A method that helps patients learn how to control their biological responses to pain or stress by increasing awareness of bodily processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. In pregnancy, biofeedback can help relieve headaches, insomnia, and possibly morning sickness.

a technique that gives a person some element of voluntary control over particular bodily functions. An electronic device that produces sight or sound signals is often used.

a strategy in which individuals learn to control their own brain waves or other normally involuntary functions. This is an experimental treatment for epilepsy.

A process which permits a person to see or hear indicators of physiological variables, such as blood pressure, skin temperature, or heart rate, which may allow the person to exert some control over those variables. Often used to teach relaxation techniques.

A technique where patients are given visual or audio cues to physiological responses such as heart rate. The patients can then learn to control such responses.

a training technique in which people are taught to improve their health and performance by using signals from their own bodies

The use of electrodes or probes attached to a biofeedback system which feeds back signals or sounds when it detects changes in the body. Can be used to help self-regulate body functions. Often used to treat stress-related problems such as headaches, migraines, IBS, etc.

a technique used to gain control over a function that is normally automatic (such as blood pressure or pulse rate); the function is monitored and relaxation techniques are used to change it to a desired level

The process of training a person (or animal) to regulate physiologic responses by providing feedback (typically sounds or light patterns) about those responses. Clinically, patients are typically taught to control finger temperature, perspiration, muscle tension, and other responses.

Treatment method based on psychological principles in which patients are trained to control some form of bodily activity by observing sight or sound signals. Biofeedback has been used to treat prostatodynia.

Based on the premise that people can use their minds to influence the function of their bodies, Biofeedback is a technique used to help people learn to relax and gain control over normally non-voluntary body functions. It allows a person to monitor signals from his or her own body (such as brain-waves, blood pressure or muscle tension) through a set of instruments.

a form of operant conditioning that enables an individual either to learn to control a normally involuntary physiological process or to gain better control of a normally voluntary one when provided with visual or auditory information indicating the state of that process. 264

a term for techniques, such as aura cameras, which provide a person with information. In the case of the aura camera, electrical impulses are converted into colour representations of the aura around the person. Chakra - derived from the Sanskrit word for wheel, as they appear as wheels of rotating energy. Chakras are intersections of vital energy flows present in the ethereal body and in related locations of the physical body. The Chakras are located along the line of the spinal column and linked into various nerve plexuses, and endocrine glands.

A process providing a person with visual or auditory information about the autonomic physiologic of his/her body, such as blood pressure, ususlly through use of an instrument.

A technique through which a person learns to control various internal processes, such as brain waves or blood pressure, by seeing them displayed on a monitor. Chakras In Hinduism and its spiritual systems of yoga and in some related eastern cultures, as well as in some segments of the New Age movement, a chakra is thought to be an energy node in the human body.

A training process of providing visual or auditory evidence of the status of the musculo-skeletal system, cardiovascular system, skin-surface temperature and autonomic nervous system. Biofeedback practitioners work with patients for a number of problems including sessions to learn to reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure, treat headaches, and reduce muscle spasm and pain. The instruments used in biofeedback training are very sensitive galvanometers that record minute changes in body function with great sensitivity.

therapeutic training in which participants learn to control their involuntary nervous system through response to electric stimuli

Procedures that provide an individual immediate information on minute changes in muscle activity, skin temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and other somatic functions. It is assumed that voluntary control over these bodily processes can be achieved through this knowledge, thereby ameliorating to some extent certain psychophysiological disorders.

A discipline that enables an individual to alter his or her own brain waves. Once this is accomplished, individuals can reportedly monitor certain bodily functions usually considered involuntary, such as heart rate and blood pressure.

The use of instrumentation to provide information (i.e. feedback) about variations in one or more of the subject's own physiological processes not ordinarily perceived (e.g., brain wave activity, muscle tension, blood pressure).

a technique that trains the patient to control a previously unused or involuntary function of the body (i.e. heart rate). It is very effective with migraine and tension headaches. Control is achieved through training with a monitor that measures bodily functions. The monitor then feeds back information about the bodily function and through different methods (i.e. diaphragmatic breathing), the patient can control particular function.

A method of controlling a living system by reinserting into it the results of previous performance.

ability to control body systems by self -monitoring.

( Related information) Biofeedback is learning to control muscle tension and "involuntary" body functioning, such as heart rate and skin temperature; it can be a path to mastering one's fears. It is used in combination with, or as an alternative to, medication to treat disorders such as anxiety, panic, and phobias.

the monitoring of a physiological change that provides a signal so that the patient can learn to achieve the change more effectively.

Method teaches clients, through the use of simple electronic devices, how to consciously regulate normally unconscious bodily functions such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. Has been used to reduce stress and relieve pain.

The use of instrumentation to provide information (feedback) about the body's automatic and unconscious functions, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and "feeds back" the information to the person in a concrete form such as sounds or a graph on a computer screen. Person learns to regulate functions as he/she sees how different thoughts and actions change the feedback.

A process that provides sight or sound information about body functions, such as blood pressure and muscle tension, and enables patients to control these functions.

Is a term used to describe methods that measure specific body responses, such as breathing and heartbeat, and feed them back to you in the forms of sounds or lights so tht you can become aware of your body's responses and learn to control them.

The use of artificial signals to provide feedback about unconscious, visceral motor activities.

The use of instrumentation to bring covert physiological processes to the conscious awareness of the individual, usually by visual or auditory signals.

a form of mind control over the body that allows a person to reduce sensations of pain.

Therapy which uses machines to measure and display body functions and states such as heart rate, skin temperature, muscle tention, and brain activity. The patient can monitor these functions, see how and why they change through stages of rest and activity. Eventually the patient will learn to control those functions.

A technique which enables a person to monitor on-going changes in one of their own physiological processes; as a result of such information, the individual may be able to acquire some degree of control in regulating internal processes normally outside the range of voluntary influence; of parapsychological interest mainly in connection with altered states of consciousness and with the possibility of controlling the incidence of the alpha brain-rhythm. ALLOBIOFEEDBACK Term used by William G. Braud (1978) to denote the situation in which one subject, A, is attempting to influence, psychokinetically, the physiological processes of another person, B, aided by biofeedback to A concerning those processes in B. [From the Greek allos, “other,” + bios, “life,” + feedback

Also called direct mental interaction with living systems; refers to feedback given to a person about their physical state, such as heart rate, blood pressure, etc; biofeedback is used to help people learn how to control their body's automatic processes; see also Bio-PK.

A form of treatment for headache that uses electronic feedback of hand temperature and/or muscle tension to rapidly teach patients how to deeply relax. Acquiring and regularly practicing these skills has been shown to often reduce the frequency and severity of both migraine and tension-type headaches.

A technique in which information is gathered about the normally unconscious functions of the body.

A special tampon shaped sensor is inserted into your vagina and will let you know how strongly you are able to squeeze your pelvic floor muscles, it is a useful way of teaching you which muscles to contract.

A stress management technique utilizing a machine to display vital physiological functions on a real-time monitor; teaches patients to control blood pressure and heart rate through breathing and relaxation patterns.

Instantaneous performance-contingent feedback regarding the function of a physiological system, to increase self regulation, awareness, and control Used in conjunction with Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and/or to learn to relax the pelvic floor muscles Helps in identifying pelvic floor muscles

specialised training of the bowel control muscles.

Modifying behavior by teaching someone to partially control unconscious functions of the body, such as blood pressure or heart rate

A method of learning to modify a particular body function such as temperature, blood pressure, or muscle tension by monitoring that function with the aid of an electronic device.

Biofeedback ; Biofeedbacks (Psychology) ; Psychophysiologic feedback Process by which a person uses biofeedback information to gain voluntary control over processes or functions which are primarily under autonomic control. It is used in experimental or treatment settings with human subjects. (From APA Thesaurus of Psychological Terms, 8th ed) Biofeedback

A technique used to control body functions, such as heart rate or blood pressure, by using mental control and relaxation.

the process of furnishing an individual with information, usually in an auditory or visual mode, on the state of one or more physiological variables such as heart rate, blood pressure, or skin temperature; it often enables the individual to gain some voluntary control over the physiological variable being sampled. Biofeedback is used especially for stress-related conditions such as asthma, migraine headaches, insomnia, and high blood pressure.

A technique in which a person learns to consciously control involuntary responses through electronically monitoring these functions.

A technique in which people learn to control body functions such as breathing rate, blood pressure and body temperature by responding to feedback from electrodes that monitor changing body conditions.

A training technique that uses brain actuated control (BAC) based on the concept of recognizing alpha and gamma band EEG patterns that are to be used as a control signal.

a training program designed to develop one's ability to control the involuntary nervous system. After learning the technique, you may be able to control heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature and to relax certain muscles.

Collection of physiological (heart beat, muscle activity, etc.) information to control, change, or regulate for better health.

Use of visual or auditory feedback on the state of a physiologic function (such as heart rate) or the position of a part of the body (such as the arm or leg) with the purpose of helping the individual gain better control over the function or position.

technique that teaches people how to control physiological processes once believed to be involuntary. An external device monitors pulse, heart rate, brain waves and so on, and feeds an auditory or visual signal back to the person so that he or she can be made aware of their own physiology, and eventually learn to control it. Brain wave biofeedback is called neurofeedback.

A technique providing feedback - in the form of a visual or audio signal - when pelvic-floor exercises are performed correctly. Used to improve pelvic muscle strength, enhance control over the bladder and bowels, and alleviate certain other pelvic symptoms.

Behavior training program that teaches a person how to control certain autonomic reactions such as heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature and muscular tension.

A process in which a person learns to influence reliably physiologic responses of two kinds: those that are not ordinarily under voluntary control or those that ordinarily are easily regulated but for which regulation has broken down because of trauma or disease.

A therapy that uses measuring devices or sensors to help you learn to identify and control the muscles around the bladder opening. Biofeedback is often used in combination with Kegels (see below) and/or electrical stimulation to relieve stress and urge incontinence.

Using a biofeedback machine, practitioners teach patients how to control and change such autonomic body functions as blood pressure, heart rate, circulation, digestion, and perspiration. Through monitoring "feedback" using auditory or visual cues, users extend their understanding of physiological functioning far past the normal five senses.

a method used to help a person learn stress-reduction skills by providing information about muscle tension, heart rate and other vital signs as the person attempts to relax. It is used to learn total body relaxation and also to gain control over certain bodily functions that cause tension and physical pain.

The use of instruments to induce awareness of the ability to achieve responses, such as relaxation, previously thought to be beyond conscious control.

A way to enhance a body signal so that one is aware of something that usually occurs at a level below consciousness. An electronic device provides information about a body function (such as heart rate) so that the person using biofeedback can learn to control that function. Biofeedback can help people with arthritis learn to relax their muscles. In this case, an electronic device amplifies the sound of a muscle contracting, so the arthritis patient knows that the muscle is not relaxed.

A technique based on the theory that one can learn to regulate one's own internal state, including the autonomic nervous system, which had been thought to be beyond conscious control.

a relaxation technique that involves learning how to better cope with pain and stress by altering behavior, thoughts, and feelings.

A treatment technique in which people are trained to improve their health by using signals from their own bodies. Physical therapists use biofeedback to help stroke victims regain movement in paralysed muscles.

A procedure that uses electrodes to help people gain awareness and control of their pelvic muscles.

The act of voluntarily controlling the body functions (such as heart rate) that are not normally under conscious control.

Method of learning to control muscles to help control pain with the help of a licensed technician.

The use of monitoring and feedback to control bodily processes. More information: biofeedback

Behavioral technique used in bladder control therapy. Exercises are taught in an effort to isolate and strengthen pelvic floor muscles.

A behavior modification in which patients are taught to partially control unconscious bodily functions, such as blood pressure or heart rate.

The use of auditory and visual signals reflecting a patient's muscular activity to allow the patient to facilitate or extinguish this' is muscle action. In patients with low back pain, the objective is to reduce pain by reducing muscle tension.

A process that provides sight or sound information about functions of the body, including blood pressure, muscle tension, etc. The use of sensory feedback to help provide some self-control over autonomic functions, such as blood pressure.

Biofeedback is a method of controlling bodily functions using electronic equipment to continuously monitor a physical response, such as breathing, and convert these measurements into signals that a person can read and understand.

A technique used especially for stress-related conditions such as asthma, migraines, insomnia and high blood pressure. Biofeedback is a way of monitoring minute metabolic changes in one's body with the aid of sensitive machines.

A technique of treating one's self by using signals from one's own body. The term was coined in 1969 to describe the procedures used to train research subjects to consciously control involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate and body temperature.

The technique of making unconscious or involuntary bodily processes, such as the heart beat and brain waves, perceptible to the senses in order to manipulate them by conscious mental control. Typically electronic sensing devices are placed on the skin to measure changes in the surface temperature and chemistry that reflect internal physical changes.

A method of learning voluntary control over specific body functions, such as strengthening pelvic muscles

The use of monitoring devices to provide information regarding an involuntary bodily function in an effort to gain some voluntary control.

A training technique designed to allow an individual to gain some semblance of voluntary control over body functions that occur involuntarily.

A means of bladder retraining using equipment specifically for incontinence that requires either a sensor placed in the vagina of the female or the anus of a male and is connected to a computer or home therapy unit that can show how the muscles of the pelvic floor are contracting and relaxing. This is helpful behavioral therapy because it enables the person to focus attention on contracting the correct muscles of the pelvic floor.

a technique used to voluntarily control involuntary movements or bodily processes.

Tracking method of physiological responses and behavioral reaction to various situational stimuli. Used as an attempt in understanding human behavior and developing programs of modification to restore well-being.

a technique in which patients are trained to gain some voluntary control over certain physiological conditions, such as blood pressure and headache, to help relaxation.

relaxation techniques such as biofeedback can be effective in helping sufferers manage their migraines. Biofeedback uses physical signals, such as feelings you get early in your migraine attack, to help you change the way your body reacts to those signals. Biofeedback can teach you how to control a number of body functions in order to relax more deeply. Ask your healthcare professional for more information about biofeedback.

A method of treatment that uses monitors to feed back to patients physiological information of which they are normally unaware. By watching the monitor, patients can learn by trial and error to adjust their thinking and other mental processes in order to control "involuntary" bodily processes such as blood pressure, temperature, gastrointestinal functioning, and brain wave activity. See the entire definition of Biofeedback

A relaxation training technique in which patients are connected to a machine that records information about their influence on muscle tension, blood flow and/or breathing.

Training program that gives a person information about physiological processes (heart rate or blood pressure) with the goal of gaining conscious control over them.

A method of learning to voluntarily control certain body functions such as heartbeat, blood pressure, and muscle tension with the help of a special machine. This method can help control pain.

A relaxation training technique in which patients are connected to a machine that helps them learn control over processes like muscle tension and skin temperature.

A relaxation training technique in which patients are connected to a machine that records bodily functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and skin temperature.

a method of learning to modify a particular bodily function, by monitoring it with the aid of an electronic device that may produce sight or sound signals. Pelvic floor biofeedback may help some patients who have an underlying pelvic floor neuromuscular dysfunction.

the technique of making unconscious or involuntary bodily processes perceptible to the senses in order to help patients adjust their thinking and other mental processes in order to control bodily functions

A relaxation technique in which people are taught to control some body functions such as blood pressure or heart rate, which are usually considered involuntary.

Biofeedback is the process of using computerized monitoring systems to provide ongoing information about physiological conditions of the body. There are a variety of biofeedback procedures designed to monitor such functions as muscular tension, skin temperature, skin resistance and other autonomic activities. The goal of biofeedback is to learn what can be modified, changed or controlled through relaxation and visualization techniques.

A method of teaching that takes information about something happening in the body and presents it in a way that is easy to see, hear, or understand. Biofeedback can helping women understand if they are doing pelvic floor muscle exercises correctly. Two small sensors are placed temporarily on the body near the pelvic floor muscles. They are connected to a computer screen which displays a graph of the muscles as they are being exercised.

A technique in which an attempt is made to consciously regulate a bodily function thought to be involuntary (as heartbeat or blood pressure), by using an instrument to monitor the function and to signal changes in it.

Biofeedback measures and quantifies muscle output and gives immediate auditory and visual feedback on a computer monitor. This modality is used for many different conditions and injuries. Biofeedback is very useful for women's health conditions. Whether it is incontinence, or pelvic floor relaxation or pain, this treatment method provides instant feedback to you and your therapist during your exercise session. This immediate biofeedback helps to re-educate the pelvic floor muscles in isolation. Following orthopedic conditions or surgery, it is also useful to utilize biofeedback for the involved musculature. Biofeedback provides information about the quality of muscular contraction during exercises so you and your therapist can see how well your muscles are functioning.

A training technique in which people are taught to adjust the functioning of their autonomic nervous system by using signals from their own bodies.

A general term for techniques that involve giving a person information about their current physiological state (e.g., heart rate, EEG). Biofeedback is used to enable people to control consciously their physiological processes. Last updated:March 21, 2006

a technique that teaches control of breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure. Biofeedback is used to combat anxiety disorders and chronic stress.

The technique involves sensory electrodes being placed on a person's skin over a muscle group. The electrodes lead to a monitoring device which informs the person whether the muscle group is contracted or relaxed; with some apparatus, the degree of contraction can be demonstrated. There is no pain or discomfort associated with the technique.

the technique of making unconscious or involuntary bodily processes (as heartbeats or brain waves.)

A procedure that permits individuals to monitor their own physiological processes (such as heart rate, blood pressure) which they are normally unaware of, to learn to control them.

A process in which information not ordinarily perceived (such as heart rate, skin temperature or electrical activity of muscles) is recorded from a person and then relayed back instantaneously as a signal so that the individual becomes aware of any alteration in the recorded activity. [Click Here to Return to List

This personal training technique involves heart, blood pressure, or brain function monitoring. The subject then gains insight into recognition and voluntary control of these systems. Used in pain, stress and anxiety cases.

Technique that provides a person with information about his/her physiologic state (level of relaxation, for example) with the goal of eventually learning to control that state.

Any method that involves electronic monitors wherewith one tries to influence one's autonomic processes, such as the beating of the heart. Forms of biofeedback include electromyographic biofeedback, which measures muscle tension, and thermal biofeedback, which measures skin temperature.

Biofeedback links the mind with the body through high-technology devices that allows the mind to control certain bodily functions. In this treatment method, an individual is hooked up to monitoring devices which provides an indication of how brain waves, breathing patterns, muscle activity, sweat gland function, pulse, skin temperature, and blood pressure are responding to relaxation techniques, such as meditation. "Biofeedback has been used to reduce stress, eliminate headaches, recondition injured muscles, control asthmatic attacks, and relieve pain.

For bladder control problems, biofeedback techniques use sensors and computer screens to enable a clinician to monitor muscle activity in the pelvic floor. For treating bladder control problems, biofeedback is used to retrain muscles that control voiding behavior.

Biofeedback is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) which involves measuring a subject's bodily processes such as blood pressure, heart rate, skin temperature, galvanic skin response (sweating), and muscle tension and conveying such information to him or her in real-time in order to raise his or her awareness and conscious control of the related physiological activities.