Customer Reviews

Getting Started with Neurofeedback

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In the field of neurofeedback there are very few books that actually explain how to do neurofeedback. Most of the existing books are about theory and not method. John Demos has put together a book that is based on a sophisticated understanding of the method of neurofeedback and at the same time very readable. Within these pages are the simple and straightforward explanations of what needs to be done, why it needs to be done and how to do it. His explanations are clear and lucid. The careful organization of this text provides the reader with a progressive exposure to concepts that culminates in a comprehensive picture of the practice of neurofeedback. The theory and method he presents is well grounded in the existing literature and reflects a thorough exploration of the topic as well as considerable first hand clinical experience. This is the book that clinicians entering the field will be searching for as they travel from workshop to workshop in search of a comprehensive approach. As an author, clinician, and teacher in the field of neurofeedback I am acutely aware of the extensive effort and care it required to produce such a text and I highly recommend it to everyone in the field.

Richard Soutar, Ph.D.

I had bought this book with high hopes based on the reviews and description. Make no mistake, this is a user's manual for several types of specific equipment (EEG-type) with very little background on how to interpret the readings or, more generally, on the various aspects of the neurofeedback field, or other methods of neurofeedback. This is a book by a pratitioner for a starting practitioner (dealing with how to set-up electrodes, how to read charts, a summary of a couple dated EEG systems, and how to choose an office space).

It does NOT cover in any detail theory or discuss latest research. Even as a reference for equipment/setup a quick internet search revealed several much more advanced systems available that were not even mentioned by the book. The book references DOS-based systems and alludes to Windows based systems.

If you are starting a business in this area and already have a firm grasp on the fundamnetals of this field then perhaps this book MIGHT be helpful, but anyone looking for an in-depth treatement of the wide range of neurofeedback techniques and/or comprehensive treatment of brain physiology/activity under different conditions should steer clear of this book - you will be disappointed. I am just glad Amamzon refunded my money.

I've been working at a neurofeedback tech for nearly a year now and I have been researching and learning about NF for two years. This is the most comprehensive source I have found. While he discussed in-depth the complexities of NF, it's very understandable. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a practioner but it might get a bit too involved to recommend to clients.

John Demos' "Getting Started with Neurofeedback" is an unusually thorough, concise, informative, and practical book on the practice of neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback). This is one of the most succinct introductions to the field that I have seen, and it also includes a wealth of practical information. Ultimately, it provides sufficient background and applications information to allow one with relevant qualifications to begin working in this area. It would be an excellent text resource for a formal training program, as well. This covers a wide range of approaches and philosophies, and is unique in that it does not simply espouse one approach. Rather, it puts many approaches in perspective, and allows the reader to make intelligent decisions regarding when, how, and in what manner one wants to apply neurofeedback therapy. It includes basic neurophysiology and anatomy, the value of brain maps and mini-assessments, and practical considerations for formulating treatment plans, configuring and using equipment, and interpreting results. Really a "must have" for anyone in the field of neurofeedback, considering entering this field, or any seriously curious student who wants to understand this emerging and changing area.

This is the latest book on neurofeedback and reports the state of the art as of 2005. The author takes the basic protocols used by the majority of the field and then integrates qEEG, one of the fastest growing approaches to neurofeedback. Another reviewer calls qEEG "outdated." This is an outrageous, misleading statement, at best. qEEG IS controversial and not all practitioners use it. My own opinion on qEEG is that it is very often useful and sometimes essential, partifcularly for traumatic brain injury, as the book states, but not always necessary. I also believe that non-qEEG approaches can be very effective. But suggesting that qEEG outdated is, just plain wrong.

This book provides a wide range of different perspectives at a very affordable price, offering the entry level and novice practitioner of neurofeedback a wealth of state of the art information. Any practitioner getting started with neurofeedback would be advised to invest in this book. Rob Kall, organizer of the Futurehealth Winter Brain Meeting, world's largest neurofeedback meeting and editor/executive producer of the Introduction to EEG Biofeedback/ Neurofeedback Foundations Course DVD set (available on amazon) Another book worth checking out is the Neurofeedback book by Lynda and Michael Thompson.

While I'm new to the topic of neurofeedback and EEG training, this book provided a solid grounding on the subject. While this book is NOT for the lighthearted newbie, I can honestly say that I learned a tremendous amount. Even though there is considerable material to digest, I'm reading the book very slowly (and with a highlighter next to me). I know I'll read it again and continue to use it as a reference.

Having no experience with neuroscience, I began this book as a preparation for training in Neurofeedback. I took the title at it's word, "Getting Started". While I learned a lot reading the book, it assumes a certain level of knowledge of brain science and is quite badly organized for a beginner. I found myself slogging through very difficult, unexplained material which was then somewhat clarified in later chapters. I found myself wondering why the author didn't organize the material with the introductory material at the beginning and work up to the more complex theories and technical details. The author is obviously very versed in the subject, but the material is not user friendly. It's probably worth reading with the caveat that you'll have to go back and forth to figure out what he's talking about. In retrospect, I wish I'd read "Symphony in the Brain" first which is a history of neurofeedback.

Aimed at healthcare professionals with an interest in adding neurotherapy to their clinical practice, "Getting Started with Neurofeedback" is a shallow, broad-based introduction to all things neurofeedback related, from elementary neuroanatomy to marketing tips according to which feedback therapy you plan to employ. A reader just beginning to consider neurotherapy as an occupation, with no prior familiarity with the subject, will find their curiosity stimulated and practical questions they didn't even know they had answered. However, a reader looking for an objective analysis of the field or with any advance knowledge will likely find the short sightedness of this volume by John N. Demos frustrating and tedious.

Part I

The book begins with a brief introduction meant to assuage any skeptics by citing a few studies that give neurofeedback credibility. The meat of the book is divided into two parts; the first of which focuses on the biological and technical facts underlying neurofeedback, and the second of which is primarily a practical guide for the clinician who has decided to undertake neurotherapy. Demos begins with a history of the significant advances leading to the advent of neurofeedback. Though I understand he has a lot of ground to cover, I felt the history chapter was particularly lacking. The subjects he covered, such as Hans Berger and Carl Jung, were covered well, but almost the entire chapter focused on EEG, excluding all other forms of neurofeedback to the reader's detriment. The second chapter provides a very brief synopsis of the inner workings of the brain and nervous system, including a functional map of the brain. I felt this chapter was lacking in scope. Demos's target audience is supposedly composed of practicing healthcare providers, who I assume already have a workable knowledge of the brain. In my opinion a few of the biology based pages could have been put to better use as a more in depth history. I also felt that that functional map of the brain may lead readers to over generalize and assume that brain functions are localized identically in every person, which they most certainly are not.
The rest of Part I provides a concise, but informative introduction to neuroplasticity and the concept of biofeedback in general, and the most popular forms of neurofeedback currently in use specifically. Demos approaches the subject pragmatically, avoiding going into detail or illustrating with case studies at this juncture. Instead Part I reads like a beginners textbook, defining key terms and contrasting the various methods on a technological basis. Demos's explanations are thorough and easy to understand, if a bit stiff, but again the major flaw here is an almost single-minded focus on EEG (the form of neurofeedback Demos is personally licensed to practice). While EEG is undoubtedly the most popular form of neurofeedback today, its use is on the decline and if Demos was going to concentrate so heavily on this one form of neurofeedback he should have titled his book "Getting Started with EEG".

Part II

Demos is obviously much more comfortable speaking on practical matters, the core of Part II of the volume. Demos's tone shifts from that of a lecturer regurgitating facts to a conversationalist expounding on his favorite topic. Throughout most of the second half of the book he follows the same general format: reintroduce a form of neurofeedback whose technological background he explained in Part I, detail how to run a typical clinical session using this technique, present case studies, and examine problems he has personally encountered utilizing this method. The last few chapters are devoted to purely practical concerns: from the steps to take to become a certified neurotherapist, to the best location to start your practice, to the exact brand of prep gel he uses, to supportive phrases to use on clients. It is here that Demos truly shines. His practical advice is a would-be clinician's gold mine: a cheat sheet for the business or socially impaired. Demos may lack scientific acumen throughout the rest of the book, but his clinical expertise is dead on. The only fault I can find in Part II is that Demos approaches every problem wearing rose-colored glasses. Whether he doesn't want appear uninformed or simply doesn't realize they exist, besides warning the clinician to have a stack of supportive literature for skeptics always within reach, Demos never addresses the myriad claims currently circulating in the scientific community that accuse neurofeedback and all of its practitioners of being frauds incapable of producing tangible, reliable results.

Critique

From the introduction onward, Demos whole-heartedly endorses the concept of cortical localization. While I understand that some degree of reliable localization is necessary for the premise behind neurofeedback to remain viable, Demos's unqualified statements ("each region of the brain is associated with specific functional operations") make the half way knowledgeable reader question his expertise rather than reinforcing it. For someone who repeatedly stresses that his writing is intended for the healthcare professional, Demos would benefit from less blanket sensationalism and more cold, hard facts. I believe we can safely assume that anybody reading this book has sought it out specifically already possesses a rudimentary understanding of the brain and has at the least a passing familiarity with scientific research. This desire for scientific objectivity leads me to my second complaint: the rose-tinted nature of Demos's case outlines. While I don't necessary expect an in-depth analysis, Demos fails to point out a single limitation or point of possible contention with his case studies. For example, in his argument for EEG analyses as supplements to the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD Demos's primary piece of supporting evidence is a study in which 11 controls were used to characterize the "typical" EEG pattern of the human brain, then compared to 109 ADHD participants to establish a criteria of aberrant EEG activity on which diagnosis may be made. He fails to acknowledge that any brain activity map generated from only 11 people will be highly unreliable. When he does acknowledge neurofeedback's shortcomings, such as the high variability of responses in alpha/theta training, his advice is very useful.

Summary

Overall, my primary argument against this book is that though Demos's research is thorough, his presentation of it is not. For the majority of the book he comes across as an infomercial pitchman for neurofeedback rather than a scientist providing intelligent healthcare professionals with a realistic analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of integrating neurofeedback into their practice. If I were a healthcare professional reading this book I would discount the majority of Demos's claims out of mistrust. I am naturally hesitant with any practitioner who neglects to inform me of the associated risks. I think a better approach that would have more fully realized his professed goal in writing this book would have been to accompany the success stories with explanations of the current flaws in neurotherapy, his personal conjectures on how they might be overcome, and provide a few case studies in which neurotherapy was not successful or anecdotes about his own encounters with neurotherapy skeptics. Much about this book is incredibly helpful and, as I said, well researched. As an introduction to neurofeedback, it provides a wonderfully concise overview of current options in the field. Again, my only true complaint was that as a reader with a small bit of prior knowledge on the subject (which it is likely most readers of this volume will be), I often found myself frustrated by his bad science, but if you can read with a grain of salt don't let the book's rosy hue deter you from gleaning all of the valuable information within. If you ARE a healthcare provider looking to add neurotherapy to your repertoire, Demos's practical advice is positively sagely.

The book is well done, clear and a comprehensive introduction to neurofeedback. I enjoyed reading (studying) it. I must say I mostly appreciated it from an historical point of view though. It describes the old way of doing neurofeedback -- still much in use -- and for instance doesn't mention that qEEG as a basis for neurofeedback has been outdated for several years now. Unfortunately there are no books detailing the more recent neurofeedback tools...

I've been working on integrating neurofeedback into my clinical practice for over a year and needed a resource that would bring together my training experiences and piecemeal information gleaned from the Internet. Neurofeedback can be technically daunting to those of us who cling to the belief that electricity is magic, but this book provides a coherent compendium of information in readable and understandable language. In addition to providing details about the practice of neurofeedback, the book covers related practical topics such as formulating treatment plans and developing & marketing your practice.

Neurofeedback offers a permanent resolution of many clients' problems rather than the temporary relief of symptoms provided by drugs. This book will help more therapists add this to remarkable intervention to their therapeutic repertoire. Thank you, John Demos!