Biofeedback is a non-medical process that involves measuring a subject's specific and quantifiable bodily functions such as the activity of brain waves, blood pressure Blood pressure is a force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. During each heartbeat, BP varies between a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure. The mean BP, due to pumping by the heart and resistance in blood vessels, decreases as the circulating blood moves away from, heart rate Heart rate is the number of heartbeats per unit of time - typically expressed as beats per minute - which can vary as the body's need for oxygen changes, such as during exercise or sleep. The measurement of heart rate is used by medical professionals to assist in the diagnosis and tracking of medical conditions. It is also used by individuals,, skin temperature Normal human body temperature, also known as normothermia or euthermia, is a concept that depends upon the place in the body at which the measurement is made, and the time of day and level of activity of the body. Although the value 37.0 °C is the commonly accepted average core body temperature, the value of 36.8±0.7 °C, or 98.2±1.3 °F is an, sweat gland activity Perspiration is the production of a fluid, consisting primarily of water as well as various dissolved solids (chiefly chlorides), that is excreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals. Sweat contains the chemicals or odorants 2-methylphenol (o-cresol) and 4-methylphenol (p-cresol), as well as a small amount of urea, and muscle tension In physiology, medicine, and anatomy, muscle tone is the continuous and passive partial contraction of the muscles. It helps maintain posture, and it declines during REM sleep. It is not to be confused with the concept of toning in physical exercise, conveying the information to the patient in real-time. This raises the patient's awareness Awareness is the state or ability to perceive, to feel, or to be conscious of events, objects or sensory patterns. In this level of consciousness, sense data can be confirmed by an observer without necessarily implying understanding. More broadly, it is the state or quality of being aware of something. In biological psychology, awareness is and therefore the possibility of conscious control of those functions.
By providing the user access to physiological Physiology is the science of the functioning of living systems. It is a subcategory of biology. In physiology, the scientific method is applied to determine how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells and biomolecules carry out the chemical or physical function that they have in a living system. The word physiology is from Greek φύσις, physis, information about which he or she may be unaware, biofeedback may allow users to gain control of physical processes previously considered an automatic response of the autonomous nervous system The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions. The ANS affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils, micturition (urination), and sexual arousal. Interest in biofeedback has waxed and waned since its inception in the 1960s; it is, however, undergoing something of a renaissance during the early 21st century, which some experts attribute to the general rise in interest about all alternative medicine In Western culture, alternative medicine is any healing practice "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine", or "that which has not been shown consistently to be effective." It is often opposed to evidence based medicine and encompasses therapies with a historical or cultural, rather than a scientific, basis modalities. Small biofeedback machines are becoming available for use in the home.
The "Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback is a non-profit organization based largely in the United States. It is created to advance the development, dissemination and utilization of knowledge about applied psychophysiology and biofeedback", or "AAPB" is a non-profit scientific and professional society for biofeedback practitioners.
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Given that the goal of biofeedback is to increase conscious awareness and voluntary control of otherwise subconscious and involuntary physiological ...
