State Of Being

Biofeedback is a therapeutic technique that uses monitoring devices to help you gain conscious control over normally involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate, breathing, muscle tension, and brainwaves. The ultimate goal is to train your nervous system to reach a relaxed, balanced "state of being". 

 

The Goal: Achieving Psychophysiological Coherence

The desired state of being in biofeedback is often referred to as coherence or homeostasis. In this state, your body’s physiological systems (like heart rhythm, breathing patterns, and brain waves) are synchronized and functioning optimally. This state shifts you out of "fight or flight" (sympathetic dominance) and into "rest and digest" (parasympathetic dominance). 

 

Key Bodily States Monitored and Trained 

To reach this state of coherence, specialized sensors track specific markers of stress or relaxation: 

• Heart Rate & HRV (Heart Rate Variability): Tracks the variation in time between each heartbeat. High HRV indicates a resilient, relaxed state, while a rigid, erratic pattern indicates stress. 

• Muscle Tension (EMG): Measures electrical activity in your muscles to help you identify and release unconscious physical tension. 

• Skin Temperature (Thermal): Measures blood flow to your skin. Warmer hands typically indicate deeper relaxation, as blood vessels dilate. 

• Brain Waves (EEG/Neurofeedback): Monitors the electrical activity in your brain to help shift you from alert, stressed patterns (beta waves) to calm, focused patterns (alpha or theta waves). 

• Sweat Gland Activity (Galvanic Skin Response): Measures microscopic amounts of sweat on your palms, which spike when you are nervous or stressed. 

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