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Frequently Asked Questions

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What is NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback?

Based in neuroscience, NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback is a sophisticated brain training tool designed to optimize how your brain is functioning.  This advanced, nonlinear technology measures brain activity from .01 hertz to 64 hertz, collecting and analyzing data 256 times per second.  Developed by Drs. Val and Sue Brown, clinical psychologists who developed NeurOptimal® in the late nineties, this proprietary technology is exclusive to NeurOptimal Nonlinear, Dynamical Neurofeedback® .  Despite its complexity, NeurOptimal® is incredibly easy to use.

Is NeurOptimal® training safe?

NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback is completely non-invasive.  It is not sending any electrical signals into the brain or removing anything from the brain which would be harmful.  It is only reading the electrical signals from your brain.  Some people report feeling a bit tired after a session but often share that they slept well and woke up feeling refreshed the next morning. The more NeurOptimal® trains the brain, the more efficiently it functions over time unless there are some external factors which keep the brain from adapting and changing.

Who benefits from using NeurOptimal®?

Anyone with a brain can benefit from NeurOptimal® brain training.  Just like our cars need tune ups to function efficiently and we choose to eat healthy foods and exercise our bodies to enjoy positive health results, brain training with NeurOptimal® keeps our brains working optimally.

Any recommendations for when I start training my brain?

In the beginning since we are optimizing how the brain is working, you may choose to start with two or more sessions a week for two or three weeks, so the brain holds onto the changes better.  However, once a week is fine too if that works better for you.  There is not a limit to the benefits you can gain by training longer. How many sessions you need is really a question for you to answer when you achieve your goals and notice the life changes you are desiring.  If later after your initial training you experience a stressful life experience or inefficient brain processing, you may want to support your brain by doing more NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback training.  At any age and any stage your brain can improve its functioning. The cheapest option is to rent a NeurOptimal® system to use in your own home.  You are welcome to visit the rental information on this website to compare prices and to think about the convenience of doing neurofeedback sessions in the comfort of your own home. Don’t forget to plan ahead to reserve the rental unit you desire.

What about the use of medications?
You can be using medication while receiving neurofeedback training. The basic difference between medication and neurofeedback training is that medication is chemical regulation, whereas neurofeedback trains the brain to regulate itself better. It is not directing your brain in any way, just providing it with more real-time information.
IMPORTANT: We strongly encourage you to contact your prescribing doctor while receiving NeurOptimal® neurofeedback training and taking prescription medication. This way your medication levels can be closely and professionally monitored.
Is NeurOptimal® safe to use with children?

Absolutely! NeurOptimal’s® design ensures safety as it supports optimal changes in brain function.  In children you are more likely to see increased confidence, enhanced focusing and learning abilities, more emotional regulation, and greater sense of calm and well being.

How long does each session take?

Each neurofeedback training session lasts 33.5 minutes. Sessions can be shortened for the very time poor.

What happens in a typical Neurofeedback session?

A typical session involves sitting in a comfortable chair, having two sensors attached to the scalp and 3 clips attached to the ears. The sensors are safe, painless, and ‘passive instruments’. They only collect and transmit the electrical activity of the brain to the software for processing – they DO NOT introduce any electric current to the brain, ears or scalp. Earbuds are placed in the ears so you can listen to music while receiving brain training. The training itself is 33 minutes in length and nothing is required of the individual other than listening to the music. That is all that is needed for the neurofeedback system to connect with your brain and begin to reflect back information about what it has just done. Most people find training sessions quite pleasant. The audio and visual feedback is specifically designed to alert and inform your brain towards improved regulation.

What do I need to know before renting a Neuroptimal® system?
The initial rental period is one month (30 days) and starts the day after you pick up or receive the system. It is due back (or to be shipped back) the day of your due date. The minimum rental period is one month but at Peak Neuro you can extend the rental for 2 weeks (14 days) or an additional month. We recommend renting for 2-3 months for best results.

What’s the cost of shipping?

Shipping cost is not included and billed separately. Return Express Post shipping costs $60. The shipment cost also includes, shipping insurance and return shipment. It takes about 1-3 business days depending on your location.

How long does it take to get the home system rental?

First come, first serve! If your online reservation and contract has been submitted and there is no wait, it takes about 2-3 business days for shipment depending where you are located.

What is the minimum and maximum amount of time for which I can rent the Trainer?

The minimum time to rent the neurofeedback equipment is one month*. However, our trainers have noticed the best results occur when renting for 2-4 months (see below). After the first month’s rental, one can choose to extend for another month or two weeks.

Why is a 2-3 month rental recommended?

Our neurofeedback trainers have noticed the best training results occur when people train consistently for 2 – 4 months.  If you rent for two months, that would look like 3 sessions per week, for a total of 20-40 sessions.

Why should parents train when renting for their child's issues?

Most renters agree that best results come when multiple family members are training. Particularly when a parent is training as well. A calm, focused and de-stressed parent is a huge support for the child. Well-being is contagious! And everyone can benefit from calm and focused energy whether it be for school performance, interpersonal communication or general stress support.

Are the rental systems software up-to-date?

Yes, all our rental’s NeurOptimal software is up-to-date before shipment and includes the latest software, NeurOptimal® 3.0.

What is included in the rental? Do I need to get my own paste?

You’ll receive all materials required to train (including paste), access to online tech support for troubleshooting the equipment and regular check-ins with staff neurofeedback trainers via text, email or phone. We do not provide headphones but any headphones can be used except wireless ones or alternatively, use the built-in speakers from the tablet. Please note: access to the internet is required to allow the software to do automatic updates to function properly. If you do not have internet access, let us know prior to renting.

How will I know if it is working?
We ask all clients to fill out a checklist every 8 – 10 sessions.  
This checklist is key because it helps you consider what areas you would like to improve, gives a numerical value to your goals and allows you to track your changes over time. Seeing the numbers change is a sign of progress! During the first 8 – 10 sessions, numbers typically drop by 3. For example, if ‘difficulty concentrating’ or ‘often worry’ starts at a value of 9, it is often reported to be a 6 after 10 sessions. These reporting tools also improve self-awareness. One of our goals as neurofeedback coaches is to help clients notice how they are feeling. Noticing subtle changes helps you get ahead of your feelings, and maintain a sense of focus and calm.
Will the improvements last?

The changes that neurofeedback training brings about are long-lasting. Brain training is like athletic training in the sense that we can’t just go to the gym once or twice or for a month or two and then never go back and expect to maintain the same level of fitness. Neurofeedback training is most effective when continued as part of your total fitness regimen. For some, this is monthly. For others, this is annually. And for still others, this is right before exams or a big presentation. It’s all up to you and what you want to achieve. Lifestyle including diet and exercise as well as stress levels have an impact on how you do as well. It is important to take good care of one’s self and one’s relationships after your initial trainings. The great part about that is, the benefits NeurOptimal® brain training brings (greater calm, better sleep, better focus, etc.) can make these tasks a bit easier.

How does change happen in the brain?
Every brain is unique and processes at its own speed and in its own way.  By reading the electrical activity of the brain and then sending subtle signals back to the nervous system about what is happening, the brain is able to choose to optimize how it is functioning.  Just like when we are driving on a highway with rumble strips and we go too far in one direction, NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback provides an audible signal which alerts the subconscious to changes within the nervous system.  The subconscious then can choose what it will do with that information. This innovative neurofeedback training is like holding up a mirror so your brain can look at itself and what is happening in the present moment.  What changes and the pace of the changes cannot be easily predicted.  Through the process of this unique neurofeedback, you are training your nervous system to be more flexible, resilient and to stay focused in the present moment. 
Drs. Val and Susan Brown who developed NeurOptimal®, view the brain as an intelligent, self-organizing dynamical system which can actively utilize information for its own benefit.  All NeurOptimal® does is present information to the brain in a way that can be understood by a dynamical system, and the brain does the rest.   This is not a medical model so no evaluation, no diagnosis or treatment approaches needs to be developed.  NeurOptimal® does not tell the brain what to do and no specific frequencies are augmented or suppressed.  Since the subconscious is what is reading the audible signals no conscious participation by the client is needed either.  NeurOptimal® shows your brain that change is about to occur and you’re subconscious when informed, moves away from changes which may produce discomfort.  This process is not pushing, programing, or entraining the frequencies within your brain to work in any specific way.  Your brain is in charge the whole time and directs the subtle changes which over time adds up to a brain which is learning to function more optimally.
What do users observe with NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback?

Most people first notice improved sleep patterns or find they are not as stressed or reactive.  As they continue to train, they may become aware of other life improvements such as more confidence, an ability to cope with life better or the ability to process their emotions without getting as stuck. Obstacles which were blocking them may appear to melt away more easily. Remember, just like physical exercise needs to be repeated over time to see and sustain the changes, brain training with NeurOptimal® works best when you train your brain to optimize your brain’s functioning.

How many NeurOptimal® sessions will I need?

The number of neurofeedback sessions you need will depend on several factors.  Every brain is unique, and the nervous system has been wired to function based on a variety of life experiences.  This makes it hard to predict how many sessions may be needed to achieve your goals and more optimal functioning.  Your age, how long you have had your issues and the changes you are noticing will help you know when you are reaching your goals.  Young brains change more quickly than older brains and more recent issues resolve more quickly than longstanding problems.  If you experienced early trauma and neglect, sustained serious head trauma, or have experienced an overwhelming physical or emotional trauma locking your nervous system into fight, flight, or freeze patterns, you may expect your brain to take longer to train.  There can also be factors that affect brain processing like medications usage or health conditions which may affect or slow down how the brain is functioning. Whatever blocks you are dealing with, the change process can be enhanced by training with NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback. Are you ready to train your brain to a better you?

Does the NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback ever not work?
Occasionally someone tries NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback and their brain doesn’t respond the way they had hoped it would.  Maybe there are extrinsic factors or life situations which are impacting their brain’s ability to change.  The key is not to have expectations that you will notice specific changes right away. It also may be helpful to keep a journal or record of what you are noticing over time. Even though the changes may be very subtle at first, many people begin to experience changes after the first few sessions.  For some it takes longer to notice any changes but if you check in with family members, they may be seeing shifts in you before you notice the new norm.  
If your brain has been wired by a history of traumatic life experiences or other inefficient brain patterns, it may take longer to see and feel the differences.  Filling in a chart to start with which identifies current emotional and health states may be a good way to measure changes over time.  Feel free to talk to me if you have any concerns about the type of changes you are seeing. I may be able to show you breathing techniques, or other tools which might help to calm and support your nervous system between sessions as you going through the process of change.
Why use NeurOptimal® instead of other forms of Neurofeedback?
NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback is the most advanced, nonlinear brain training technology that is out there.  It is designed to work with the brain as an information detection system which optimizes how the whole brain is functioning.  Other neurofeedback systems may try to entrain specific frequencies which is a way of pushing the brain to function in a predetermined way. This can shift and unbalance the energy patterns within the brain creating side effects which may not be helpful. Some systems have a pre-set program which is a one size fits all.  I guess the question comes down to what you want to experience, a Model T or a Ferrari?  
Several years ago, Val Brown with his Zengar support team created a significant upgrade to how NeurOptimal® was functioning.  This upgrade made NeurOptimal® safer and simpler to use with excellent results.  However, this simplicity in operation belies its power.  As a result, many do not comprehend how this brain training system can bring about lasting change.  Its design is completely non-invasive and non-directive working in a fluid and subtle way to provide stability and efficiency to any nervous system. We can’t predict what changes may occur with your brain but if you try it, we believe you will love how you feel when you train your brain with NeurOptimal®!
Why haven’t I heard of Neurofeedback?

The scientific understanding of the way the brain works has been changing rapidly. Just a few decades ago, electrical patterns in the brain were believed to be unimportant and unchangeable. The reality of neuro-plasticity, the brain’s ability to change throughout our lives, is changing how we work with people. Neurofeedback was dismissed as ‘scientifically impossible’. We now know that long held beliefs about the brain were completely wrong. Neuroscience has advanced quickly and the medical community has not yet integrated new approaches based on the current view. Change is coming from a fundamental shift in philosophy, approach, and through consumer demand for non-invasive, drug-free solutions. Slowly, but steadily more and more individuals are taking advantage of this simple, safe, common-sense option.

How much does neurofeedback training cost?

It’s true…genuine neurofeedback training isn’t cheap. We have done our best to put together flexible options or packages for various needs.  Be sure to check out our Rent For Home Use page to see more details about the different plans and pricing we offer. And don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ll work with you if we can.

Do we accept insurance?

No. We do not accept insurance.  We accept credit cards, cash and checks. We can however provide an invoice to submit to insurance. Clients with NDIS may be able to have some or all of the rental cost covered by NDIS. Call us to discuss.

When is rental payment due?

First month’s payment is due 14 days prior pick up/shipment. We won’t charge you until you have filled out the online reservation and contract and have confirmed you are ready to rent. Pay as you go and extend as long as you wish. You only pay for the first month’s rental to start with. If extending the rental, the next payment is due 14 days prior to the next rental cycle.

How many sessions should I run per week?

We usually recommend three sessions per week per trainee, though you can train every day if you so wish as this neurofeedback training is 100% non-invasive. The minimum we recommend is twice per week when renting because through the training you are learning a new way of decision making and, like learning a new language, the more frequently the brain practices, the faster we learn.

Will 30 sessions in 30 days yield the same results as 30 sessions over 3 months?

While your brain will learn a lot about itself if you train every day for a month the value of spreading those trainings over 3 months is that it gives you time to shift your behavior and thought patterns time to adapt.

Do I have to focus on the screen during the sessions or can I read a book instead?

You do not need to watch the screen while in session. The NeurOptimal® System is a fully automated neurofeedback system and does not require you to watch the training screen (called G-force) though some people like to. It’s optional. Yes, one can read a book. It’s also OK to talk, meditate, look at your phone, ipad, Kindle or computer (just keep the sound on mute or very low on the other device). If feeling tired anytime during the session, sleep is encouraged. Remember it’s OK to change it up time to time. Do whatever you feel inclined to do!

Can the system's collected data be used to monitor progress?

No, the system was designed to use a self-reporting checklist to track changes.

What if a sensor falls off during the session

Put it back into place and relax. If it’s been off longer than two minutes, restart the session. If training with a small child, check on the sensor placement now and then.