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Standard Neurofeedback Training

Standard neurofeedback is the foundation of your training - single-channel or segmented protocols that build core brain regulation.

🎮 What is Standard Training?

The Basics

Standard neurofeedback: - Eyes open, watching a video game - Training one site at a time (or segments) - Rewards specific brainwave frequencies - Inhibits other frequencies - Visual feedback (game speeds up/slows down)

This is where everyone starts and what you'll do most often.

🧠 Common Training Sites

Sensorimotor Strip (Most Common)

C4-A1 (Right sensorimotor) - Most common starting protocol - Calm focus, emotional regulation - Sleep improvements - Foundation building

Cz-A1 (Center vertex) - Core regulation - Centering, grounding - After C4 is established

C3-A1 (Left sensorimotor) - Activation, energy - Verbal processing - Usually after right-side work

Midline Sites

Fz-Pz (Front-back) - Anxiety reduction - "Downshift" from overarousal - Relaxation training

Pz-A1 (Back center) - Processing, integration - Relaxation - Often combined with C4

Other Sites

F3, F4 (Frontal) - Attention, focus - Executive function - Later in training progression

P3, P4 (Parietal) - Processing - Integration - Advanced training

T3, T4, T5, T6 (Temporal) - Emotional processing - Regulation - Specific indications

Your coach selects sites based on your QEEG and goals.

📊 Frequency Bands

What We Train

Typical rewards (65% threshold):

Band Frequency State
Alpha 6.5-9.5 or 8-11 Hz Relaxation, flow
SMR 11-14 or 12-15 Hz Calm focus, regulation
Beta 15-18 Hz Active attention, engagement

Typical inhibits:

Band Frequency What It Does
Theta (low inhib) 4-7 Hz Reduces spaciness, improves attention
Mid-range (mid inhib) 12-20 Hz Quiets busy mind, reduces rumination
High Beta (high inhib) 20-32 or 22-36 Hz Reduces anxiety, overarousal

Your specific protocol will have unique frequency ranges based on your QEEG.

🎯 Single-Channel vs. Segmented

Single-Channel

Structure: - One site for entire 30-minute session - Example: C4-A1 for 30 minutes - Simplest approach

Used for: - Beginning training - Foundation building - Specific targeted work

Segmented Training

Structure: - 3 segments of 10 minutes each - Example: - Segment 1: Fz-Pz (10 min) - Segment 2: Cz-A1 (10 min)
- Segment 3: C4-A1 (10 min)

Used for: - After you're comfortable with single sites - Addressing multiple goals in one session - More sophisticated training

Advantage: More efficient - work on 3 areas in one session!

🎮 The Games

What They Look Like

Common games: - Ardea games (included in standard kit): - Lotus Pond (flower blooms) - Postcards (traveling scenes) - Potions (alchemy lab) - Zukor games (optional upgrade): - Air (flying scenes) - Drive (racing) - Others

All games work the same way: - Speed up / brighten when brain produces target patterns - Slow down / dim when patterns drift off-target - Auto-adjust difficulty every 30 seconds

Game Performance

Important to understand: - ❌ You will NEVER "get better" at the games - ✅ Performance stays relatively constant session to session - ✅ Difficulty adjusts to keep you at ~65% success rate - ✅ This is by design!

If the game seems consistent (not dramatically easier/harder between sessions), the training is working!

⏱️ Session Duration

Typical Training

Setup: 10-15 minutes - Place electrodes - Connect amplifier - Load protocol - Check signal

Training: 30 minutes - Single 30-min block - OR three 10-min segments - Adjust if coach recommends

Cleanup: 5 minutes

Total: 45-60 minutes

💡 What to Expect

During Training

Most common experience: - Pretty boring! - Not feeling much - Mind wandering - Sitting quietly for 30 minutes

Less common: - Feeling slight shifts in mental state - Relaxation or focus - Mild drowsiness

Rare: - Headache (tell coach - usually too much inhibit) - Agitation (tell coach - protocol may not be right)

Normal to feel "nothing" during the session!

After Training

The real effects happen in the 24 hours after:

That night: - Sleep changes (falling asleep faster, fewer wake-ups) - Dream changes (vivid, detailed, story-driven)

Next day: - Energy shifts (more or less, depending on protocol) - Mood changes (calmer, more even, or more activated) - Focus changes (easier to concentrate or more scattered) - Stress response (things bothering you less)

Report these to your coach!

📋 Standard Training Progression

Phase 1: Foundation (Sessions 1-10)

Typical protocols: - C4-A1 (most common start) - Maybe Cz-A1 - Repeat successful protocols

Goals: - Build stable foundation - Establish baseline response - Learn the process

Phase 2: Expansion (Sessions 10-20)

Typical protocols: - Continue core sites (C4, Cz) - Add segments (Fz-Pz, C4-A1, Pz-A1) - Maybe introduce C3-A1

Goals: - Address multiple areas - Build on foundation - Refine based on response

Phase 3: Sophistication (Sessions 20+)

Typical protocols: - Complex segments - May introduce DUAL training - Alpha-Theta if appropriate - Specific targeted work

Goals: - Fine-tune results - Address remaining goals - Maintenance and optimization

Each phase builds on the previous one.

🤔 Common Questions

Why do I start with C4?

C4-A1 is the most regulatory site for most people: - Builds foundation - Stabilizes sleep - Improves regulation - Well-researched and effective

Not everyone starts here - depends on your QEEG!

How long do I do the same protocol?

Typical: 2-6 sessions of the same protocol

Depends on: - Your response (good = continue, bad = change) - Your goals - Coach recommendation

If it's helping, we often repeat it!

Can I request specific sites?

You can ask! But: - Your coach selects based on QEEG + response - What you think you need may differ from what your brain needs - Trust the process - we're data-driven

If curious why a certain site, ask your coach!

What if standard training isn't working?

After 15-20 sessions with little effect: - May need different sites - May need DUAL or other modality - May need follow-up QEEG - May need lifestyle adjustments

Discuss with coach - we'll troubleshoot together.

Standard neurofeedback is the foundation. Master this first, and everything else builds on it. Simple, effective, research-backed. This is where the magic happens! 🎮🧠