There is an increasing interest among Indians to opt for Brain Function Training (BFT). This is not just for therapies like autism, anxiety, cerebral palsy and depression, but to enhance work performance levels at office and also by sports persons, according to N.S. Srinivasan, Founder & Chief Mentor, Medha Mind Enhancement Company. The key objective of a BFT programme which is a non invasive technique is to help normalise and optimise the brain function.

The Chennai-based Medha Mind, over the last 18 months has witnessed five-fold surge in enquiries and a three-fold increase in those signing up for the BFT programme which includes not just neurological patients but corporate officials and sportsmen.

Going by the demand, Medha Mind expanded to open centres at Hyderabad and Jabalpur. It is also supporting individuals online in Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi, Northern Capital Region (NCR), Ludhiana, Middle East, South East Asia and UK.

“The age group of BFT participants at Medha Mind are from 18 month old babies for autism, learning-speech disabilities, cerebral palsy to adults of 36 years. We can train brains of any age-group for conditions spanning from depression, epilepsy, stroke, mild brain injury, asthma & breathing problems, anxiety & panic disorders”, Srinivasan told Pharmabiz.

The human brain produces an electrical potential. The voltage is often 1/millionth of a volt. It could be recorded, measured and compared using sophisticated equipment like the Quantitative Electroencephalography (QEEG). It helps assess the electrical patterns at the surface of the scalp which reflects the cortical activity, known as ‘brainwaves’ used for brain mapping. The absolute values of electrical patterns are compared to an FDA approved Normative database. Now the area where Neuroplasticity has failed is determined statistically. The possibility of faster recovery in many patients depends on spotting of the accurate location of electrical patterns. The non-invasive QEEG equipment only reads the EEG signals being generated from the brain’s surface. The established stage of brain development forms the backbone of the BFT programme, he added.

The 10-day intensive BFT programme of 12 sessions over six months requires  two sittings of one hour each a day. During this period lifestyle changes are recommended to support the re-establishment of Neuroplasticity in dysregulated areas of the brain. “In most cases, we have found that the patient is able to reduce the dosage and eventually wean away from medication for many of the neurological conditions,” he said.

Globally BFT is proved to have no negative side-effects. The US government has appointed Dr. Robert Thatcher, QEEG researcher on the President Obama’s medical advisory board.

There is an awareness about neurological problems and the long term benefits of BFT.  In fact, the , Madras Medical College has now approached Medha Mind to conduct Continuing Medical Education sessions on QEEG for its practicing doctors and post graduate students to have empirical bio-marker based diagnosis than on mere behavioural criteria.