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Biofeedback Training and Self Regulation The human mind and body are linked at the most basic level of cause and effect. When something happens in the mind, something will change in the body. When something changes in the body, something will change in the mind almost instantaneously. The measurable output of such information is called biofeedback. These scientific facts are the foundation for the creation of one of the most powerful personal development and health care tools. (Amen) For decades, scientists have researched the many aspects of biofeedback and the ability to train the brain to manipulate the biofeedback of the human body. Some believe the aftermath of such training brings about changes in many health disorders and solutions to problems, ranging from depression to an athlete simply trying to enhance his or her performance. However, the issue of just how effective and reliable this training is has been a source of much conflict. The following questions, which are to be discussed in the sequential paragraphs, represent both the agreements and disagreements of the researchers of biofeedback: 1. What is biofeedback? 2. How can one skill treat so many diverse problems? 3. How can something that works so well, and have such acclaimed results, not be more prevalent? What is Biofeedback? A simple definition of biofeedback would be any psychophysiological information about our body that is measurable. These include blood pressure, temperature, and pulse. Biofeedback training, however, is the topic of discussion of this paper. Biofeedback training is the use of instruments to feedback psychophysiological information to a person. The information is called “psychophysiological” because psychological processes are carried out in physiological ways. (Green and Shellenberger) The instruments of biofeedback are designed to monitor, amplify, and feed back diverse biological processes including: heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, blood flow in the hands and feet, and brain waves. The biofeedback trainee or patient is then able to use that information to make changes in those processes. This information is useful in order for the patient to become conscious of, and voluntarily create, the physiological and psychological states that produce the desired physiological change.
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