neurofeedback brain training can help you

Find Stroke Relief Without Medication

There are two main causes of stroke: a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke) in the brain. Any interruption in blood flow to brain tissue can cause brain tissue to die in just a matter of minutes. Research has recently discovered that this dead or dying brain tissue is toxic and can leak into the remaining healthy portions of the brain causing further damage.1

Impairments after stroke vary widely depending on the location of the obstruction and the extent of brain tissue affected. For example, If the stroke occurs toward the back of the brain, it’s likely that some disability involving vision will result. The most common disabilities after stroke are impaired speech, restricted physical capabilities, weakness or paralysis of limbs, difficulty gripping or holding things, and a slowed ability to process and communicate.

older woman smiling
patient testimonials
We love Grey Matters!! It has been life-changing for our daughter, who has learning difficulties and anxiety. She has completed 40 treatments and over a year of monthly maintenance.  Her anxiety, sleep, concentration, and confidence have changed so much; it’s like she’s a completely different child!! worth every penny!
- Chris E.
Grey Matters is a place everyone needs to go. This type of neurofeedback is proven and will help you reach your best potential. This is great for all ages. So glad I found them.
- Samantha M.
My difficult childhood resulted in complex PTSD and multiple personality disorder (MPD/DID). Despite some integration through support from my wife, counselor, and journaling, I struggled with negative thoughts and dread. A brain scan at Grey Matters revealed extensive trauma and challenges, including social cues, impulsiveness, hyperfocus, and mood control. The welcoming staff introduced me to neurofeedback (NFB) to retrain my brain. Committing to three NFB sessions a week for four months, I saw significant improvements in my mood and stress levels. Continuing for another two months brought further positive changes. The sessions were relaxing, and the supportive staff made the experience enjoyable. I highly recommend Grey Matters of Carmel for their wonderful, flexible, and understanding team. The profound changes in my thoughts and feelings made the investment well worth it.
- Larry
Grey Matters may have saved my son’s life! Neurofeedback helped him recover from severe anxiety and suicidal thoughts. He’s doing so much better now, and he credits it all to Grey Matters.
- Jesse M.
grandma kissing grandchild forehead

There is no doubt about it, a stroke can be devastating, but the human brain is amazingly resilient and has a remarkable ability to repair itself at any age. Because the brain can change, an ability called neuroplasticity, it can grow new neurons and even rewire itself throughout our entire lives. When brain tissue is damaged, the brain can sometimes build new pathways through healthy brain tissue to restore abilities. This is where neurofeedback can help.

While response to neurofeedback training is going to vary greatly depending on an individual’s specific brain damage, neurofeedback training can help the brain build new pathways to possibly accomplish functioning lost in the stroke — and the alterations are maintained after the training sessions.

Science and client histories show that neurofeedback can lead to dramatic improvements. Of course, not in all cases, but we never know what is possible until we try.

family photo with grandparents

In one study, neurofeedback training increased brain neuroplasticity in stroke patients which was associated with improved emotional state, cognitive ability, and motor functions.2 It should be noted that even a slight improvement here is a big deal, since the patients in the study had experienced no further improvements at all using traditional therapies. Another study, confirmed that neurofeedback training helped post stroke gait and balance.3 A review of the research concluded:

“Neurofeedback may prove particularly useful in early stages after stroke, when physically strenuous interventions are not possible or recommended. In particular, neurofeedback can show the participants that they can take control over seemingly volitionless aspects of their impairment. This feeling of increased control will most likely benefit the individual through the recovery process. Additionally, neurofeedback training in the chronic stage of stroke, where spontaneous recovery has stopped, may trigger functional reorganization in structurally intact parts of the brain, possibly leading to a behavioral recovery that would otherwise not occur.”4

No matter what your symptoms are, a calmer you is possible!

Strokes can manifest in various ways, and symptoms can differ from person to person. Here are common symptoms of stroke.

  • Drooping or Numbness on One Side of the Face
  • Slurred or Garbled Speech
  • Sudden Confusion or Trouble Understanding
  • Sudden Severe Headache with no Known Cause
  • Sudden Trouble Swallowing
  • Sensitivity to Light
  • Sudden Nausea or Vomiting
  • Sudden Trouble Seeing in One or Both Eyes

  • Difficulty Raising One or Both Arms

  • Excessive Worry
You have questions, we have answers!

We’ve gathered a list of commonly asked questions for your convenience. If you don’t see the information you need, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Simply click on the question that interests you to navigate directly to the relevant section.

Let’s start by clarifying what neurofeedback is NOT. Neurofeedback is NOT electrical stimulation or any kind of shock to the brain. In fact, it’s completely noninvasive and pain-free. Nothing ever goes to or in your brain.

Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback that uses the electrical activity of the brain to reinforce optimal brain wave patterns through operant conditioning, thus improving one’s life.

Neurofeedback is a superior solution because it doesn’t just ease the symptoms. It addresses and changes what is causing the symptoms or problems at the source in your brain. Your brain learns how to function differently in a way that relieves problematic symptoms or behaviors.

Neurofeedback training has many scientifically documented benefits both for the brain and body, including stress reduction, improved sleep, better focus and memory, heightened mental clarity, more emotional and behavioral regulation, enhanced cognitive performance, and more. Give it a try today, we bet your brain is capable of the changes you desire!

Yes.

Some clients are able to decrease their medication over time with their prescriber. Grey Matters does not do any medication adjustment.

In a neurofeedback session, qEEG sensors are placed on your scalp, recording your brainwaves and sending the information to a computer in real time. The computer, by way of auditory or sound feedback, teaches your brain to perform at optimal levels by a method called operant conditioning which harnesses your brain’s reward system.

All learning is at a subconscious level. You don’t actually have to “do” anything. With consistent repetition through auditory feedback, the brain learns to self-regulate and makes physiological changes to perform more optimally and will continue to make the adjustments after the initial training. Because it’s a learning process, the results of neurofeedback occur gradually over time.

During a 35 to 45-minute session, you sit comfortably in a chair. You have the option of having a footstool, blanket, and eye mask for relaxation. You are given headphones to listen to the training sounds and can either watch scenic images, read, journal, or just kick back and relax. For the younger ones, they can color, draw, read, do homework, or play with Legos.

Consistency is key. The brain requires a minimum of 2 sessions per week to learn and retain new patterns. An average of 35 sessions is needed for the brain to make permanent neuroplastic change. Remember, your brain is learning, and learning takes time and repetition. If you have multiple diagnoses or are on psychological medications, more sessions may be required for your desired results.

There are no long-term negative effects.

Just like taking your temperature with a thermometer does not deliver anything to your body, a qEEG brain map or a qEEG-guided training session does not deliver anything to your brain – it only reads your brain’s electrical activity. The auditory feedback you hear encourages your brain to “exercise.” So, similar to the variety of feelings after a good workout at the gym, some people experience symptoms such as being more tired or more wired, and few will develop a slight headache after a session. These symptoms go away within hours and are not long-lasting.

Our Brain Coaches are here to assess your training progress, discuss any symptoms you may experience, and provide educated feedback to you during your journey.

Grey Matters will assign you a Success Coach who is here to help you successfully navigate your journey. Together, we assess and work on your sleep hygiene, diet, screen time, exercise, and stress management, among many other factors, to help you improve not only your brain but also your overall well-being.

We also offer a variety of Wellness Testing to enhance your training outcome.

Just like riding a bike, once you learn how to do it, your body doesn’t forget. However, if you haven’t ridden your bike in ten years, you aren’t going to be as comfortable or skilled when you get back on it.

Maintenance recommendations are based on individual assessment and will be discussed towards the end of your initial training. Typically, a 1-2 times a month schedule will be recommended. After all, you wouldn’t hire a personal trainer to get in the best shape of your life and then stop going to the gym altogether, would you? Don’t lose your brain gains by stopping altogether either.

Grey Matters Brain Training Studio offers Unlimited Membership options for brain training and several intake options to fit your needs. Please view our pricing page to learn more and find an option that works for you.

We do not accept insurance; however, we offer a variety of payment options.

We accept:

  • Cash, checks, all major credit cards, and Apple Pay
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and HRA Health Reimbursement arrangement.
  • Financing options are available through First Financial Bank with little to no interest
  • Advanced Care Credit
  • Vagaro Pay Later
  • Monthly Payment Plans

Think about the cost of therapy, medications, dissatisfaction with life, lost work hours, and the hope to feel better. It’s worth it. Come on in, we got you.

We use Brainmaster amplifiers and BrainAvatar software, which are FDA-approved.

Sources: 1. The University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson, “UA Study: Brain Liquification After Stroke is Toxic to Surviving Brain”, accessed May 23, 2023. https://immunobiology.arizona.edu/news/ua-study-brain-liquefaction-after-stroke-toxic-surviving-brain
2. Nan, W., Barbosa Dias, A. P., & Rosa, A. C. (2018). Neurofeedback Training for Cognitive and Motor Function Rehabilitation in Chronic Stroke: Two Case Reports. Frontiers in Neurology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2019.00800
3. Effect of Neurofeedback Facilitation on Poststroke Gait and Balance Recovery
A Randomized Controlled Trial, Masahito Mihara, Hiroaki Fujimoto, Noriaki Hattori, Hironori Otomune, Yuta Kajiyama, Kuni Konaka, Yoshiyuki Watanabe, Yuichi Hiramatsu, Yoshihide Sunada, Ichiro Miyai, Hideki Mochizuki, Neurology May 2021, 96 (21) e2587-e2598; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011989 https://n.neurology.org/content/96/21/e2587
4. Wang, T., Mantini, D., & Gillebert, C. R. (2018). The potential of real-time fMRI neurofeedback for stroke rehabilitation: A systematic review. Cortex, 107, 148-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2017.09.006