Hey there NeuroJourney readers,

Recently, I took an abrupt and unannounced hiatus from Neurofeedback Training.

I had my last session on April 28th. Today is March 5th. This is day 6 of hiatus.

Why?

I am in SHOCK. Allow me to share with you what has transpired.

Join me on a jumble of thoughts.

Firstly, I will say that after neurofeedback training for over 20 days, it feels like I’ve gained an additional extra-sensory ability.

I am confident that I am able to “activate” my pre-frontal cortex at will, with or without the ball game.

I love a placebo as much as the next guy, but when you learn control a game with your brain you are participating in a palpable, measurable, and unique experience. As you develop control, the entire concept becomes less and less abstract.

I’m excited to reluctantly announce I’ve had a SUBSTANTIAL reduction in TIC SEVERITY starting around DAY 18. My control has continued to improve ever since…WOW! But wait- here’s the thing; I’ve had TS for too long, with too many up and downs to attribute any change in my tics to neurofeedback training at this point. It would be irresponsible of me to claim that this is “working”…BUT IT MIGHT BE! So why have I stopped? Well, it’s not unusual for people to stop taking medications or undergoing a treatment once they “start to feel better”…

This is not the case! In addition to becoming overwhelmed with new information pouring in on other research fronts,

I was so tickled by positive result that I’ve decided to test my resistance levels.

I want to know…

How long will this peace last?

I still have tics, but they have been so much less aggressive it’s absurd to me.

I entered this experiment with an extremely healthy level of skepticism and wasn’t expecting results at all, let alone this early on.

After deep reflection over the past 5 days…

I’ve may be on my way to discovering the BEST possible practice for using neurofeedback to reduce tic severity.

“That’s great! Isn’t that the whole point of the study?”

Yes, but it’s just a hunch.

I think this will be best determined in a few more months.

I will begin training again this evening.

Here are further observations, thoughts, adjustments, developments, ect.

#1.) Writing a blog entry everyday on top of sessions was not undoable, but it presented conflicts. It was immensely difficult to compile data, make thoughtful and progress-driving observations, and quite honestly- fit it all into my day without hindering the effectiveness of the treatment. I began losing sleep, for example, which detracted from my ability to train effectively.

I WILL UPLOAD TRAINING RESULTS ONCE PER WEEK. MAYBE WE’LL EVEN HAVE A COOL INFOGRAPHIC. WE’LL SEE.

#2.) I have been adapting and controlling my tics to the best of my ability for 17 years. I am not starting from scratch. This tool is an addition to the methods and practices I’ve used to control my Tourette Syndrome in the past. That being said, I can’t deny the impact it has already had. My hunch tells me that the intensity of training might be the key to effectiveness.

As mentioned in previous reports, I discovered after two weeks of training that I was, by Mendi’s standards, overdoing it.

Intense exercising of my PFC may have had a dual effect. Firstly, given that the PFC is heavily linked to impulse control, it’s possible that an overworked PFC will be sending less erratic signals- potentially ones that cause tics in the first place. Secondly, gaining active control of this part of the brain and being able to “dial-in” to this control with or without the training device could, in itself, be considered very similar to the act taking place when one successfully “suppresses” a tic.

#3.) I’m dying to find someone else with Tourette Syndrome in my area who would be willing to train with the device for 20 days, 30 minutes a day. Have I nailed it by accident? Is high intensity the key to making this effective for Tourette Syndrome treatment? I’d like to find out. I’ll undoubtedly have more working theories an observations to make.

Maybe I will discover that the key to effectiveness will be training while hanging upside down from the ceiling like a bat.

#4.) Finally, I’ll continue to be straight with you- I have been so crazy busy. Work is constant, my ambitions are large, and big developments are taking place surrounding my other areas of research. Keeping up has been very time consuming.

Feedback is always welcome. Thanks for following along with my case study — we’ll see where this goes.