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Tuning Up Your Brain

February 22, 2011 By john 676 Comments

Article by Debra Burdick, LCSW, BCIA-EEG

Imagine a world where you could place electrodes on your head, send your brainwaves to a computer, and control a video game without using your hands, just by changing your brainwaves. Picture a world where you could teach your brain to perform better. Perhaps you could improve your IQ, concentrate better, or sleep better. Maybe you could organize better at work, close more sales, get better grades, or be more productive. Maybe you could spiff up your memory that you have noticed is slipping lately. Visualize getting rid of that chronic depression or those nasty panic attacks and eliminating those medications you hate to take.

Too hard to believe? Believe it!

We have learned more about the brain in the last 10-15 years than we ever knew before. This is mostly due to advanced imaging techniques, computer technology, and on-going research about how the brain works. Research that began in the late 1960′s and early 1970′s at UCLA and NASA and is continuing today at universities and medical centers around the world is confirming that a form of biofeedback on brainwaves called Neurofeedback effectively teaches the brain to regulate itself better.

Neurofeedback gives information to the person about what their brainwaves are doing (usually via a video game) and rewards them (the rocket flies, they hear beeps, etc) when they change their brainwaves the way that they are being asked to. This process is called Operant Conditioning which is a well known learning strategy. The original research was done with cats that were rewarded with milk and chicken broth when they increased a certain brainwave. (The human brain apparently will do anything for a ‘beep’…)

Research is also teaching us what normal brain waves patterns should look like. Brain mapping technology called a Quantitative Electroencephalograph (QEEG) takes a classic EEG (a look at the electrical function) and compares brainwave data to a database of normal brains. This process can pinpoint sites on the brain that are not functioning normally. Using this technology we can now identify certain learning disabilities, mood disorders, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and more, and pinpoint areas of the brain that are not communicating properly with other areas of the brain. This information can then be used to ‘train’ these abnormal areas of the brain using Neurofeedback to make them more normal and therefore improve function.

Recent research by V.J. Monastra et al has demonstrated that the ratio of two brain waves (theta/beta) on the top of the head (CZ) can be used to predict ADHD with 90% accuracy. Studies show that training the brain at these sites and at these frequencies works as well as, or better than the standard stimulant medication so frequently prescribed for ADHD, and without the side effects.

Leslie Prichep at NYU has used the QEEG to characterize brains affected by Alzheimer’s Disease. One Neurofeedback study on healthy adults showed improved cognitive function and memory. We are beginning to use Neurofeedback to help slow down the cognitive decline, personality changes, and behavioral changes associated with Alzheimer’s.

Because the brain regulates so many things, training the brain can have an impact on a large variety of seemingly unrelated disorders. Neurofeedback has been shown to be effective for depression, anxiety, ADHD, sleep disorders, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), panic attacks, seizures, learning disabilities, Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), cognitive function, memory, Fibromyalgia, chronic pain, migraines, anger, Bi-Polar disorder, Autism, stress, organization and planning. Neurofeedback is approved by the FDA for stress management. And studies show that adding Neurofeedback to psychotherapy and AA meetings decreases relapse rates in alcoholism from 80% to 25%. Wow!

Neurofeedback appears to correct underlying problems in brain regulation rather than just treating the symptoms. Frank Duffy, MD at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School stated “If any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy [as biofeedback], it would be universally accepted and widely used.” The January 2005 edition of the ‘Child and Adolescent Clinics of North America” professional journal stated that Neurofeedback meets their criteria for efficacy for ADHD, depression, anxiety (including OCD, PTSD, phobias, generalized anxiety), learning disabilities, and seizures.

Neurofeedback is being used around the world to help people improve their brain function. Often it is used to improve Peak Performance as opposed to treating any disorder. It is helping astronauts, professional ball teams, athletes, performers, executives, children, students, and people from all professions and all ages.

Neurofeedback treatment consists of an initial evaluation plus twenty to forty 45 minute sessions. These sessions are usually scheduled at least twice a week at first and then may be reduced to once a week when symptoms have improved. Treatment must continue until the positive changes ‘stick’, and then can be discontinued. Follow up studies have shown that if the treatment continues until symptom improvements are lasting for at least a month, then the results will persist. Some studies have shown that symptoms continue to improve even after treatment has ended. Certain medications can often be reduced or eliminated after doing Neurofeedback as the brain learns to regulate itself.

Neurofeedback is not currently covered by most health insurance companies but sometimes psychotherapists incorporate it into their regular therapy sessions which are usually covered. Sessions can cost anywhere from to 5 each with discounts for prepaid packages. Often, people have tried everything else before they find out about Neurofeedback.

Neurofeedback can change a person’s life in invaluable and global ways. It is the wave of the future available now. We regularly get our cars tuned up. Certainly every brain could benefit from a tune up as well.

About the Author

Debra Burdick, LCSW, BCIA-EEG, The Brain Lady, owns Advanced Options, LLC, a private psychotherapy and Neurofeedback practice in Groton, CT. Advanced Options, LLC is the home of the BRAIN FITNESS TRAINING PROGRAM™ which combines outpatient psychotherapy services, Cognitive/Behavioral Therapy and Neurofeedback to help clients of all ages to improve their lives by helping them feel better, think better, and perform at their peak. For more information, please visit http://www.TheBrainLady.com.

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How Tuning Can Transform Your Boring Diesel Car

February 22, 2011 By john 485 Comments

Article by Daniel Wiggs

When you buy a diesel car, you’re probably thinking of its good points. You know you’re getting a reliable car that is built to last and economical to drive. On the other hand, diesel vehicles have their share of drawbacks. Your car is probably a bit noisy. You have to put up with slow throttle response and boring performance. But wait — here’s some good news for you. Diesel tuning can transform your reliable but stodgy car into something a lot more exciting and pleasurable to drive.

The easiest way to perform diesel tuning on modern fuel injection vehicles is to modify the software in the engine control unit, or ECU. The ECU manages every aspect of engine operation, processing signals from various sensors and telling the fuel injection system what to do. The ECU’s software programmes, or maps, control fuel delivery and timing so that the engine runs efficiently at any RPM and emissions stay within acceptable levels. The early generation of engine control units stored their maps on a removable computer chip. Newer ECUs have built-in maps that can be accessed via the On Board Diagnostic port.

Diesel tuning involves rewriting the ECU maps to release a diesel engine’s true potential. Dozens of settings that affect the performance of your car are modified in the remapping process. The goal of ECU remapping is to achieve the optimum power curve for vehicle performance and fuel economy. At the same time, safety parameters originally programmed into the ECU must be respected to avoid any damage to the engine or drive train.

Diesel engines by their very nature have a lot of room for performance enhancement. With a high compression ratio of more than 20:1, cylinders in diesel engines contain more air than needed for normal fuel combustion. If you remap the settings in the ECU to increase fuel injection pressure and make better use of the available air, you can easily boost engine power and torque.

Correctly done, diesel tuning by remapping the ECU will make the engine run more efficiently, producing more power and torque. Take, for example, a late-model Audi with a 2.0 litre TDi engine and original power output of 140 BHP. Remapping the ECU can potentially boost power to 170 BHP and increase torque by 75 Nm. Of course, power gains will vary, depending on the model and the engine specs. However, a 35% increase in overall performance is feasible for many vehicles.

After tuning your diesel car, you will enjoy a smoother, quieter ride with more immediate throttle response and peppier acceleration. The engine will offer more consistent power delivery with fewer gear changes and less throttle needed for any type of driving. The engine lag and annoying flat spots that are so characteristic of diesel cars will disappear.

The extra power and torque has practical uses, too. Stop-and-go driving in the city will require fewer gear changes and less braking and accelerating, which translates into fuel savings. High mileage drivers will also see better fuel economy from more efficient fuel combustion at higher travel speeds. If you want to tow a holiday caravan or some other heavy load, your newly tuned car will have the extra torque it needs to keep up with traffic and pull more safely.

Whoever you choose to tune your diesel car should possess the latest ECU tuning equipment and the right skills. Don’t even think about trusting your car to one of the cheap service providers. Technology in new vehicles changes so rapidly that companies must continually update their equipment and software to keep pace, and you can bet that costs money. Get your car tuned by a true professional and you will have no regrets afterwards.

If you’re frustrated by the personality flaws in your diesel car, diesel tuning can quickly boost its power and performance, making the car more fun to drive and saving you money on fuel. With so many advantages, it’s no wonder that an ECU remap is a popular vehicle modification for diesel owners.

About the Author

Are you looking for a safe and cost effective way to give your car, truck or SUV more power and increase fuel economy? Visit http://www.RemapMan.com for everything about ECU Remapping

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Tuned Cars Are Setting A New Bar

February 22, 2011 By john 263 Comments

Article by Robart Alex

There are always those few core skills in life you should learn to make everything easier: mowing the grass, riding a bike, cooking and cleaning, and tuning cars. Knowing these things will save you a lot of money in the long run that you might spend on outsourcing( riding a bike not included ).

Of course you may never be able to learn it to the same degree as a professional who has spent years in college learning the trade, but at the end of the day you can produce a finely tuned car that will run better than factory bought and get you from point “A” to point “B”. This tuning is just one of the many things you can learn that cuts out needed work for the mechanic. The mechanic loves a car owner who can’t change their oil, pump their tires, and tune their cars. That’s because you’ll need to spend more money for what you can’t do and in the run; they make more money.

You can’t do it all

It already goes without saying that a car is an incredibly complex machine, before introducing technical thing like performance tuning and induction kits. They’ll be plenty of upgrading and repairing, removing and replacing. However, this will result in more experience and an even easier and cheaper time on the next car tuning session.

Especially once getting down into more complicated and advanced modifications such as the those found in the newer, more advanced cars. In those cases you may have no choice, but to seek work from a mechanic, but it’s one of the instances where it’s in the car’s best interest. Aside from this though, the majority of the car can be tuned rather simply and with detailed manuals and car tuning tips everywhere you turn; it’s sure to be a job that gets done fast and efficient.

Clean the filters

A smaller object that may go overlooked to the novice car tuner, but is something that needs to prioritize to the top of the list is the car’s fuel filter. A fuel filter that is decently maintained over time, replaced, and upgraded when need be will result in better fuel mileage and better longevity of the engine. It’s a basic standard to replace this annually.

A similarly critical item is the car’s oil filter. The oil in a car lubricates the engine, thus it is vital that the oil flows freely and without dirt or other misc. particles. To keep this oil intake steady it’s recommended that you the oil filter be replaced and the oil be changed once every 5,000 miles.

You’re not done yet

Other small things in a Car tuning you can handle cheaply for yourself would be the service of the batter as well as checking its level of distilled water. In some cases it may be more beneficial to simply replace the batter, that’s something that should be decided during the car tuning. Replacing various belts and cleaning off mechanical parts will keep the rest of it running in top shape. Beyond this you should seek advice from a trained mechanic or professional.

About the Author

Find out about tuned cars and the steps they took to get there. It’s never too late to begin this year’s Car tuning project.

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