NFB & Chill: One vs Two Channel Training - Advanced Neurofeedback Protocol Design
Dr. Andrew Hill explored sophisticated neurofeedback training strategies, comparing sequential single-channel protocols with dual-channel approaches. This livestream tackled when to use each method and why dual-channel training creates fundamentally different brain effects than simply doing two protocols back-to-back.
Sequential Training: The Foundation Approach
Start with sequences, then evolve. Hill recommends beginning with sequential single-channel protocolsādoing 15 minutes of alpha training followed by 15 minutes of SMR, for example. This isn't just pedagogical caution; it's strategic.
Sequential training offers experimental flexibility. You can substitute protocols within sequences to test what works. If your C4 SMR protocol reliably improves executive function, you can experiment with different first protocols (C3 beta, FZ theta inhibition) while keeping the proven SMR as your foundation.
The "gravity" effect matters. Hill emphasizes that whichever protocol you end on creates stronger subjective after-effects. SMR training acts like neurological gravityāit grounds and stabilizes whatever came before. This means you can test potentially activating protocols first, knowing the SMR will buffer any unwanted side effects.
The Arousal Model Framework
Hill's approach stems from the classic arousal model: alpha as neutral, beta as active/fast, delta as inactive, theta as transitional. But he layers hemispheric considerations on top, thinking about laterality and dominance patterns across the brain.
Think like a gym trainer for the brain. You might train biceps and triceps together because they're opposing systems that work well in combination. Similarly, C3 beta (left hemisphere activation) pairs well with C4 SMR (right hemisphere regulation), or FZ theta inhibition with PZ alpha enhancementāopposing systems that support each other when co-trained.
Dual-Channel: Training Relationships, Not Just Regions
This is where it gets interesting. Dual-channel training isn't just doing two single-channel protocols simultaneously. You're training the relationship between brain regionsātheir ability to co-activate, co-regulate, and communicate.
Hill described two main dual-channel variants:
Sum protocols add the signals from both channels before measuring brainwave activity. This creates significant coherence between trained locations, essentially training them to synchronize their activity patterns.
Contingent dual-channel requires movement in multiple parameters (potentially six or more brainwave bands) to trigger rewards. Both regions must hit their targets simultaneously, training coordination rather than individual optimization.
Strategic Cautions and Considerations
Avoid putting major hubs in dual-channel training. Hill specifically warns against including temporal lobe mid-temporal areas or PZ (posterior midline) in dual-channel protocols. These are major connectivity hubs, and training their relationships with other areas can create unexpectedly strong network effects.
Homotopic areas (same locations on opposite hemispheres, like C3 and C4) work well for dual-channel training because they naturally communicate and can benefit from enhanced coordination.
The Bigger Picture: Assessment vs Training
Hill touched on a critical field-wide issue: sophisticated assessment tools like LORETA (real-time source analysis) can identify problems, but training directly to database norms isn't always optimal. "The map is not the territory," he emphasized. Use brain mapping for understanding, not as a rigid training blueprint.
Average isn't optimal. Just because a brain pattern appears "normal" in population databases doesn't mean it's right for a particular individual. The goal is functional improvement, not statistical conformity.
Key Takeaways
ā¢ Start sequential, evolve to dual-channel as you identify effective protocols ā¢ Use the "gravity" effect - end sessions with stabilizing protocols like SMR ā¢ Sequential training offers flexibility for testing and substitution ā¢ Dual-channel trains relationships between brain regions, not just individual areas ā¢ Sum protocols create coherence between trained locations ā¢ Avoid dual-channel training of major connectivity hubs without clear rationale ā¢ Brain maps inform strategy but shouldn't dictate rigid training targets
The sophistication of modern neurofeedback tools has outpaced our understanding of optimal training strategies. Hill's approach emphasizes starting conservatively with well-understood sequential protocols, then carefully advancing to dual-channel methods when the relationship between brain regions needs specific attention.
For practitioners and self-experimenters alike, this represents a mature approach to neurofeedback: use assessment to understand the brain, but train with flexibility and attention to individual response patterns rather than rigid adherence to population norms.