 1 in figure 9 5 1 1 1 Invert Check box When this control 9 in figure 9 is checked the pitch follows an inverse relationship to the HEG signal in other words when the HEG signal increases the pitch will decrease The trainee would then aim for a deeper pitch This setting applies to both tone feedback and midi feedback the latter is covere
28. pplication report in html format It will be opened using your computer s default web browser e g Internet Explorer Note that a live internet connection is not needed The html file is saved so you can for example email it to someone See the Installation and Set up Guide for details of file storage Report Options Show Max Min Mean v Netchange HEG v Mark data points Minimum HEG reading 90 F Figure 17 Report options 10 1 Report Options The application report options dialog is an adapted version of the session report options dialog Many of the options are the same and should be self explanatory See section 9 1 above As with all of the application reports in the suite there is a chart for each of the main parameters tracked in the application in the case of the HEG neurofeedback application that means the HEG reading only For each chart you can opt for line graphs for the maximum minimum mean and net change The line graphs have one point per session
29. ps when the HEG rate of changes meets the lower level Above the upper limit the video speed remains at maximum Below the lower level the video will either remain paused or move backwards depending on the setting of the Allow b w checkbox 3 in figure 10 when checked backward movement is allowed The speed of backward movement is again proportional to the HEG rate of change i e how far below the lower level it is In brightness mode maximum or normal brightness is achieved when the HEG rate of change reaches the upper limit and minimum at the lower limit Above and below the limits the brightness does not vary The horizontal bar chart below the video player 4 in figure 10 displays the HEG rate of change and the range or scale is set by the two threshold levels i e the bar ranges between the lower and upper levels 6 1 1 Rewarding and Aversive Feedback You can opt to use feedback to either reward desired brain state changes or to punish unwanted brain state changes This just amounts to a minor change in emphasis Rewarding means the feedback responds positively to increases in the HEG signal while punishing means the feedback responds negatively to decreasing HEG signal More practically for reward feedback you would set the lower threshold level to around zero and the upper to something positive while for aversive feedback you would put the upper threshold level at zero and the lower at something negative Typical
30. rms of HEG sensor known as nIR near infra red and pIR passive infra red The former was developed by Dr Hershel Toomim and the latter by Dr Jeffrey Carmen For the purposes of training they seem to be largely equivalent and the software works with both types In either case the sensor detects changes in blood flow and metabolic activation these two being tightly coupled in the brain The sensor detects activity only in the outer region of the brain known as the cortex and only from an area close to the sensor A major advantage of HEG neurofeedback is that the signal is particularly simple it goes up when activation increases and goes down when activation decreases Metabolic activity in brain cells is linked to mental functioning for example if you concentrate harder your brain cells some of them at least respond by working harder metabolically So training the brain at the physiological level is a means of boosting mental performance In HEG neurofeedback we train the signal upwards not downwards 3 1 1 Rate of Change of HEG Signal The absolute value of the HEG signal is of little relevance we can t infer anything about brain state from it Rather it is changes in the HEG reading that count To repeat when the HEG signal increases we infer the brain became more active For this reason it is useful to calculate the rate of change of the HEG signal Much of the feedback in the application is actually based on this calculati
31. s punished for letting brain state drift The controls for audio feedback are found at the bottom of the application s window and are shown in figure 15 below Select Audio Source i ew gt ni i Track Format i v Buffer T x Fee St 3 1 2 4567 8 9 10 11 12 Figure 15 Feedback controls in the Audio application The intent is that you can rip sound tracks from a CD into a folder on your system You then select this folder by pressing the button Select Audio Source 1 in figure 15 The tracks are then played in order see section 8 1 on file names below Your CD can be an audio book which would perhaps demand greater concentration but it could also be a music CD You can opt for one or both of two feedback modalities i Track volume the volume of the audio track is varies with HEG rate of change The checkbox Apply volume f b 2 in figure 15 activates this modality ii White noise interference a hissing sound is played which obscures the soundtrack and whose volume varies with the HEG rate of change The checkbox Apply interference f b 10 in figure 15 activates this modality For both the above feedback modalities you can set the maximum volume using slider controls 3 and 11 in figure 15 Press the play button 4 in figure 15 to start the soundtracks You can pause using button 5 and skip between tracks using buttons 6 and 7 A numeric display 8 in figure 15 shows the current track 8
32. s available in the condition control again only in the Basic application gt lt Two limits are used the condition is met whenever the parameter is both below the upper limit and above the lower limit Using this setting probably has limited value lt gt Two limits are used the condition is met whenever the parameter is either above the upper limit or below the lower limit You would use this setting to trigger both warnings when brain activity is dropping and reward events when brain activity is increasing gt A single limit is used the condition is met when the parameter is above this You would use this setting to trigger some reward event lt A single limit is used the condition is met when the parameter is below this You would use this setting to trigger a warning that brain activation is dropping The practical utility of the threshold will become clear once you understand how it is used in the application specific feedback options described in sections 5 to 8 below 5 Basic Application Feedback In the Basic version of the HEG application there are some basic audio feedback options The controls are found at the very bottom of the application s window Audioavg 10 08 v Range 01 z Tone p gt sm Midi gt g Thr gt tH ano met A A A A A A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Figure 9 Audio feedback controls in the Basic application Figure 9 shows these audio feedback controls There are three f
33. s designed to develop skills in mind body awareness and self regulation particularly in a context of mindfulness and meditation practice The guide has two purposes firstly to explain what HEG actually is and secondly to teach you how to use the software though it is more of a reference than a tutorial Other training material is available on the York Biofeedback website address above HEG is a way of measuring changes in the brain s metabolic activity There are two forms known as near infra red nIR and passive infra red pIR They are different measuring techniques but for training purposes they appear to be substantially the same By metabolic activity I mean energy consuming processes in brain cells The brain consumes more energy when you engage in mental activities that require focus HEG neurofeedback is thus a means of training or exercising the brain at a physiological level with the aim of boosting mental performance and emotional balance Neurofeedback training seems to induce lasting change it stimulates neuroplasticity in the brain Typically the HEG sensor is positioned over the forehead where it monitors the Prefrontal Cortex PFC This region of the brain is heavily involved in executive function described more fully in section 3 3 Thus HEG is a vehicle for training executive function There are in fact four versions of the HEG neurofeedback application They share the same basic set of displays and con
34. shows the controls relating to TP Gain training periods 6 B The check box labelled 2 in figure 6 7 gt 00 07 when checked will activate the feature If you check it while the application is Figure 6 Training period controls running you ll see that much of the feedback is disengaged For example the rate of change chart goes to zero and the short term HEG trace goes flat Audio feedback is cut off Pressing the button Begin TP 3 in figure 6 begins a timed training period The feedback becomes active and the training periods shows as a dark red band in the long term chart see section 4 6 Pressing it again during a training period has the effect of setting the elapsed time of the training period to zero Use the combo box labelled 1 in figure 6 to set the duration of training periods The numeric displays labelled 4 to 7 in figure 6 allow you to assess your progress and performance within the training period TP Time Elapsed time since the beginning of the training period TP Baseline The HEG reading at the beginning of the training period TP Gain Current HEG reading minus the training period baseline Pass Time The cumulative time for which the threshold condition has been met since the beginning of the training period See section 4 7 for more about the threshold If you want to keep a record of your comparative progress over several training periods you ll need to write down these values 4 5 Numeric Disp
35. sing the red asterisk with your mouse i e it is an alternative 4 2 Short term HEG Display 1 2 3 Yy Yy Yy Average 11006 v Range 10 2 v Period 32S v Figure 4 Short term HEG display The chart in figure 4 above shows the progression of the HEG signal over the short term The three sometimes four combo box controls positioned above the chart and described in the following table can be used to configure this chart Average Controls the level of smoothing of the HEG signal With a shorter average you will see all the fine grained changes With a longer average these are smoothed out but the signal will be slower in responding to change I suggest a setting of 10 seconds as a starting point Range Controls the vertical scale of the display or the difference between the upper and lower limits of the vertical axis Note this chart operates in auto centre mode The trace will be continually adjusted so that it s most recent right hand section displays in the middle of the vertical range This means that although the scale is fixed the actual upper and lower limits are constantly changing Selecting Auto produces a different behaviour the system will automatically calculate the best range to best fit the chart based on the variation over the period of the chart In this case the range will not stay fixed but will vary over the session Period This controls the length of time it takes for the trace to traverse the
36. trols but each offers a different form of feedback They are described in sections 5 to 8 below In keeping with others in the suite the HEG neurofeedback application was designed to support your aims not to supplant them You re training mental function and training the brain is a useful but slightly indirect way of doing that Biofeedback should enhance or expand your subjective awareness rather than detract from it don t get too caught up in the feedback at the expense of your experience of the mind The guide assumes that you have read the Software Installation and Set up Guide and therefore know how to start the application The application works with several devices For an up to date list of supported hardware please see the York Biofeedback website 2 Launching the Application The application is started from the HEG neurofeedback tab of the Platform application see figure 1 below The first step is to select one of the four variants 2 1 Feedback Modalities As stated earlier there are four versions of the HEG neurofeedback application They share the same basic set of controls and displays but offer some different feedback modalities They are described below Select one of the radio buttons 1 in figure 1 before pressing button 2 to launch the application Make sure you have your BioEra licence key dongle inserted into a USB socket After a few seconds a new window or two depending on your choice of application wil
37. tween two modes of feedback using the combo box control 2 in figure 10 The modes are i Speed the HEG rate of change dictates the speed at which the video moves forward When the HEG signal is increasing the video moves forward at a speed proportional to the rate of change up to a maximum limit Typically I ve used animated flight videos The subject must will the movement forward using intensity of awareness ii Brightness in this mode the video image darkens when the HEG rate of change drops The subject aims to keep the picture at full brightness using intensity of awareness The video can be paused manually using toggle button 1 in figure 10 When you first start the application or when you load a new video you need to press this button to start the video Some of the feedback controls can be found at the bottom of the main window see figure 11 For example press Select Video to choose a video file a standard windows dialog opens up Select Video MV Use sound Select Audio Vol 1 2 3 Figure 11 Video feedback controls Fe A 4 Basic HEG Application User Guide copyright Glyn Blackett 6 1 Threshold Controls The settings of the threshold controls section 4 7 above are key to the operation of the video application The two levels define the limits of the variation For example in speed mode the video reaches full normal speed when the HEG rate of change reaches the upper level and conversely sto
38. vision as long as you can maintain your intent Be careful not to over train As with physical exercise there is a window of opportunity for change not enough effort and nothing really changes in the longer term but over do it and you risk fatiguing the brain and perhaps giving yourself a headache However there is no reason to think that over training can cause lasting problems In the very early days of training I suggest no more than five minutes of active training at a time but you can probably quite quickly build up to 20 minute sessions or longer though it is reasonable to take rests during this time Remember that HEG neurofeedback sessions are about exercising the brain If brain activation increases but then falls back again well you ve still exercised the brain Compare it to lifting dumbells you have to lower them back again In other words achieving a net increase over the course of a HEG training sessions is not the important thing Don t get overly focused on the numbers You can assume that if you practise exercise regularly neuroplastic changes will happen in the brain automatically in the longer term My design intent has been to support mind training not simply brain training by enhancing and augmenting your subjective awareness rather than detracting from it This is another reason not to get overly focused on the feedback or overly goal oriented with respect to the feedback Instead find a way for the fee
39. whole chart from right to left or in other words the horizontal range Note that increasing the period after processing has started can have unpredictable consequences so I recommend you make your selection before pressing play Unit Only available for some device types Select either Fahrenheit or Celcius as the unit of infra red temperature This applies to all the displays not just the short term HEG chart 4 3 Rate of Change Display 1 2 3 y y y Rate of Change Avg 10 0S el Sensitivity Medium v Period 32S Figure 5 HEG rate of change display This chart figure 5 shows the HEG rate of change or in other words the gradient or slope of the HEG trace shown in the short term HEG chart section 4 2 above The central horizontal line is zero When the trace goes above this line it means the HEG signal is increasing and its colour is green When the trace falls below the line it means the HEG signal is falling and its colour changes to red The further away from the zero line the faster the HEG signal is changing Since the goal of training is to increase or at least maintain the HEG reading you should aim to keep this graph in the green as much as you can but don t expect it to stay there constantly The bar graph at the right of the display shows the current rate of change this chart always has the same scale as the adjacent chart The three combo box controls positioned above the chart and des
40. ws us with our uniquely human abilities traits and intelligences a set of skills known in neuroscience as executive function and including e The ability to hold the mind steady in its focus e Body regulation by modulating the Autonomic Nervous System ANS the PFC influences many of the body s automatic visceral responses e Emotional balance the ability to temper over arousal and over stimulation and to summon and maintain energy and clarity in the absence of external stimulation Also the ability to modulate emotion triggering signals coming from other brain regions such as the amygdala which triggers fear and anger e Motivation and emotional drive the ability to formulate values goals and purposes e The ability to formulate a considered plan of action and to hold to it in the face of distractions as well as to update it appropriately The ability to check impulsiveness e Empathy the ability to appreciate the minds of other people and to understand how our own behaviour impinges upon them Ultimately this includes our moral awareness PFC functioning has been found to be compromised in several emotional and neurological disorders including depression and ADHD HEG neurofeedback can be used therapeutically with these disorders but you don t have to have a disorder to benefit HEG neurofeedback is an optimal performance training tool Data suggests HEG neurofeedback produces lasting benefits it s thou
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