Barriers to entry are factors which make it harder for a new user to get started.  Barriers include prohibitive cost, extensive training before use and complicated instructions. Before getting started, protocol-based systems require an evaluation, diagnosis by a clinician, and a treatment plan. Furthermore, sessions require administration and supervision by a trained clinician to operate the system and monitor for side effects. Additionally, take-home rentals typically aren’t available since clinical supervision is required.

NeurOptimal® neurofeedback training was designed to eliminate these barriers. This is where NeurOptimal® really shines. NeurOptimal® has the expertise built into the system so you don’t need a trained clinician administering or supervising sessions, which brings the cost down considerably. It boasts easy point-and-click technology to operate, so no extensive user training is required. Additionally, no assessment or diagnosis is needed to get started. And it can be used at home, so its convenience is unmatched. It virtually eliminates all the sticking points which can be intimidating to users.

Cost varies when using different systems. What drives cost are the initial investment for the equipment, ongoing training and education requirements, and whether a trained clinician needs to supervise sessions. Protocol-based neurofeedback adheres to the medical model, which views the body as a group of distinct parts working independently and approaches it accordingly. It tends to treat the ‘problem’ in isolation.  

Therefore, protocol-based neurofeedback relies on a trained clinician to diagnose the issue, determine the proper course of treatment, and monitor treatment outcomes. Thus, protocol-based systems typically require a brain map assessment, a diagnosis, a treatment plan based on the diagnosis, supervision by a trained clinician to monitor for potential side effects, and a prescribed number of office visits/treatments. This means the client will pay for the clinician’s time, experience and expertise. It also means the client’s neurofeedback experience will be largely shaped by the experience, skill and nuance of the clinician. Combined, these factors make protocol-based neurofeedback systems more expensive to use. 

 NeurOptimal® neurofeedback doesn’t adhere to the medical model and instead ascribes to a systems-based approach. This approach regards the body as a highly interconnected, interdependent and complex system - each part is influencing and being influenced by every other part all the time. Thus, one cannot affect one part in isolation from the others.  NeurOptimal® assumes that if given accurate, real-time information, each nervous system will make adjustments more effectively and efficiently than any outside intervention we might impose. Thus, by serving as a mirror to the brain, NeurOptimal® activates the brain’s own healing and self-regulation processes. 

NeurOptimal® neurofeedback is not a treatment for a medical condition, rather, it is brain training available to all. Nonlinear dynamical® neurofeedback was designed with the expertise in the software and adjusts automatically to each user’s nervous system. This means a diagnosis isn’t required to determine subsequent treatment. It also means it can be used at-home by minimally trained users. No supervision by a trained clinician is necessary because there is no protocol to modify nor side effects to monitor. NeurOptimal® neurofeedback is going to meet your brain wherever it is, and provide the same adaptive, comprehensive information, regardless of what issue you bring to it. NeurOptimal® is both an economical and convenient option, since you don’t have to find a provider located near you. 

Side effects are a major differentiator between protocol-based systems and NeurOptimal® neurofeedback. This is because protocol-based neurofeedback requires a trained clinician to assess and diagnose what your brain needs. Then, during a session, a limited number of frequencies are trained. Protocol-based neurofeedback encourages specific frequencies of activity while discouraging other frequencies, with the objective to increase or decrease activity in certain regions of your brain. Side effects often result from over-training a limited number of frequencies. Side effects can include things such as:  excessive tiredness, irritability, agitation, hypervigilance, dizziness, headaches, brain fog, and/or an inability to concentrate. This is where the skill and experience of your clinician is paramount - to monitor and spot when unwanted side effects are emerging and adjust the protocol accordingly.

Because NeurOptimal® trains multiple frequencies of brain activity simultaneously, there is no danger of overtraining a single frequency and generating unwanted side-effects. Furthermore,  it adapts itself to the user’s nervous system, rather than forcing the user’s nervous system to match an external target or metric, so there is no ‘brain strain.’ Some users may experience a temporary increase in symptoms they currently have or have had in the past, yet most users find that as they continue with training, these issues resolve.

Protocol-based neurofeedback systems require a trained clinician to administer sessions, so you can’t do it yourself (no direct access). One must go to a provider’s office. Furthermore, these systems engage the conscious part of your brain so the user is actively trying to match specific frequency targets. This requires focused effort and sometimes this effort can lead to the experience of ‘brain strain’ by the user.

NeurOptimal® neurofeedback training can be done at a provider’s office or you can rent a take-home system and do it yourself. NeurOptimal® adapts itself moment by moment to the user’s nervous system and no outside supervision or intervention is necessary. There are no complicated protocols to select from or adjust. The software consists of an easy to use point-and-click interface, and no prior training is required. It was designed for use by ordinary people without a background in brain science. Additionally, ongoing tech/customer support is available through your provider.  And lastly, because it works with the nonconscious part of your nervous system, NeurOptimal® offers passive training. The user is not *trying* to do anything to maximize training, so it is a relaxing experience.  

Both linear and nonlinear dynamical® neurofeedback systems use sensors affixed to the surface of your scalp with conductive paste; nothing is injected internally. Some protocol-based neurofeedback systems introduce a small amount of external electrical current into the brain, so clarify this point before using. NeurOptimal® doesn’t introduce any electricity into the brain, the sensors are simply monitoring brain activity. Additionally, NeurOptimal® is gentle enough for people of all ages and has been used alike by children and nonagenarians.