This is a new page.  I have made a start on it with a brief summary.  I will expand it as time goes on.  (Page reviewed July 2009)

Psychophysiology is the study of the interaction of brain and body.


Applied Psychophysiology is the study of how one can use this interaction to help individuals alleviate a variety of disorders and/or achieve peak/improved performance in a number of bodily functions.

It incorporates one of the basic principles of psychophysiology as put forward by the early biofeedback pioneers at the Menninger Foundation in Kansas - Elmer Green and Associates - which proposes that " …. Every change that occurs in a physiological state is accompanied by a change in the mental and emotional state, whether conscious or unconscious, and vice versa."

Much of the work of the "Applied Psychophysiologist" is spent in helping individuals to use their mind to produce changes in their body.  It can thus help individuals: rid themselves of disorders created by disharmony between mind and body (most stress related problems come under this category); provide greater control over bodily functions (such as in "Sports Applications"); regain bodily function as in rehabilitation medicine.  More recently it is being used to gain more control over mental function.

The techniques of "Applied Psychophysiology" are used by many persuasions ranging from the stress therapist, perhaps using it to alleviate migraine or hypertension, to the physiologist applying it to stroke patients and peripheral nerve injury, to the urologist helping those with incontinence, to the neurologist working with ADHD.


METHODS USED

These include:

              Relaxation Techniques based on -

                                    Diaphragmatic breathing
                                    Progressive Relaxation (Jacobson)
                                    Autogenic Training (Schultz and Luthe)
                                    Quieting Response and Reflex (Stroebel)
                                    Meditation (Benson and many others)

              Biofeedback (see separate section)

              Visualisation Techniques

              Cognitive Restructuring - changing peoples thinking usually based on the   
                                cognitive behavioural methods of Ellis, Beck, Lazarus R and A, 
                                Meichenbaum etc.


Can be used in conjunction with:

              Psychotherapy
              Counselling
              Physical Therapies such as:
                    Physiotherapy
                    Massage
                    Osteopathy
                    Chiropractic

However it is being used, it essentially teaches clients/students how to control their body - self-regulation. 


Research has shown that in order to be optimally effective this training needs to      incorporate:

1. An individual training programme


2. The eclectic use of techniques - use a variety of techniques perhaps from      different persuasions


3. The pragmatic use of techniques - use what works for that client/student


4. Personal training - most effective to train an individual not large groups


5. Training to criteria using biofeedback


6. Background physiology and method rationale so the student/client understands what they are trying to do


7. Cognitive restructuring where the individual's thought processes are hampering progression