Rehabilitative biofeedback procedures allow a patient to control his or her physiological
functions or mental state using specific sets of psychological variables calculated
from polygraphical data such as electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram (EMG),
electrocardiogram (ECG), skin galvanic response (SGR), temperature (TEMP), respiration (RESP),
etc. Now/ biofeedback variables also include photoplethysmogram (PPG) and impedance plethysmogram (RHEO) data which enable a fine biofeedback control of the blood
circulation parameters.
A patient can perceive and control target variables using such biofeedback instruments
as visual images, musical fragments, computer games, diagrams and dial presented by the
patient station multimedia and/or using complex acoustic and sensory stimuli
delivered by the Acoustic Sensory Chair, while the operator can monitor the patient's
success and current data on the operator station which enables the operative control of
a biofeedback procedure.
An expandable Library of BFB procedures contains standard and user-defined scenarios of
biofeedback procedures aimed at drugless recovering the body functions at abnormal
or stress conditions, improving the nervous function control, removing the manifestations
of hyperactivity or attention deficit syndrome, correcting arterial pressure, removing
abnormal habits and dependences, rehabilitating post-stroke patients, treating
headaches and movement disorders, enhancing adaptive capacities of the body or
harmonizing the patient's psychoemotional sphere. Biofeedback procedures can also be
used for autogenic training and relaxation sessions in the occupational healthcare centers.
Diagnostic stress tests of the body functions based on specific sets of polygraphical indices can be
efficiently performed using a Rehacor system. Using the stress tests considerably enhances both control
and efficiency of psychophysiological rehabilitation procedures.
The "REHACOR" systems are efficiently applied in
wide clinical practice, in occupational care and
sports medicine, in rehabilitative and preventive
centers and sanatoria of various profile, etc.
The exterior of Psychophysiological Telemetric System "Rehacor-T" for training with Biofeedback
The four-channel wireless patient
multifunction transceiver ABP-4
intended for recording different
physiological signals, such as galvanic
skin response (Fere),
electroencephalogram, temperature,
respiration effort, electrocardiogram,
electromyogram, envelope
electromyogram, photoplethysmogram,
skin potential, etc.
Number of recorded channels for BFB-
training can be enlarged with wireless
modules: "Poly-4" (4 auxiliary channels),
pulseoximeter (SpO2), cardiorespiratory
module and wireless movement sensors.
A change of physiological signals
controlled by patient is converted into a
change in different parameters of audio-visual
forms. Training game modes , additionally
stimulating the search activity of patient toward
change in internal state, are espesially effective, though traditional
BFB-trainings are still actual. An option of Objective psychological analysis and
testing “Egoscop” before and after BFB procedures harmonically complements
Forms of BFB signals presentation to patient
Instructor's workplace screen
Simple images: graphs, scales, figures (1), images, videos; Game mode: two (2)- and three-dimensional (3); Dynamic images: three-dimensional and noise-like conversions of images (4) and videos, morphing of images (5); Service messages: screensavers at the beginning and at the end of procedures, instructions (6).
Signal window (7) It displays realtime waveforms of physiological signals beingrecorded. Trend-graphs window (8) Compressed presentation of calculated indices in the real time obviously shows dynamics of patient's state during study cycle. Procedure editor (9) The powerful and convenient editor of procedures scenarios with wide spectrum of customizable parameters of BFB-training and the library of procedures are effective creative tool for the realization of different training strategies taking into account the age, aesthetical, intellectual and other special peculiarities of the patient.
Examples of BFB training used
Galvanic-skin response
GSR of Biofeedback
procedures are meant for
suppression of excessive
vegetal activation in reply
to presentation of stress
stimulus and ensure functional
training therapy of
people with phobicvexatious
symptoms, psychological
adaptation improvement,
improvement
of psychological stability
to stress factors.
The technology of stress resistance improvement includes outline of
GSR biofeedback and stress stimuli. Moderate pain electrostimulation is
used as stress stimuli. At the first stage oriented GSR-reaction to the audio stimuli of 2
types is extinguished. At the second stage classic acquired defensive reflex to one of
audio stimuli is formed. At the third stage a patient watching the change in his GSR to neutral and alarm
audio stimuli, develops the skill of transferal of his neutral state to the conditions,
contributing to the increase in his emotional tension.
EEG
Alpha-training is meant for stress resistance
improvement, it helps to attain deep psychological
relaxation and to activate creativeness.
Beta- and theta trainings are applied for Attention
Deficit correct ion and Hyperact ivity Disorder
decreasing.
Alpha-theta training is used to overcome different
pathologic addictions (narcomania, alcoholomania, etc.)
Sensorimotor rhythm training increases convulsive
activity l imen under the conditions of epilepsy.
Temperature
Skin temperature increase training allows
lowering the excessive tone of arteriola vascular walls
by means of lowering the activity of sympatic section
of VNS, and is applied for zonal thermoregulation
improving (the increase of temperature of legs and
arms peripheral zones) under the conditions of
diseases manifestative in reduced blood supply of
these zones because of vasomotor spasm, partial or
complete obturation of arterial vessel lumen
(atherosclerosis, thrombosis, vasculitis, etc.)
Blood circulation parameters
Procedures of arteries tonus regulation
(systolic wave amplitude, systolic wave amplitude
and RR-interval, pulse wave transmission time) are
used for nervous system functional state
normalization, for cardio-vascular disease
prevention, correction of arterial tension indices,
blood filling and etc. under the conditions of
different pathosises (secondary hypertension,
arterial hypotension syndrome, etc.)
Respiration
Meant for treatment of obstructive respiratory
system damages, some circulatory injuries, vegetativevascular
dystonia syndrome, neurotic and neurosis-like
syndromes.
The aim of the training is forming the adequate
respiratory stereotype with simultaneous transition to
the diaphragmatic respiration type, which ensures not
only lungs work improvement, but also influences other
functions, including psychic, and improves body
viability.
Heart rate
Heart rate training is recommended in case
of cardiorespiratory system diseases, decrease
level of organism immunity, stress reactions
and the psycho-emot ional overstress
accompanied by vegetative disbalance. Also it
can be used for arterial pressure normalizing,
increasing the physical capacity for work,
getting rid of complaints on heavy heart and
feeling bad. Heart rate variability procedures
allow eliminating VNS parasympathetic
influences deficit and increasing immunity to
cardiovascular system disorders under the
conditions of psychoemotional stress.
Electromyogram
EMG training is used for correction of central
and peripheric motor disturbances of different
genesis by means of random control of motion
activity improvement, for decreasing of
spasticity and hyperkinetic activity, for
neurosis reduction by means of excessive
muscle activity reduction, restoration of
di f fer ent muscle gr oups inter ac t ion
(synkinesis, reel foot, etc.)
Heart rate variability
It is used for vegetative nervous system
assessment on the basis of heart rate
variability.
Also it can be used as the additional means
of patient's state dynamics analysis under
conditions of pharmacotherapy, physical and
psychoemotional stresses, and also for the
control of treatment effectiveness. It allows
disclosing VNS dysfunctions in different
situations during sleep and wakefulness
In the process of conducting of functional
tests or long-term monitoring, carrying out of
special screening-tests for initial vegetative
tone estimation, vegetative reactivity and
vegetative functions of patient, is possible.
Final diagnostic estimation is realized on the basis of
regulator systems adequacy index.
Objective psychophysiological analysis and testing
New effective instrument for
objective analysis and testing, based
on combination of
psychophysiological methods of
conscious and subconscious
emotional reactions evaluation and
original realization of projective
psychological methods.
This original approach to personality study we
called Egoscopy (Latin ego “I” + Greek skopeo “ to investigate”)
Egoscopy method is based on the combined analysis of physiologic
indices trends and parameters of person's behavior while completing the
tasks of psychodiagnostic scenarios on a special sensory graphic tablet
or monitor.
Any questions and statements can be used as
stimulating, any voice and musical fragments,
images or video clips.
Special set of sensors and electrodes allows
simultaneously with task implementation
recording of galvanic skin response signals
photo-plethysmogram, electrocardiogram and
electroencephalogram.
There is a basic scenario set developing famous methods (uncompleted
sentences test, Rosenzweig picture frustration, thematic apperception
test, Rorsharch inkblot test, repertoire lattice of Kelly test, semantic
differential tear, etc) meant for egoscopy studies.
Scenarios are customizable for different specialized problems solving
or can be created a new using user-friendly scenario editor.
Egoscopy integrates and refills with new content all previously known
psychological and psychophysiological methods by means of including
emotive-evaluative scale.
Instead
of the graphic tablet
sensor monitor can be used.
Example of Schulte testing (attention
switch speed and working capacity study).
Test results are analyzed with the help of the profile of sense-emotional
meaning reflectieg test person reaction to the set topics (semantic
clusters), evaluation of and variability of test person emotive
reactions to the tasks. In the picture you can see the profile for
scenario that reflects the most denominated reaction of a test
person to the topic “Faults”.
Diagnostics of the vegetative nervous system on the basis of heart rate variability and
psychological and psychophysiological attesting combined with biofeedback rehabilitation
procedures ensure the effective realization of the technological cycle "DIAGNOSTICS — REHABILITATION — CONTROL".
Possible additional fields of EGOSCOPE application:
Detection of possible cause of psycho-somatic disorders;
Diagnostics of life exhaustion syndrome;
Control of rehabilitation action effectiveness;
Detection of nonconsious problem in social, professional and private life;
Detection of pathologic addictions (narcomania, alcoholism, etc.) or predisposition to them;
Objective control of emotive reactions to presentation of information of different character in order to detect the effectiveness of promotial materials, user interface, etc.
Software Tools
Library of BFB-Procedures
Library of BFB-Procedures contains proven, carefully designed scenarios of biofeedback
procedures including HR training, EMG training, EEG training (Alpha training, Theta
training, Beta/ Theta training, etc.) SGR training, Respiration training, Temperature
training, Hemodynamic training of blood flow parameters, Poly-Functional training
(simultaneous biofeedback training of multiple physiological functions), ASC-based
training (biofeedback procedures on the basis of the Acoustic Sensory Chair). The
Library of BFB-Procedures also offers efficient scenarios of diagnostic stress tests.
Scenario Editor
Scenario Editor provides a tool for scheduling and setting scenarios of stress
tests and biofeedback procedures, organized as a sequence of individual steps
(e.g. Background Recording, Instruction, BFB-Training, Resting and Final
Analysis), with storing the scenarios in the Library of BFB procedures.
Library of Audiovisual Instruments
Library of Audiovisual Instruments includes a set of biofeedback instruments such
as indicators, graphs, diagrams and specifically selected auditory and musical
fragments, speech messages and written instructions, videos, slide shows and
animated images. The library also contains a set of tools to control the parameters
of biofeedback instruments.
Electronic Card Index
Electronic Card Index (patient database), Report Editor, Patient Data Monitor,
tools for mathematical processing of the patient data, etc.
