swLORETA Neurofeedback: A Breakthrough Non-Drug Treatment Option for ADHD

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects focus, executive functioning, behavior including impulse control, and emotional regulation. While medication is commonly used to treat ADHD and can be effective in some cases, typically the improvements are short lived and can have unwanted side effects.

Many patients seek non-drug treatment that addresses the root cause of their ADHD symptoms coming from brain dysregulation. swLORETA Neurofeedback is an advanced, non-invasive treatment that uses 3D brain imaging to identify and train dysregulated brain regions, providing a cutting-edge ADHD treatment.

The Drake Institute understands the complexity of treating ADHD and similar disorders. For over 30 years, we have offered non-invasive, drug-free treatment designed to address the needs of patients with ADHD.

In this article, we’ll discuss the breakthrough swLORETA Neurofeedback, how it is used to treat patients with ADHD, and how our non-drug protocols help improve the quality of life for patients.

What Is swLORETA Neurofeedback?

swLORETA (Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography) Neurofeedback is a more advanced form of LORETA neurofeedback that provides a detailed, three-dimensional view of brain activity. Traditional neurofeedback measures surface-recorded brainwaves using electrodes placed on the scalp, while LORETA neurofeedback pinpoints activity deeper in specific brain regions.

swLORETA maps electrical activity in different brain networks and creates a 3D representation of neural function. This helps precisely target and train specific areas of the brain associated with cognitive functions, emotional regulation, and impulse control—key factors in ADHD.

swLORETA neurofeedback is an essential instrument for creating customized treatments for patients with ADHD and other brain-related disorders. Its ability to improve functioning in deep brain networks makes it a powerful alternative to conventional ADHD treatment.

How Is swLORETA Neurofeedback Performed?

At the Drake Institute, swLORETA Neurofeedback begins with a qEEG brain map analysis with clinical correlation to develop clinical protocols for improving dysregulated regions linked to symptoms. Our individualized approach helps pinpoint and optimize dysregulated brain regions linked with ADHD symptoms.

qEEG Brain Mapping: Initial Assessment of Brainwave Activity

As stated above, before neurofeedback training begins, a quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) is performed to assess the patient’s brainwave patterns. Nineteen electrodes are placed on the scalp to measure the brain’s electrical activity and then processed through the normative database to detect significant deviations from the norm. Our brain mapping process helps identify specific brain networks that are dysregulated, causing symptoms, and which can be improved with treatment.

Targeting Dysregulated Brain Regions: Identifying Areas Linked to ADHD

Using data gathered from the qEEG, swLORETA imaging creates a 3D model of brain activity that looks beyond surface-level waves into the deeper structures of the brain. This detailed view helps identify specific networks of dysregulation that can be more accurately targeted with LORETA neurofeedback to provide a customized and effective treatment plan.

Real-Time Neurofeedback Training: Encouraging Optimal Brainwave Patterns

Once the dysregulated areas are identified, the neurofeedback training/treatment process can be initiated. Patients participate in an interactive process with their brain activity being displayed in real-time on a computer screen where with auditory and visual feedback they can modify their brainwave activity to a healthier pattern. For example:

• When the brain produces desirable activity patterns, the patient receives a positive reward, such as points on the screen and an auditory tone being triggered.
• When dysregulated patterns continue or appear, no points appear on the screen, nor does an auditory tone go off, which signals the brain to shift to a healthier more functional pattern reflected by the positive feedback.

Through repetition, the brain learns to regulate itself, reinforcing healthier patterns associated with improved attention, reduced impulsivity, and better emotional regulation.

The Drake Institute’s brain map-guided swLORETA neurofeedback treatment empowers our patients by enabling them to develop the neurophysiologic regulation necessary to reduce ADHD symptoms.

Also, unlike drug-based ADHD treatments, our brain map-guided neurofeedback therapy typically does not cause negative side effects, and is also capable of producing long-term improvement

Ongoing Adjustments: Refining the Treatment Over Multiple Sessions

swLORETA Neurofeedback is a progressive treatment, meaning adjustments are made over time based on the patient’s progress.

• The feedback parameters may be modified to reinforce brainwave patterns leading to enhanced improvement.

By regularly modifying the treatment protocol thresholds, swLORETA Neurofeedback is more likely to result in long-lasting improvements in attention, focus, and self-regulation.

ADHD can be effectively treated without drugs, improving brain dysregulation and optimizing brain function, leading to a reduction and/or resolution of symptoms and improved quality of life.

swLORETA Neurofeedback vs. Traditional Neurofeedback

Here are the main differences between neurofeedback therapies and how they work together.

Traditional Neurofeedback trains brainwaves to improve self-regulation, but only measures activity at one or several sites. It is clinically effective, but it targets broad brain regions, so it is not as specific nor precise as swLORETA is for improving specific brain networks. swLORETA can also directly target the hippocampus, the amygdala, insula, and the cerebellum which can be very important in treating ADHD, but cannot be directly trained by traditional neurofeedback.

Why Should You Choose swLORETA Neurofeedback for ADHD Treatment?

ADHD is linked to irregular brainwave patterns, especially in areas of the brain that control focus, executive functioning, impulse control and emotional regulation. swLORETA Neurofeedback helps pinpoint and retrain dysregulated regions more precisely than traditional neurofeedback methods.

Advantages Over Other Treatments

• swLORETA is a safe, non-invasive, drug-free alternative to stimulant medications.
• Individualized therapy is based on each patient’s unique brainwave patterns linked to symptoms.
• Treatment offers positive, long-lasting improvement of symptoms, instead of temporarily masking them with medication.

How swLORETA Neurofeedback Helps Treat ADHD Symptoms

• swLORETA enhances focus and attention by learning to normalize activity in dysregulated brain regions.
• swLORETA reduces impulsivity and hyperactivity by improving and stabilizing neural networks responsible for impulse control and hyperactivity.
• swLORETA results in mood stability and improves emotional regulation by training the brain to balance overactive or underactive areas.

Treating ADHD With Neurofeedback at the Drake Institute

The Drake Institute has made neurofeedback and biofeedback the centerpieces of our non-drug treatment programs for over 40 years. The technology is important, but there is a steep learning curve in acquiring the clinical expertise required to use it effectively, and this can only be overcome by a great deal of experience.

Here at the Drake Institute, we have helped over 10,000 patients through our neurofeedback-based treatment process, enabling us to develop a unique level of clinical knowledge and expertise.

We are committed to helping people with ADHD improve their quality of life without relying on medications and the unwanted side effects that come with them. Our drug-free treatment for ADHD continues to significantly improve the quality of life for patients from around the world, providing clinical improvement for the majority of patients.

Drake has helped thousands of patients with various disorders such as autism, ADHD, PTSD, anxiety, panic disorder, and depression to reduce or resolve their symptoms and achieve a better quality of life. If you or a loved one need help treating ADHD, call us at 1-800-700-4233 or fill out the free consultation form to get started.