On-off synchrony training, especially in the peak alpha range of frequencies, helps the brain to return to flexible functioning, relaxed and ready to pay attention as may be appropriate to the situation at hand. Especially after periods of training, people report feelings of oneness, unselfconsciousness, intimacy, a reduction in stress symptoms and an increase in peak performance skills. The value of including both Aon@ and Aoff@ training is to promote brain wave flexibility. The brain learns to shift easily into synchrony and then asynchrony, thus avoiding rigidity. Open Focus™ is a verbally guided attention training technique that encourages synchrony.

Plenary #49): SYNCHRONY: HOW THE BRAIN CODES INFORMATION

Workshop #41): with Susan Shor Fehmi; OPEN FOCUS™ AND NEUROFEEDBACK: THE ROLE OF ATTENTION IN ORCHESTRATING AWARENESS AND BRAIN WAVE ACTIVITY

EEG Foundations Course #51): Open Focus(tm) and Brain Synchrony Training - Foundations

Coherence applies to brain waves of a given frequency which maintain a consistent relationship with each other. Extremes of coherence are often thought of in neurofeedback circles as undesirable. However, there are many optimizing effects of in-phase synchrony training, a particular kind of coherence, one in which brain waves of a specific frequency peak and trough at the same time. Such synchrony can be trained at two sites, globally over the head at many sites, or between two or more individuals. Synchrony training, especially in the peak amplitude range of frequencies, helps the brain to return to non-biased functioning, relaxed and yet ready to attend flexibly as may be appropriate or ideal to the situation. During this zero bias and “ready” way of functioning, and especially after periods of practice, many people report feelings of oneness, lightness, clarity, unselfconsciousness, intimacy, a reduction in stress symptoms and an increase in peak performance. Furthermore, when synchrony training is alternated with asynchrony training, then positive outcomes are even more evident. When Open Focus™ attention training is combined with neurofeedback, the training process is enrichened.

Open Focus was developed in the course of research with EEG biofeedback training. In fact, Open Focus is an offspring of neurofeedback. One of the goals of training is a process of attention by which one is simultaneously aware of many aspects of experience including sight, smell, taste, body feeling, thoughts, emotions, and the space that permeates and surrounds these experiences. Open Focus training encourages the permissive conditions for processes of attention which are non-exclusive, stress-, tension- and pain-diffusing, non-judgmental and integrating of experience, the same kinds of attention that are present when whole head phase synchronous brain waves are in abundance.

Early studies on information processing in the visual system have shown that visual information is transmitted as a spatial, not a temporal, code. Information travels toward the cortex as waves of synchronous action potentials. The role of synchrony in transmission of various kinds of information will be described. The role of synchrony in coding information at the level of the nerve, and at higher levels of neural organization, is crucial for controlling attention. Learning to increase and decrease brain wave synchrony with neurofeedback provides a skill set which is crucial to attentional flexibility and well being.

A fundamental hypothesis is presented in this talk: Attention types and brain wave activity are reflected in each other. Attention is the means by which we determine aspects of awareness. Attention types are defined as those processes which control the proximity, scope, speed, and direction of awareness. Aspects of attentional behavior can be learned using neurofeedback. The use of certain combinations of attention types may serve as a vehicle or strategy for managing physiology as well and awareness. Attention style determines performance and rate of stress dissolution. Flexibility of attention is a major condition supporting heatlh and well being.

Diffuse and immersed styles of attention support the production of brain wave activity which is synchronous and global, and an awareness that is expanding and unifying. Conversely, narrow and objective attention supports the production of asynchronous brain activity, and an awareness that highlights separate and narrow discrimination. Our sense of self and subject and object are continually created and destroyed as our brain waves oscillate between synchrony and asynchrony. Certain electric field interference patterns are created at the brain regions where the waves associated with simple awareness and its contents abut. These interference patterns are hypothesized to serve as the mechanism underlying awareness, and awareness of awareness. Certain other patterns are mechanisms which dissolve awareness.

Awareness of space plays a pivotal role in various styles of attention. Resisting the experience of space (which includes resisting silence, timelessness, void or a sense of absence) leads to the accumulation of stress and tension, and can result in many symptoms of disfunction. Such resistence locks attention and brain waves into rigid patterns of separate and narrow discrimination. Open Focus exercises to improve attention flexibility will be presented along with a demonstration of instrumentation used for synchrony training.

Workshop #41): with Susan Shor Fehmi; OPEN FOCUS™ AND NEUROFEEDBACK: THE ROLE OF ATTENTION IN ORCHESTRATING AWARENESS AND BRAIN WAVE ACTIVITY

This workshop is a blend of hypothesis, research,clinical observation, and demonstration.

The relationship between attention and brain wave activity will be described. There is accumulated evidence that attention orchestrates EEG activity and vice versa. The various types of attention and their corresponding brain activity will be presented. It will be proposed that objective reality is created through the mechamism of phase relationships between brain waves. Whole head synchrony is associated with a diffused and immersed type of attention. A demonstration of an attention flexibility enhancing process will be presented, along with a unique form of analog synchrony training.

A fundamental hypothesis is presented in this talk: Attention types and brain wave activity are reflected in each other. Attention is the means by which we determine aspects of awareness. Attention types are defined as those processes which control the proximity, scope, speed, and direction of awareness. Aspects of attentional behavior can be learned using neurofeedback. The use of certain combinations of attention types may serve as a vehicle or strategy for managing physiology as well and awareness. Attention style determines performance and rate of stress dissolution. Flexibility of attention is a major condition supporting heatlh and well being.

Diffuse and immersed styles of attention support the production of brain wave activity which is synchronous and global, and an awareness that is expanding and unifying. Conversely, narrow and objective attention supports the production of asynchronous brain activity, and an awareness that highlights separate and narrow discrimination. Our sense of self and subject and object are continually created and destroyed as our brain waves oscillate between synchrony and asynchrony. Certain electric field interference patterns are created at the brain regions where the waves associated with simple awareness and its contents abut. These interference patterns are hypothesized to serve as the mechanism underlying awareness, and awareness of awareness. Certain other patterns are mechanisms which dissolve awareness.

Awareness of space plays a pivotal role in various styles of attention. Resisting the experience of space (which includes resisting silence, timelessness, void or a sense of absence) leads to the accumulation of stress and tension, and can result in many symptoms of disfunction. Such resistence locks attention and brain waves into rigid patterns of separate and narrow discrimination. Open Focus exercises to improve attention flexibility will be presented along with a demonstration of instrumentation used for synchrony training.

Les Fehmi Ph.D.
317 Mt. Lucas Rd.
Princeton, New Jersey 08540

phone: 609-924-0782
fax: 609-924-0782

lesfehmi@ix.netcom.com