Neurofeedback Center Opens at CSUSB Palm Desert Campus

From California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus:

An open house will take place on Wednesday, May 11 at Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus to introduce the community to its new center using neurofeedback, a technique that challenges the brain to function better.

The event will take place from 4-7 p.m. in the campus’s Palm Desert Health Sciences building. Admission is free, and parking is paid by Friends of the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus.

The center will offer neurofeedback services to the general public as well as to university students, faculty and staff. A sliding scale fee structure helps ensure that services are affordable. The treatment may qualify for healthcare reimbursement accounts with insurance providers.

Neurofeedback, also known as cognitive rehabilitation or EEG biofeedback, is a powerful brain-based technique that has been successful in helping people around the world for more than 30 years, including children with Attention Deficit Disorders and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, said Connie McReynolds, director of CSUSB’s Institute for Research, Assessment and Professional Development in the College of Education. Neurofeedback services have been provided to more than 600 individuals at the CSUSB campus in San Bernardino over the past four years.

Neurofeedback works by training the brain to function at its maximum potential, which is similar to the way the body is exercised, toned and maintained. The technology is safe and effective for children and adults ages 5 to 95, McReynolds said.

“It is a noninvasive process with positive results for a multitude of symptoms. The effectiveness of neurofeedback for adults and children with a wide variety of symptoms has been repeatedly discussed in numerous research studies,” McReynolds said. “You can train your attention, decrease anxiety or depression, alleviate chronic pain and lessen behaviors that interfere with living your best life.”

Individuals who have been diagnosed with ADHD or other attention or focusing problems have improved through the use of neurofeedback by participating two to three times per week for 30-minute sessions.

Differences have been noted in attention, concentration, focus and memory in as few as 10 sessions; however, most individuals participate for an average of 20-40 sessions. Once the brain has learned the optimal functioning patterns, the change is maintained similarly to the way the mind/body retains learning how to ride a bicycle.

“With the increased concern regarding the negative effects of relying heavily on medication treatments alone, neurofeedback may provide an effective alternative to a drug-free reduction of symptoms,” McReynolds said. “Since the 1970s, research on neurofeedback has demonstrated positive results in the treatment of a number of conditions.”

Neurofeedback has also shown success in helping veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Studies have shown that veterans who have used neurofeedback report substantial improvements in the reduction of sleeping problems, anger management, stress management and other conditions. The center develops individualized plans tailored specifically to each veteran’s needs.

The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is located at 37-500 Cook St.

For more information, visit the CSUSB Institute for Research, Assessment and Professional Development on Neurofeedback website, or contact Connie McReynolds at (909) 537-5453 or TheInstitute@csusb.edu.

Located in beautiful Palm Desert, the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus offers bachelor and master’s degrees, a doctorate degree in educational leadership and teacher credentials and certificates. With more than 1,200 students, it is the only four-year public university in the Coachella Valley and plays a vital role in educating and training the region’s growing population.

Further information is available through the CSUSB Office of Public Affairs website.