Eye Movement Biofeedback EOG.MICRO
General
Information
Basics
about active and passive Biofeedback
Concluding Summary Report about the EOG Biofeedback System Trial for Tinnitus
Principles
and Practice of Progressive Relaxation
Brief
Operating Instruction EOG.micro
Sound
examples
General
Informations
We can only specifically influence that which we
perceive.
Biofeedback makes unconsciously run body processes
observable and experiential.
If, for example, muscle tension or skin moisture have
been measured, then the EOG.Biofeedback
"processes" eye responses.
The EOG Biofeedback procedure, which registers and
analyzes the movement of the muscles in the
eye area and uses the most modern computer technology for relaxation,
is new. Scientific research has shown that these muscle activities in
the eye area during mental processes are
responsible for depth relaxation: if we succeed in
relaxing these, the mind will also relax.
The EOG.micro biofeedback system directly affects the
vegetative nervous system. In this way the
stress symptoms are counteracted and their undesired consequences are avoided.
The EOG.micro has been successfully used for:
- Pain syndromes
T- innitus, sleep disorders
- High blood pressure
- Mental training, e.g. in
the area of sports
- Learning disabilities,
learning training
- Meditation
Operation can be compared to
sleeping glasses: built-in sensors register muscle activity in the eye
area even if the eyes are closed and control corresponding sounds in
stereo CD quality. By using this acoustical feedback (EOG), the process
of inner perception is accompanied by the body's own rhythm – the
result is depth relaxation, which can activate the healing energy from
the resulting rest.
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Basics
about active and passive Biofeedback
Dr.
med. Akos Tatar
During
biofeedback, body functions, which usually occur unconsciously, such as
muscle tension, heart rate, eye movements and circulation, are measured
and fed back with suitable instruments. By using the audio-visual
feedback, the physiological functions of perception are made accessible
and brought under conscious control.
During
the course of treatment it has become easier to use the skills acquired
through biofeedback without using the device. It is thus learning about
body perception, self-control and self-healing.
The
first approaches were made in the 30's of this century, however, only
the technological developments in the past few years have made further
development possible. The following parameters can be derived using
several modules: skin conductivity, EOG (eye movement), EMG
(electromyography), EEG, skin temperature, pulse rate, amplitude of the
pulse, as well as respiratory excursion over thorax and abdomen.
How
is biofeedback applied?
Biofeedback
is a scientifically recognized method at the intersection of medical
sciences and psychology. Biofeedback has been applied therapeutically in
almost all disciplines of medicine, even up to dermatology. The main
domain are neurovascular, neuromuscular and neurological-psychiatrical
illnesses, such as:
Hypertonia,
vascular cephalgia, orthostatic dysregulation, migraines, tinnitus,
post-traumatic headaches, post treatment of apoplexia and spinal trauma,
fibromyalgia, tenseness, sciatic neuralgia, chronic pain of all kinds,
incontinence, anorectal dysfunctions, obstipation, but also ataxia
treatment for Morbus Parkinson, depression, and much more.
Biofeedback in therapy
EOG
biofeedback has a favorable position in the biofeedback systems since it
can be applied actively as well as passively (see below).
EOG
biofeedback has been successfully applied for illnesses, which are
accompanied by increasing muscular tone (tension headache, torticollis)
or by increased agitation level (high blood pressure, anxiety disorders,
psychosomatic symptoms), but also in the area of neurology (tinnitus)
and rehabilitation.
One
advantage of the therapy lies in the active participation of the patient
undergoing therapy, i.e. the patient must actively deal with himself and
his problems.
Biofeedback in prevention, sport and meditation
Next
to therapy, this method is also applied in the sense of prevention in
order to achieve good stress management using various relaxation
methods.
EOG
biofeedback serves to reduce arising stress in serious sports and to
fully utilize the resources during competition by using mental training.
EOG
biofeedback presents the possibility to perceive unconscious thoughts
during meditation. This is possible, since even fleeting thoughts are
accompanied by eye movement and reach the consciousness over the
biofeedback.
Neurological
Background
We distinguish between three types of biofeedback:
a) Passive biofeedback, such as the respiratory biofeedback
according to Prof. Leuner.
b) Active biofeedback, such as EMG, EEG, pulse, temperature
biofeedback.
c) Active and passive biofeedback, such as EOG biofeedback according
to Stielau.

Passive
Biofeedback
The passive biofeedback exerts its effect through the
afferent pathways of the optic nerve and/or acoustic nerve, which
continues to influence the reticular formation through the
tectoreticular pathways, which includes respiration, heart rate and
vessels in the basal part of the regulatory centers.
Passive biofeedback also works on animals. Gruber and
Taub worked with monkeys in order to control their muscular tension.[i]

Active
Biofeedback
Cognitive
performance are included during active biofeedback. The technically
measured signals of the vegetative functions (biofeedback device) at
first reach the frontal brain. From there, influences is exerted on the
hypothalamus, which controls the vegetative nervous system. Nucl. supra
optic nerves, paraventricular influence the parasympathetic nervous
system, the nucl. dorsomedial, ventromedial and posterior influence the
sympathetic nervous system [ii],
ventromedial and posterior influence the sympathetic nervous system [iii].
The
meaning of eye movements
The
entire physiology of eye movement regulation for humans has not been
completely explained even today. The brain stem, cerebellum, thalamus,
striatum, parietal and frontal cortex participate in the complex
oculomotor process.
Eye
movements change during emotional motions, mirror many cognitive
processes, such as calculation, visualization, etc., as the studies by
Previc, Murphy[iv]
and Martin[v]
show.
EMDR
(eye movement desensitization reprocessing), a form of therapy, which is
based on the connection between eye movements and post-traumatic anxiety
symptoms, attained importance during treatment of Vietnam veterans[vi]
and war victims.
[iv]
Previc FH; Murphy SJ ;
Verticaleye movements during
mental tasks: a re-examination and hypothesis. Percept Mot Skills,
84(3 Pt 1):835-47 1997 Jun
[v]
Martin RB ; The effect
of voluntary
eye movementson associationsand mood. J
Clin Psychol, 54(4):545-53 1998 Jun
[vi]
Andrade J; Kavanagh D; Baddeley A; Eye-movements
and visual imagery: a working memory
approach to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Br J Clin Psychol, 36 ( Pt 2)():209-23 1997
May
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Summary Report about the EOG Biofeedback System Trial for Tinnitus
Prof.
Dr. H. Berndt ENT Specialist / Audiology
The
biofeedback system was monitored on 35 patients with decompensated
chronic tinnitus in the Audiologic Office of Assistant Prof. Dr.
Berndt from 29.09.1999 until 11.05.2000.
After
introductory explanations and trial sessions of 20 minutes, 20
patients decided to use the device.
A
minimum 4-week test phase was implemented with these 20 patients,
whereby the device was used twice daily for 20 minutes each.
Before
and after concluding the test phase, the tinnitus was measured by
frequency and maskability, the hearing threshold was determined, and
the questionnaire was answered according to Göbel and Hiller.
RESULTS:
the hearing threshold did not change.
The tinnitus values according to frequency and intensity of
the maskability were equally unchanged.
For
15 patients, the score according to Göbel and Hiller improved by 9
points (-5 to –13).
For
5 patients, the values remained approximately the same (+- 2
points).
In
summary we can determine that the EOG biofeedback device of the
BioMental company can be applied very well as relaxation method
within the frame of tinnitus retraining therapy. The mode of action
can be compared to the method using progressive muscle relaxation
according to Jacobsen, whereby the relaxing effect appears to set in
more quickly.
Five
patients continue to use the device after finishing the therapy, in
the meantime up to 4 months, and do not wish to do without.
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PRINCIPLES
AND PRACTICE OF PROGRESSIVE RELAXATION
by Edmund Jacobson, M.D., Ph.D.
& F. J. McGuigan, Ph.D.
Self-Instruction
Manual excerpts, pages 17 & 18 Guilford Publications, Inc. 1982,
New York, New York
Eye
movement (EOG) related extracts. EOG.micro is a proper device to
support the practices.
VIII.
Control Of Mind
When you
think or imagine or engage in any other form of mental activity,
your brain is active, but to no greater extent than when you engage
in any so-called physical activity, such as golf. Without a brain
you could not think, but neither could you play golf. At no time do
you feel your brain working; neither do you ever have tension
signals in the brain. As you learn to recognize tensions during
,mental activity, you will find them chiefly in the eyes and speech
regions but ~ not in the brain.
You can
learn to control your thinking and emotions to a useful ~ extent
because these mental activities occur only if and when you ~ tense
your eye and speech muscles. However, you may' use every other
muscle in your body in thinking and in emotion, depending on the
patterns which correspond to your endeavors. Electrical measurements
show, for instance, that people often use their arm muscles in
imagination.
Close
your eyes and think about any matter. If skilled, you can*notice (1)
visual. pictures, called images, but also (2) eye tensions to look
at what you see in imagination. In thinking, also, you are likely to
use your speech apparatus to form words, but these are not spoken
aloud. , Electrical measurerrients disclose that you use the same
inuscles as you use in saying the same words aloud.
.......
in visual imaginations you look at the objects you think about,
turning your eyes in the same way as if you were looking at real
objects.
Thus,
imagination is a shorthand, a telescopic reproduction in which you
use your muscles just as you do in reality when you see objects of
persons and speak aloud. However, in mental activity the tensions
are miniscule. As said above, you will find that all other muscles
may and do participate
in some of your tensions-image patterns.
(2) When
you engage in any mental or physical effort, the brain and the
muscles act approximately simultaneously. That the brain has an idea
first which later is expressed in the muscles is an incorrect view
for which no evidence ever was presented, although many people held
it and still do.
We have
emphasized that the eye muscles and the speech muscles are of great
importance to thought. However, to emphasize that mental activity is
carried out by the entire body, note that at any moment if the
muscles either of the arms or legs or trunk are really relaxed
approximately to zero tension, the mind is also thereby quieted.
Why? Because in thinking or emotion, tensions in the parts mentioned
also participate. They too are the actors in any and every play of
the mind. Without them participating the mind is vacant.
Understanding
this will enable you to apprehend why "the mind relaxes"
when the limbs or trunk or any other larger section of the body
relaxes. However,, remember that for this, the tertsion signals must
be reduced to zero or nearly so. If , the reduction falls short, ,
leaving tension signals of a diminished but sufficient order, then,
as when the telegrapher's signals are are still faintly present, the
messages are still there and the mind keeps on working....
Progressive
Relaxation: A Physiological and Clinical Investigation of Muscular
States and their significance in Psychology and Medical Practice. By
Edmund Jacobson University of Chicago Press, Eleventh Imptession
1968
Page 188
.....With
complete ocular relaxation, the image disappears. This may be done
by individuals of greatest skill and experience, not alone lying
down but also sitting up with eyes open. Motor or kinesthetic
imagery likewise may be relaxed away. "Inner speech," for
instance, ceases with progressive relaxation of the muscles of the
lips, 'tongue, larynx and throat...
Page 218
....In
my own observations, reports have been secured independently from
subjects and patients under normal conditions as well as during
states of nervous excitement. ~They agree that the emotions subside
as the individual completely relaxes the striated muscles,
particularly which he seems to find specifically concerned in the
emotion at hand: the esophagus in one instance of fear; the forehead
and brow as a rule in worry or anxiety..
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Operating
Instructions EOG.micro
1.
Installing EOG.micro
·
Connect
the headphones
·
Insert
batteries (2 round-cell batteries) by opening the battery
compartment on the back panel. Make sure the batteries have the
correct polarity!
2.
Preparing the electrodes
·
Press
the electrodes into the sensor mask like push-buttons.
·
With
the green reusable electrodes, you must put little electrode gel on
the surface.
·
With
the disposable electrodes remove the protective foil before use.
3.
Starting EOG.micro
·
Switch
the device on using the On/Off
key. The device will test the batteries. If the light-emitting
diodes run to the bottom, the batteries are empty and the device
switches off. If the light-emitting diodes run to the top, the
batteries are full and the device starts.
·
Adjust
the duration of the session with the Time
key (ranging 10-50 minutes). The remaining session time will be
indicated by the light-emitting diodes. After the selected time has
elapsed, the device switches off.
·
Select
the desired program with the Program
key ( scale of 1-6). After the program has been selected, the
display jumps back to the time display, and flashes briefly:
1. Ocean murmur, the eye movements control the sound patterns
2. Sacral, the eye movements control the chords
3. Sitar, the eye movements control the pattern of tones
4. Choir, the eye movements control tonality and pitch
5. Wawa, the eye movements control the intensity of the tones
6. Sound, the eye movements control tonality and pitch
·
The
tonality of the selected program can be coordinated by using the Tone
key.
·
The
On/Off key can switch the
device off before the elapsed time is over.
4.
Using EOG.micro
·
Put
the sensor mask on so that all the electrodes touch the skin.
·
Keep
eyes closed during the use of the device.
·
The
melody of the generated sounds is controlled by the eye movements of
the person. The consumer should let the melody influence him, with
the awareness that he is generating the melody himself and can thus
relax.
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Sound examples
EOG.micro
Harmonie
Sitar
Didgeridoo
Noise
|