How fit is your brain?

You exercise your body in the pursuit of optimal function. But what about your brain? We’re not talking Sudoku puzzles here (though they have their benefits), but rather neurofeedback—the process of hooking up to an electroencephalogram (EEG) in order to “train” your brain.

Sure, it sounds a bit Sci-Fi, but it may dial down your stress level and help you tap into your potential. “Neurofeedback is somewhat like putting the brain on an elliptical machine or a stair stepper in order to exercise certain regulatory functions. For example, the brain can get stuck in an anxious state and neurofeedback training enables it to shift into a calmer, more optimal state so it functions better. Essentially, you’re aiding the brain’s ability to self-regulate,” says neurofeedback specialist Evelyn Shapero of the Brainfitness Centre in Los Angeles.

The practice (also commonly called biofeedback) has been proven effective for treating serious conditions including depression, PTSD, and ADHD, but in today’s techie-driven world many are now seeking it out to alleviate stress. “If a patient has unreasonable fatigue and insomnia, or unexplained weight gain, I test the adrenals to see if there’s a disharmonic pattern to their cortisol production,” says Eva Cwynar, MD, a Beverly Hills endocrinologist, assistant professor of clinical medicine at UCLA, and author of The Fatigue Solution. “If stress hormones like cortisol are too high or low at the wrong times of the day, or too high throughout the day, it eventually can cause the adrenals to say, ‘I quit.’ Once that happens, the only thing I’ve found to help get the body back in balance is neurofeedback.”

That balance is achieved gradually, rather than as a quick fix, though most people note feeling a difference after their first session. The process, while complex and highly individualized, basically works like this: Non-invasive electrodes are attached to the surface of the scalp to measure brain waves and provide feedback as a specialized software program (often a video game) is watched. The software helps guide the brain into a more desired state through subtle and unconscious corrections, until the brain ultimately learns to perform at its best, naturally. Think of it like a high-tech fitness coach, guiding you through exercises and correcting your form until, eventually, you no longer need the assistance.

Try it, however, and you may find it hard to give up. Because neurofeedback enhances the function of both the brain and the central nervous system, it can help you tap into that elusive state of flow, one in which mind and body are seamlessly in sync (read: without any conscious effort), making it a natural for the sports arena where athletes must perform like finely tuned machines. Olympic athletes have used it as a training tool and tennis great Novak Djokovic—known for his open-minded approach to diet, health, and training—utilizes it to monitor his stress levels. “If the adrenals aren’t functioning well, your neurotransmitters can be affected and the imbalance can extrapolate to every other hormone in the body—influencing testosterone, thyroid, insulin levels, and more,” says Cwynar. “By recreating balance in the body, neurofeedback helps everything run more smoothly, which is why it helps athletes too. Your metabolism, your ATP, your mitochondria, everything just functions better.”

Want to get hooked? To learn more or find an EEG clinician near you, click here.