Biofeedback, also referred to as applied psychophysiological feedback, is the process of displaying involuntary or subthreshold physiological processes, usually by electronic instrumentation, and learning to voluntarily influence those processes by making changes in cognition. It provides a visible and experiential demonstration of the mind-body connection. Biofeedback is also a therapeutic tool to facilitate learning self-regulation of autonomic functions for improving health. Advances in hardware and software technologies allow simultaneous monitoring of multiple modalities and the flexible shaping of visual and sound feedback to reinforce desired physiological states. Extensive data can be collected for immediate display with automatic storage for research.
Finger electrodes register sweat gland activity.
Finger photoplethysmography registers rate and pulse volume. Multichannel equipment with more sophisticated software and new treatment protocols have replaced the simple single channel alpha training of earlier decades. Biofeedback Applications Used alone as relaxation therapy, biofeedback is as efficacious as other forms of relaxation training, such as hypnosis, progressive muscle relaxation or transcendental meditation. However, most applications of biofeedback are used as adjuncts to other types of therapy, treating physiological as well as psychological disorders. Biofeedback also seems to be a useful tool in the treatment of a broad range of problems commonly seen by psychiatrists.