Physical Therapy for the Brain

Neurofeedback is a form of therapy that trains the brain to behave or respond in certain ways. Patients with ADHD, for example, are taught to increase arousal in the frontal cortex, which reduces hyperactivity and improves focus and attention. A clinical team studied 100 children diagnosed with ADHD. All of them received counseling and Ritalin, but about half also received neurofeedback therapy.

"After a year, all the patients showed some improvement. But when the researchers discontinued treatment for a week and reevaluated the patients, only those who received neurofeedback retained those improvements."

Similar results have been observed in people who struggle with substance abuse, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.

Read more in the LA Times.