BIOFEEDBACK ALS FORSCHUNGSMETHODE

First a short survey is given of the theoretical bases and the historical development of biofeedback research. In this it is strongly emphasized that so far, except for a series of solid laboratory experiments, little was found of any practical clinical value. The danger of early use of biofeedback before a careful clinical check has been made is underlined. With the example of an experimental work on self regulation of slow cortical shifts of tension in the EEG, it is clearly shown how such experiments turn out, and that the self control of a certain cerebral physiological parameter can lead to changes in the behavior. It is stressed that biofeedback is an excellent method for experimental research on the correlations between psychological and physiological processes, and can at the same time yield information on the collaboration of various physiological systems, but that the therapeutic application of it has it most cases apparently not been sufficiently examined so far.