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NFB VR

NFB VR
Digitized Anything

Consortium: Metacognis Institute – Serbia / Faculty of Philosophy, University of Banja Luka – Bosnia & Herzegovina

Funded by: Knowledge Transfer Experiments, Round 1

Using science and technical advances, Neurofeedback Virtual Reality (NFB VR) is introduced to the medicine and biomedical engineering with an aim to train the brain to prevent or treat many diseases related to anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, attention disorders and to improve certain cognitive functions with a type of therapy that is based on monitoring the electrical activity of the brain (EEG) and giving feedback.

NFB uses equipment to assess the state of brain functions and brain units of subjects, diagnosis and monitoring of the condition of subjects over a long period of time as well as to restore and improve certain brain functions and brain units.

NFB VR project went a step further from the neurofeedback methods which provide real-time neuroimaging data by creating models that provide instant feedback to scientists in investigating the impact of certain interventions or tactics on a patient's ability to perform tasks. Through a processor unit that reads data that come from sensors placed on the target areas of patients’ head in real-time, significant data for the current state of his brain activity are processed, analyzed, extracted and used to generate control values of a simulation unit. The task of the simulation unit is to match the simulation to the received control values. Heart rate sensors detect heart rate in real-time. During the simulation, the user connects to a platform for measuring biophysical signals, a device for measuring electrical activity of the brain also in real-time.

Neurofeedback helps retrain the region of the brain that is causing symptoms and returns patient to a state of balance, while it can be used for therapeutic purposes to soften the symptoms of many conditions, including: seizures, recovery from addiction, sleep disorders, anxiety and depression, PTSD, disruptive behavioral disorders / bipolar disorder, ADHD / ADD, autism, migraines, concussion and traumatic brain injury.

Objectives

The project’s primary objective is the advancement of medicine in the field of treatment of cognitive and psychological conditions of patients and the development of cognitive characteristics in humans in order to improve psychophysical characteristics to unprecedented proportions.

Neurofeedback aims to help individuals improve emotional, behavioral and cognitive functioning by training patients to increase certain brainwaves whilst inhibiting others, to promote optimal brain regulation promising long- term changes in the brain/behaviour when the treatment is stopped, as neurofeedback is based upon changing the brain directly through neuroplasticity and learning. It aims to actually treat the core problem rather than simply masking symptoms.

Challenges
Many scientists and physicians talk about the importance of neurofeedback methods in real-time, so NEUROFEEDBACK VIRTUAL REALITY had to make its way through,
  • The lack of real-time neurofeedback methods that could be a very valuable point for future clinical trials
  • The necessity of real-time neuroimaging data that can provide instant feedback to scientists in investigating the impact of certain interventions or tactics on a patient's ability to perform tasks, providing a way to determine what best suited for them.

Technology & Innovation

NEUROFEEDBACK VIRTUAL REALITY made the algorithms that real-time neurofeedback become reality. The system that NFB VR formed consists of the following parts:

  • Measurement and information platform for measuring biophysical signals, consisting specifically of sensors that measure SpO2, sensors that measure blood pressure, electroencephalography and heart rate sensors that detect heart rate in real time
  • Processor unit which loads data from units of measure in real time
  • Simulation unit which communicates with the processor unit in real time and retrieves relevant control values. During the simulation, the user connects to the measurement platform
    • All equipment used in this project is completely non-invasive and leaves no consequences on the user.

Market

NEUROFEEDBACK VIRTUAL REALITY project has a huge potential in Europe and all over the world.

It can be considered as targeting a wide range of audiences, from individuals expressing the need for high quality health services, to pharmaceutical manufacturers, along with other healthcare companies that manufacture devices and equipment of healthcare products. Therefore, everyone who deals with brain-related conditions such as pain, addiction, aggression, anxiety, autism, depression, schizophrenia, epilepsy, headaches, insomnia, Tourette syndrome, and brain damage from stroke, trauma (either as a patient or a physician), represents a targeted group around the world.

It is also well noted that organizations increase their research and development to deliver quality health products and progress in the health sector is also supported by governments around the world through a number of financial grants.

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