Economical Biofeedback

Abstract

Although biofeedback is commonly associated with electronic hardware, this equipment is not required for its use. In fact, many of the labs in this manual contain exercises that do not involved sophisticated equipment. In the dysponesis lab (Lab VI), it is your partner who provides the feedback as to when you are tensing your arm as it is being moved. In the temperature home practice (Labs X and XI) a small hand thermometer provides feedback on your peripheral hand temperature. In the theta training home practice (Lab XVI), it is a small tea bell that provides feedback as to when your muscles are going flaccid and you are entering theta. And in a variety of labs it is an enhancement of your own awareness that provides the feedback—by scanning your body carefully after imaging a stressor (Lab II: Self-Observation Exercise), or after some stressful event (Lab XXI: Prelab Preparation) or after some common activity (Lab XX: Prelab Preparation). In this lab, we will explore the use of some of these less frequently discussed modes of biofeedback.

Mind/body integration, pp. 111–118; 523–528; 541–562.