Biofeedback for the Brain is a challenging book to rate: it provides a wealth of information (especially for those unfamiliar with biofeedback/neurofeedback) and gives an excellent overview on the subject. The problem with it, unfortunately, is that it also contains some, but not all, of the pitfalls common to other books on the matter. To begin with, I'd like to comment on the positive elements. Swingle provides a highly accessible look at just what neurofeedback does and what it is capable of doing. Its uses are well explained and the book provides good descriptions of why this form of biofeedback is appropriate in many situations. The examples discussed represent a broad overview of the types of maladies that may be served: ADD/ADHD, autism, depression, OCD, TBI, etc. as well as how these may be diagnosed and treated through neurofeedback. The author also discussed potential useful alternative/adjunct therapies that may contribute to intervention strategies: these include audio/visual stimulation (AVS), electrocranial stimulation, and brainwave entrainment techniques.
As mentioned earlier, there are several problems with this book some of which may, or may not, have been the result of decisions by the author. When reading books on neurofeedback, I constantly look at the references that are provided as this provide a good clue into the veracity of the book's contents (in other words, is the book based upon sound scientific principles or, in the case of alternative medical approaches, merely new age nonsense) - while Swingle does, for the most part, use very good sources, these sources are also limited as many of the same journals are cited over and over again. While there is nothing wrong with this, per se, it would have been more appropriate (if possible) to have used a greater number of peer reviewed journals. The problem with this, however, may not have been the author's fault as neurofeedback has not yet been fully studied and many refuse to admit that it is worth studying.
The real problem I have with the book concerns the ongoing promotion of the author's own practice and materials. While this is not as blatant as what I've read in other books (especially, The Healing Power of Neurofeedback: The Revolutionary LENS Technique for Restoring Optimal Brain Function), it is still present. A few of the web sites cited concerning materials belong to the author. One item, in particular, caught my attention and that was Swingle's mention of his "attention harmonic" some type of sound that he has produced on a CD. While this may, or may not, be a valuable tool to use, the author provides very little information as to what, exactly, this "attention harmonic" is: in fact almost all sounds have harmonics. Why is Swingle's sound different? What are the characteristics of that sound? This type of problem is evident throughout the book - good, or potentially good, techniques are discussed but little specific information is often given so that a knowledgeable person can fully understand what is being discussed.
Overall, the book does do an excellent job in describing many components of a neurofeedback treatment program and clearly explains, in layman's terms, the types of things one might expect in a therapeutic setting. It is for that reason that I've rated this book highly. I would, however, like to see more from this author that is more explicit in terms of why certain therapies work (for example, explain the mechanisms behind brainwave entrainment).
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Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2009
Intriguing explanation of brain waves and the therapy that utilizes patients' control of those waves
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2015Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2010
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2011
