Neuroscientist Dr Yoko Nagai, from the University of Sussex, has taken steps to launch a campaign to develop a home-based therapy package for epilepsy patients.
Biofeedback is a behavioural system that can be used to help people learn how to reduce the number or intensity of epileptic seizures they experience.
It works by monitoring signals from the body that individuals are not normally aware of, including subtleties such as brainwaves and blood pressure.
The system allows an individual – in this instance, an epilepsy patient – to see the patterns that these ‘hidden’ processes make via a screen, so they can then learn how to control them more effectively.
Dr Nagai has adapted an associated treatment that relies on electrodermal activity, which is a process whereby changes in the body are picked up through someone’s skin.
She hopes that Autonomic Cognitive Rehabituation Training (ACRT) therapy – as it is called – will lead to seizure sufferers being able to receive some of the treatment they need to manage their condition while in their home environment.
It has long been acknowledged that epilepsy seizures are linked to a person’s emotional, mental or physical state, and some of the most common triggers can be an increased level of stress or anxiety.
These triggers also affect the body’s electrodermal activity, which means that it is a useful system to monitor for the likelihood of a seizure, allowing people to reduce their risk of having them.
Dr Nagai, said: “Although every day I help people with epilepsy face-to-face, I am very motivated to be able to disseminate my therapy to many more patients who can benefit from this approach.”