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Common Questions During Training

Wondering if your experience is normal? This page answers the most common questions that come up during neurofeedback sessions.

🎮 About the Games

"The game seems random - am I doing something wrong?"

This is completely normal and by design!

Why the game seems random: - Difficulty auto-adjusts every 30 seconds - Keeps your success rate around 65% - You'll NEVER "master" the games - Performance stays relatively constant session-to-session

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

You're not supposed to get better at the game - that's the whole point!

"Should I be trying to control the game?"

No! Absolutely not.

Neurofeedback is a passive process: - There's nothing you need to DO - Don't try to "figure it out" - Don't try to control your brainwaves - Just watch the game and let your brain learn

Your brain learns automatically through operant conditioning - thousands of micro-adjustments per session happen unconsciously.

Trying harder doesn't help!

"I'm not getting better at the games"

Good! You're not supposed to.

The games auto-adjust to: - Keep challenge level constant - Maintain ~65% success rate - Prevent you from "mastering" them

Think of it like running on a treadmill that speeds up when you speed up - the difficulty moves with you.

If you're NOT improving at the games, that means they're working correctly!

💭 About Your Mental State

"I don't feel anything during the session"

This is the most common experience - and it's completely fine!

Most people feel: - Not much - Maybe slight boredom - Mind wandering - Comfortable and calm

Neurofeedback effects happen in the 24 hours AFTER training, not during the session.

Focus on: - Sleep that night - Energy the next day - Changes over several sessions

Don't expect to "feel" anything during training!

"Can I think or let my mind wander?"

Yes, absolutely!

It's totally fine to: - Think about whatever comes to mind - Let your mind wander - Notice thoughts without controlling them - Be bored - Be engaged - Daydream - Plan your day

The only thing to avoid: Falling asleep (except during Alpha-Theta with eyes closed)

Your brain is learning whether you're thinking about groceries or quantum physics!

"Should I try to meditate during training?"

Not necessary.

You can: - Let mind be at ease (similar to meditation) - Notice thoughts without attachment - Be present

But don't: - Force meditative state - Try too hard to empty your mind - Create tension by "doing it right"

Just be relaxed and let your mind do what it does.

Neurofeedback and meditation complement each other, but they're not the same thing.

🧘 About Physical Sensations

"Can I fidget during training?"

Yes, fidgeting is fine!

OK to: - Shift position slightly - Scratch an itch - Adjust your sitting position - Play with fidget toy or slime - Move your feet, hands

Just don't: - Pull electrodes off scalp - Yank on wires - Make big head movements

During QEEG recordings (brain mapping): Need to stay much stiller - but during training, fidgeting is totally OK!

"I feel sleepy during training"

Common, especially: - If training in evening - If already tired - During eyes-closed training (Alpha-Theta)

For eyes-open training: - Try to stay awake - Think about something lightly - Take a brief break if very drowsy

Falling asleep briefly: Not the end of the world, but you get less training benefit.

Consistently falling asleep? Try: - Training earlier in the day - Getting better sleep at night - More engaging games

"I feel tense or uncomfortable"

Physical discomfort sources:

Electrodes: - Are they pulling on hair? - Too much tension on wires? - Paste feeling weird?

Fix: Adjust electrodes, relieve wire tension

Position: - Chair uncomfortable? - Neck/shoulders tense? - Need back support?

Fix: Adjust seating, take brief break to stretch

Tell your coach if consistently uncomfortable - we can help!

📊 About the Feedback

"The game keeps freezing/pausing"

Two possibilities:

1. This is normal (game design): - Some games pause when criteria not met - Resumes when brainwaves return to range - This is feedback - not a glitch!

2. Actually frozen (software issue): - No movement for 30+ seconds - Seems stuck - Press Ctrl+Alt+Del and restart EEGer

If frequently freezing: Contact coach - may be software issue.

"I'm getting low scores"

Scores don't matter!

The games are designed so: - You get rewards ~65% of the time - Difficulty adjusts to maintain this - Absolute score is meaningless

High score one day, low score the next? Both are fine!

The training is in the brain adjusting to get rewards, not in the score you see.

⚠️ About Side Effects

"I feel different during training"

Uncommon but can happen:

Positive sensations: - Relaxation, calmness - Clarity, focus - Energized, alert

Neutral sensations: - Mild headache (usually means too much inhibit - tell coach!) - Slight dizziness - Feeling "different" in hard-to-describe ways

Negative sensations: - Worsening headache - Agitation, anxiety - Very uncomfortable

If negative: Stop training and contact coach immediately!

"I'm noticing negative effects after training"

Contact your coach right away if:

❌ Sleep getting worse (especially lasting multiple sessions)
❌ Increased anxiety or panic
❌ More irritable or aggressive
❌ Worse depression or low mood
❌ Persistent headaches
❌ Extreme fatigue or spaciness
❌ Any concerning symptoms

These usually mean: Protocol needs adjustment

Don't wait or "push through" - tell your coach immediately!

🤷 Setup Questions

"I can't find the right electrode placement"

Solutions: 1. Review Electrode Placement Guide 2. Use your measurement ropes 3. Take a photo and post in Slack: "@channel Does this look right for C4?" 4. Coach will verify

Don't guess! Wrong placement can have unintended effects.

"Which protocol should I do?"

Check your portal for latest recommendation.

If unclear: 1. Post in Slack: "@channel Which protocol should I do next?" 2. If no immediate response: Repeat your last successful protocol 3. Don't improvise or skip training

"I don't have the right electrodes for this protocol"

Don't improvise!

Contact coach: - Post in Slack immediately - We'll either modify the protocol or send missing equipment - Don't substitute electrode positions

🎯 About Expectations

"When will I notice changes?"

Realistic timeline: - Subtle shifts: Weeks 3-6 - Clearer changes: Weeks 6-10 - Obvious improvements: Weeks 10-20+

First changes often: - Sleep quality - Dream vividness - Energy levels - Stress response

See: Timeline & Expectations

"I'm at session 8 and feel nothing"

Still normal!

Many people: - Don't notice conscious changes until weeks 8-12 - Sleep improving without realizing it - Others notice changes before they do

Ask: - Family/coworkers if they notice differences - Review your survey data for patterns

If truly nothing by session 20: Definitely discuss with coach.

📱 Technical Questions

"Can I use my phone during training?"

Not ideal, but won't ruin the session.

Better to: - Just watch the game - Let your mind wander naturally - Be present with the feedback

Phone distraction: Reduces engagement, but brain still gets some training benefit.

Avoid if possible, but don't stress if you need to check something quickly.

"Can I read or work during training?"

Eyes-open training: Better to just watch the game

Why: The visual feedback is part of the training - your brain needs to process it.

Alternative: Listen to music or podcast WITH the game visual in peripheral awareness - some people like this!

🧊 Environmental Questions

"I'm cold during training"

Get a blanket!

Being cold: - Creates muscle artifact (shivering) - Makes signal quality worse - Uncomfortable

Stay warm for better training.

"Background noise is distracting"

Minimize distractions when possible: - Close door - Let household know you're training - Use headphones if noise is unavoidable

Some noise is OK - you don't need perfect silence (except Alpha-Theta).

🆘 When to Ask for Help

Don't Hesitate to Contact Coach

It's literally what we're here for!

Ask about: - "Is this normal?" - "Should I be feeling X?" - "The game is doing Y - is that right?" - "Can I do Z during training?" - "I'm experiencing X - should I be concerned?"

No question is too simple.

Better to ask than: - Worry unnecessarily - Continue if something is actually wrong - Miss out on benefit because of confusion

Most "problems" during training are actually normal! The game is random, you're not supposed to feel much, and you'll never master the games. Just show up, place electrodes, watch the game, and let your brain learn. It's that simple! 🎮✨