Peak performance training is different from typical forms of Neurofeedback. Unlike most Neurofeedback where a person seeks treatment for a clinical problem (such as anxiety and depression), peak performance training is more about optimizing and enhancing one’s brain functioning. This is not necessary to reduce problems, but instead it’s about reaching one’s full potential at work, in school, or in a certain sport or activity. This type of training can improve reaction times, spatial/motor skills, intelligence, attention, awareness and creativity. Professional or competitive athletes, busy executives, musicians and students are the most frequent individuals who want to optimize their performance level and seek this training.
When we are young, our brain is constantly developing. That is, it’s developing neurons and neural pathways throughout our childhood and adolescence. By adulthood, the number of neural pathways will begin decreasing. Many people assume this means that our brain functioning declines or loses its potential to learn. However, this is an inaccurate assumption. Although the number of neurons and neural pathways tends to decline with age in adulthood, our brain has the ability to grow new and strengthen already existing pathways. The phenomena of the brain’s ability to change is known as brain plasticity and it’s the basis of many new programs designed at maintaining and improving our mental capabilities.
Neurofeedback can allow you to gain a competitive edge. By identifying areas of the brain that contribute to a particular skill, your performance and functioning can be enhanced. This can include eliminating factors that affect performance (e.g., anxiety, muscle tension) and also improve various areas necessary to reach your peak performance (e.g., motivation, reaction time, focus, fine tune skills). Whether you are an athlete, artist, or business executive, we identify what your goals are and the brain-based performance factors that we can target to improve your performance levels.
Neurofeedback can be compared to training in a gym, in that it requires a commitment of regular attendance and practice to reach one’s goals. This is necessary for the neural pathways to be developed and strengthened and for the brain’s communication to be regulated. The treatment is also clinical in that it is heavily based on science and medical information. Neurofeedback is very different from other available “brain training”, such as programs like Luminosity. With Neurofeedback at the Toronto Neurofeedback and Psychotherapy Centre, you will undergo an initial assessment and the training will be performed targeting your specific goals and EEG patterns. This scientific and medical approach provides you with what your brain needs to strengthen and improve its regulation so that it reaches its optimal performance level. clients tend to report that they sense themselves having a competitive edge, can handle stress better, and feel more able to reach their full potential.
Olympic Athletes Get Mental Training Boost
CBC News, 2010
EEG-Neurofeedback for optimising performance. I: A review of cognitive and affective outcome in healthy participants
Gruzelier, John H. (2014). EEG-Neurofeedback for optimizing performance. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 124-141