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88 CHAPTER 5 CHRONIC TTH ANALYSIS BY EMG AND GSR BIOFEEDBACK

(c) Johan Stovya used biofeedback for treating anxiety, and (d) Thomas Budzynski used surface
electromyography (sEMG) for the treatment of headaches [1].
The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB), the Biofeedback Certi-
fication Institute of America (BCIA), and the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research
(ISNR) summoned a task force of renowned clinicians and scientists in late 2007 to design a standard
definition for biofeedback. They defined biofeedback as “a process that enables an individual to learn
how to change physiological activity for the purposes of improving health and performance” [2].
Instruments measure physiological activity such as muscle activity, heart function, breathing, skin-
temperature, etc. These biofeedback instruments quickly and precisely give “feedback” information.
The information is used, often in combination with changes in thinking, emotions, and behavior, to
support the needed physiological changes [2]. Patients with the use of this information (biofeedback)
learn increased control over the physiological process (operant learning model) [3]. Over time, these
changes can be preserved without continuous use of an instrument [1]. Any learning is facilitated by
feedback. The same principle is used in biofeedback therapy whose main aim is to assist the patients in
self-regulation of psycho-physiological factors, thereby allowing them to gain voluntary control over
physiological parameters. Learning behavioral control over physiological responses was first published
in 1961. In the 1960s and 1970s, human studies revealed that through various operant feedback
methods, voluntary control could be learnt over many physiologic responses (e.g., heart rate, muscle
tension, blood pressure, skin conductance, skin temperature, evoked potentials, and various rhythms
of EEG).
Biofeedback is apparently free of any adverse side effects and therefore seemingly the preferable
choice for treatment of psychosomatic disorders. Biofeedback therapy has evolved over the last
30years, and today there are innumerable disorders for which biofeedback therapy has been used.
Biofeedback therapy is now used for a variety of disorders, such as headaches (migraine, tension,
and mixed), urinary incontinence, essential hypertension, etc. with reliable results.
Biofeedback is also called neurotherapy and it is a self-regulating and an accelerating relaxation
technique that is used to control a person’s stress level [4]. It works by preventing illness by the help
of stress management methods. The treatment enhances the quality of life and sharpens coping skills. In
other words, it is a psycho-physiological technique used to enhance the overall wellness of the body and
mind [2].
One idea of biofeedback is to reduce stress via self-control [5]. As mentioned earlier, it uses a set of
definite techniques for the reduction of tension. These techniques include efficient decision-making
capability, twilight learning/permissive concentration, and autogenic feedback training. If a person
can use these techniques to gain self-control, they have a better chance of overall wellness. Biofeedback
can help in reducing chronic pain symptoms [6] and stress symptoms, and serves as an alternative
method of healthcare as opposed to drugs. If biofeedback proves beneficial, it is often preferred over
prescription drugs due to the high cost of the medication and its possibility of dependency [1].
Many previous studies have shown that biofeedback does indeed work, especially in children and
young adults. A study focused in a college setting, showed benefits to students who practice the bio-
feedback technique. They attended workshops and worked in individual sessions. Along with attending
workshops, they also kept a daily diary [7]. They also maintained a stress-control log and changed their
sleeping patterns. The information was collected and assessed and the students/technocrats who
participated increased their focus and GPA considerably [8]. Another case study that focused on