Neurofeedback equipment types

Home devices like the Muse are small and lightweight. Most are less than $400. I am still not convinced of the signal quality of these devices. They don’t tend to display a raw signal so it is difficult to tell if there is noise in the signal that would negatively impact the quality of the training. The feedback is based on changes in EEG. If the changes are due to noise and not real EEG, then the reinforcement would not be effective. When I have tried these devices in the past, my experience has been that the feedback is not clearly connected to the changes in my mental states. Other people have given me mixed reviews, some more positive, some negative. There are a few ways that these devices are used. One is for clients who are seeing a professional neurofeedback provider for in office sessions. They use the home device between office sessions. A second use if for virtual training with a professional. The client has the device at home and the professional coaches them virtually. The third use is for non-professionals to use at home on their own without supervision.

2-4 channel systems like the Thought Technology Procomp-2 or Brainmaster Atlantis 2 or 4 channel systems are mostly used for in office sessions by professional neurofeedback providers. They are also sometimes used for home training. They provide much more reliable signals with raw signals displayed. These systems cost $1,600 – $3,500. They are designed for professional use and are regulated by the FDA for safety.

20 channel systems like the Brainmaster Discovery 20/24 do everything that the 2-4 channel systems do plus they are also used for 19-channel EEG recordings for brain map reports for initial and follow up assessments. The brain maps are usually done prior to the start of neurofeedback training with clients. The cost of these systems ranges from $8,000 – $17,000. They wouldn’t be appropriate for home training due to the cost.

32+ channel systems do a form of brain mapping and neurofeedback referred to as high density because they are using more electrode locations. This allows for more specificity because they electrodes are closer together so smaller areas can be measured. This is not used as commonly in the neurofeedback field, though I expect that to change in the years to come.

Dry headsets are available from single channels to 20+ like the Freedom-24. These are for people who don’t want to be bothered with the gel or paste that is used with other systems. They are desirable because many people don’t want their hair messed up. Some practitioners don’t like applying electrodes with gel or paste. Not having to use gel can be an advantage. There are some issues though. The cost is much higher, usually $25,000+. Gel or paste is not used because people want to use it. It is used to improve conductance and reduce noise to provide a quality signal for recording or feedback. The dry headsets are supposed to eliminate the need for gel or paste. I have seen people using them struggling to get low impedance and a clean signal. I also noticed that a container of liquid conductive was packaged with a system when shipped to a customer. That tells me that it is sometimes needed. That kind of defeats the purpose. In other systems the electrodes or cap is connected to an amplifier box. With the dry headsets the amplifier may be built into the headset. This can be more convenient in a way. It also can make the headset relatively heavy on a client’s head.

I hope this summary of various types of neurofeedback equipment has been helpful.

Harry L. Campbell
Harry@biofeedbackinternational.com

914-762-4646