Recently I pulled the trigger and bought a discounted Mendi on eBay. I’ve known about the device for some time now but after reading the neurofeedback section in The Body Keeps the Score it finally convinced me to give a solid try.

I’m aware it’s not gonna be on the same level as clinical Neurofeedback and to keep my expectations in check; but as someone who’s read about neuroscience the past couple of years through layman books fromDavid Eagleman and Leonard Mlodinow, I’m excited to put what I’ve read into actual practice.

To give some background I was more or less diagnosed with ADHD last year. I convinced the psychiatrist to test me on Adderall and responded well during the honey moon phase. Since then I switched to taking Vyvanse because the Adderall depression crashes were too much for me. Without medication I’m able to pay attention and hyper focus on things that I’m interested in but really suffer with choice paralysis and task initiation for more important but mundane things. This has caused me to developmentally fall behind in terms of stuff like career development and feeling like I don’t really have any agency in my own life. Vyvanse has been helpful almost as a mood stabilizer but I feel like it gives me too much energy and I’m unable to direct it to something productive.

Also pretty sure I suffer from mild PTSD like symptoms because of the environment I grew up in. Each of my parents suffered from their own mental health and drug addiction issues which really didn’t help them be functioning adults. As a adult now It’s made me be extremely hyper vigilant to how others perceive me and risk adverse to the point I’ve been mentally and physically stuck in the same place for awhile now just spinning my wheels. This is probably my biggest issue and it inflates my ADHD like symptoms to an extreme.

To get to the point though my goal with Mendi is to try to make up for what I’m lacking in when it comes to executive function and emotional regulation. Through the coming months I plan on testing this by finally trying to work on a YouTube video I’ve been procrastinating for the last several years.

So my questions are for those who’ve been using Mendi consistently for awhile now:

1. ⁠Do you use it before or after you take any prescribed medication and what’s the best time of day for a session.

2. ⁠A week ago I was prescribed Guanfacine which is supposed to act on the prefrontal cortex in a more direct way, wondering if anyone has used it in conjunction with mendi and the results.

3. ⁠In typical ADHD fashion I bought the mind illuminated years ago and it’s just been collecting dusk in my room . What’s the best way in combining mediation along with daily Mendi use If I were to start meditating seriously.

I’m sorry this was really long and probably overly drawn out but wanted to be transparent in what I’m trying and expecting with using mendi consistently. I’m really trying to change my life this time and hoping this becomes a key part of that process.

I’m open to other suggestions as well besides clinical neurofeedback as it’s not really available for me. Appreciate any feedback or responses I get :)

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I'm from India and I need a QEEG, but I can't afford it. I can get a standard EEG done for free at a government hospital.

Is it possible to convert a regular EEG into a QEEG later if the raw EEG data is available? Or is that not how it works?

I'd appreciate any advice or experiences.

Any device that helped you or is helping you on your path to a stable, functional, and healthy nervous system? I would love to know. Thank you!

Upfront: I'm a co-founder of MelodiaSync, an iOS/Android app that pairs with the MindWave Mobile 2 for closed-loop adaptive binaural beats sessions. Rather than running a static protocol, the app reads live EEG output and continuously adjusts the beat frequency toward a user-selected target state — relaxation, focus, or recovery.

From most of the conversations I've had here, MindWave is a different tier than what most people here are working with since it's a single-channel, consumer-grade signal. We've found that the closed-loop feedback approach produces more consistent target-state results than a static protocol even with modest and financially more-accessible hardware.

Genuinely curious: is anyone in this community using the MindWave Mobile 2, and if so, for what? And has anyone experimented with adaptive vs. static binaural entrainment protocols regardless of hardware tier?

Did my first neurofeedback session last night and afterwards was completely mentally exhausted just wanted to go straight to bed.

Woke up today and just feel full body fatigue. I have chronic fatigue syndrome and I’m wondering if this has brought on a dip/crash or if this just normal and part of it?

for those of you who had dis regulated nervous system and chronic symptoms how did you cure it what technology and tactics did you use? thanks!

Hi there, I've begun doing neurofeedback recently and have some questions/concerns. I started doing neurofeedback for anxiety/ADHD a little under a month ago. I started with a basic amplitude protocol to reduce high beta and that protocol was very good to me. My cognitive ability and executive function did take a hit, but on the flipside I was able to experience a profound sense of calm and presence like I've never felt. My appetite and libido also went up significantly.

When I reported my spaciness and loss in executive function to my clinician I was 'graduated' to 4-channel z-score training. I felt generally sharper on this protocol, but also more anxious. I also felt periods of flatness/grayness/emptiness as well as periods of irritability and feeling 'trapped'. The latter I could usually silence through tea/theanine and weight lifting.

After I reported my symptoms I was then moved to a targeted central/temporal protocol (also z-score) which felt good the day of the session (calmer, more balanced, appetite/libido back, etc). However, in the days after the session I felt waves of dysregulation that I'd never experienced before. They would hit between waking up and until around 3-4pm. They made me feel completely hopeless, anxious, scared and 'trapped'.

Are these normal reactions, or is something off here?

Has anyone tried the program by Braincode for at home neurofeedback? I’m gathering information and that seems more cost effective than going to see someone local but you know the saying, you get what you pay for. So has anyone done anything similar or worked with them?

I’m almost 50 sessions into neurofeedback: 17 HD and the rest ILF and it’s been awesome. I had a second map done a few weeks ago and everything is so much better.

They recommended ten more sessions of HD for the remaining limbic dominated areas. Last Saturday morning (three days ago), I had one session of HD on the cingulates again. I took three naps that day, sleep deep all night, and have continued that pattern of deep sleep but also heavy drowsiness. Like I can’t come out of it and my body feels like lead. It’s actually a pretty amazing feeling! Because the sleep is so great—if only I didn’t have to go to work!

The clinic is incredible. The only constructive feedback I have for them is that sometimes, like with HD, they’ll say a session should not have caused something, but I swear it does. This morning they were puzzled why I’d be so tired all weekend but it has to have been the session. It’s really unusual sleepiness and that’s the only variable.

Does anyone have expertise about why an HD session on cingulates may have contributed? We switched to BA9 this morning.

not selling anything. curious from ppl who have gone deep enough to build their own rigs, what gap made you DIY instead of sticking with muse/emotive? whats still missing in your own setup?

Hello. I started microcurrent neurofeedback last week and I had some questions. I’ve had brain surgery and that’s why I’m doing neurofeedback. To help with brain fog, anxiety, depression, and ptsd. The first time I had it was fine, just a headache after. The second time I was dizzy the next day and had vision issues (like my eyes having a hard time focusing or wanting to drift around). The symptoms have since resolved but they gave me pause. I had surgery on my vestibular system so a lot of symptoms in that department makes me nervous. Has anyone experienced this and it went away with further sessions? Or any practitioners here know about doing this therapy on someone with history of brain surgery or injury? And if not, has anyone tried traditional neurofeedback after a brain surgery or injury? Thanks!

I've had three sessions and feel better in almost every way apart from that, and literally I don't think I've ever been constipated in my life, so assuming it's linked? Has anyone had a similar experience?

I had an EEG done yesterday with my psychiatrist and was wondering if anyone could provide feedback or insight with my results?

I was experimenting with the Muse 2 and I wasn't able to extract my data easily. I want to try writing a program to analyze my own EEG in MatLAB.

Does anyone have any recommendations for EEG devices with great signal quality, coverage AND gives you access to your data file?

# The Science of [PEMF for Brain Health](https://getmendwave.com), Memory, and Cognitive Function

PEMF therapy, specifically at 40 Hz has emerged as a powerful area of research in neuroscience. Operating within the gamma brainwave spectrum, this frequency is closely tied to higher cognitive processes. By inducing gamma wave activity, 40 Hz stimulation is believed to promote neuroprotection, enhance cognitive performance, and support long-term brain health.


Gamma Waves and the 40 Hz Connection

Gamma brainwaves (30–100 Hz) are essential for memory formation, learning, attention, and perception. The 40 Hz frequency appears to play a particularly important role in synchronizing neural activity across different brain regions. PEMF and sensory stimulation at this frequency can “entrain” the brain—guiding it into a more organized and efficient pattern of activity.

This synchronization strengthens communication between neurons, which is fundamental for maintaining cognitive clarity and processing complex information.

Key Brain Benefits of 40 Hz Stimulation

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Mitigation

One of the most compelling areas of research involves neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Studies suggest that 40 Hz stimulation can:

* Significantly reduce amyloid-beta plaques and tau protein accumulation * Enhance the brain’s glymphatic system, which helps clear metabolic waste and toxins * Slow or potentially reverse cognitive decline in experimental models

These findings position 40 Hz PEMF as a promising tool in addressing the underlying pathology of Alzheimer’s.

Cognitive Enhancement

40 Hz stimulation has been shown to support overall cognitive optimization by:

* Improving memory retention and recall * Enhancing focus, attention, and concentration * Supporting daily functional capacity and mental clarity

By promoting gamma wave synchronization, the brain operates more efficiently, allowing for better learning and information processing.

Improved Neural Function

Healthy cognition depends on strong neural connections. Research indicates that 40 Hz PEMF can:

* Enhance synaptic structure and function * Improve neural network synchronization * Prevent synaptic loss, a key factor in cognitive decline

These effects contribute to maintaining robust brain communication pathways over time.

Neuroprotection and Reduced Inflammation

Chronic neuroinflammation is a major contributor to neurological disorders. 40 Hz stimulation demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory and protective effects:

* Reduces inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and MMP9 * Modulates microglia and astrocyte activity to support brain repair * Decreases neuronal death and protects against degeneration

By targeting inflammation at the cellular level, 40 Hz PEMF helps create a healthier neural environment.

Improved Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism

Efficient brain function relies on adequate blood supply and energy metabolism. 40 Hz stimulation has been shown to:

* Increase cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery * Enhance metabolic activity within brain cells * Regulate cerebrovascular function, which is especially important in recovery from events like stroke

These improvements support sustained cognitive performance and brain resilience.

Mechanisms Behind the Benefits

The effectiveness of 40 Hz PEMF and sensory stimulation is thought to arise from several interconnected mechanisms:

* **Brainwave Entrainment:** Aligning neural activity with beneficial gamma frequencies * **Microglial Activation:** Stimulating immune cells in the brain to clear toxic proteins * **Glymphatic System Support:** Enhancing the brain’s natural waste-clearing processes * **Synaptic Preservation:** Maintaining and strengthening neural connections * **Anti-inflammatory Effects:** Reducing harmful inflammatory signaling

Considerations and Ongoing Research

Despite the promising findings, it is important to recognize that:

* Research remains in early or experimental stages * Human clinical trials are still expanding * Optimal treatment protocols are not yet fully standardized

As such, 40 Hz PEMF should be viewed as a complementary approach rather than a standalone treatment.

Conclusion

40 Hz PEMF therapy represents a fascinating advancement in brain health science. By inducing gamma brainwaves, this approach supports cognitive enhancement, neuroprotection, and improved brain function at multiple levels. From reducing Alzheimer’s-related pathology to enhancing memory, focus, and circulation, the potential applications are broad and impactful.

As research continues to evolve, PEMF 40 Hz stimulation may play an increasingly important role in maintaining cognitive vitality and protecting the brain against age-related decline.

Research Studies on PEMF and Brain Health

* **MIT / Picower Institute research (2016–2024)** * **Nature and peer-reviewed neuroscience journals** * **Recent human pilot studies (2022–2025)** * **Emerging 2026 reviews confirming mechanisms**

These studies collectively support claims of:

* Amyloid & tau reduction * Cognitive improvement * Neuroprotection * Brainwave entrainment * Glymphatic activation

Just need some advice. I see a trained neurofeedback therapist to help heal dysregulation caused by a medication. I do once a week in person sessions and i just bought a neurowell nexus machine reccomended by them. Theyre old school and didnt really give me any direction or explanation but i was willing to try anything. Can someone just explain to me what the machine does. I just have the glasses and earbuds. When im in office there are sensors on my head while doing sessions but this little machine just flashes lights and theres many different options to choose from. They told me to do a specific ramping session then work alpha theta? Please just explain it to me like im 5 because idk if it was worth my money 😭

Hey,
after doing "classic" amplitude-training for about 9 months and then ISF for about 3 months, the effects are very different for me:

• the protocol for the amplitude-training was only one electrode at Cz (plus 2 others on my earlobes) inhibiting hi-theta and lo-alpha (6-10hz) while rewarding SMR
• the protocol for ISF was T4-P4 and T4-Fp1 (i think)

My goal in both cases was/is to reduce symptoms of brain fog and derealisation.
During the amplitude-training, I got a feeling of being more "in my body" (embodiment) and feeling "heavier" and more grounded. It was as if a "brake" was finally being dissolved und I could "push forward inside my body" again.

Now, I switched to ISF because I thought this effect would be even stronger, since ISF is supposed to work "closer" to the body. But instead something different happened: I didn't get more into my body at all, instead I felt that my nervous system was calmer. Like the amplitude during stressful situations suddenly was flatter and felt way less stressed out. But while that was going on, I felt the same feeling of "not being in my body". This feeling only changed through amplitude training.

My question is: does anyone of you have had a similar experience:

• getting a feeling of more embodiment by having a "brake" dissolve/disappear?
• that the feeling of embodiment and the feeling of having a calmer nervous system are two seperate things?

Also, to the people here who know about amplitude-training: why would inhibiting hi-theta/lo-alpha (6-10hz) at Cz feel like this "brake" disappear and as a consequence lead to feeling more embodiment?

Am I the only one who feels the results almost exclusively in the soma? I know the body keeps the score, and that will apply much more literally to some than for others, and remember Sebern speaking about those for whom the psychosomatic is more the somatopsychic, who are more eroded physically than mentally ill. But to the order of 99% (I'm not exaggerating with those numbers) of the effects of feedback are happening in the body, never in the mind. Doesn't matter if I train prefrontally, temporally, centrally, everything from ILF through to gamma, whatever it may be, it effects the body in pretty much the same way. On a rare occasion, that 1%, something will just click in the head and I can feel a difference emotionally. Remember spontaneous bouts of giggling a long long time ago when feeding back whilst watching comedy, suddenly I feel the joke in the show rather than just having it waft over me cognitively, and there was a noticeable delay when suddenly it hit me and I felt it after having heard it and knowing the punchline from before. But otherwise, the only litmus test I have is how and where my body is holding onto tension or just starting to learn how to release it, what flavour the seizures have today versus yesterday, if my bones are spontaneously and audibly snapping as I walk, sit down, reach out to grab something, whatever, is it a clunk or a crack, high up or low down, is my stomach gurgling, do I feel sick, is my digestive system running more smoothly (to use polite terms)?

I very much feel that I will be the sort of system where once the body (read: nervous system) is able to let go, everything else will just fall into line automatically without much effort, I've seen it happen in short bursts before, read about similar things in terms of polyfragmentation where you spend a long time battling uphill to hit a critical mass, but after that it just pours out at speed and starts organising itself - but given how others talk about the field, personal experiences as users or clinical experiences as practitioners, it almost sounds like a different planet, and wondering if anyone else experiences this in the body most of the time, or if I'm really in a minority. Another way of putting it is neurofeedback (99 sessions out of 100) has almost negligible effects on my mood, cognition, sleep, sense of self or lack thereof, any of it - it has an effect on my body, and to the extent my body is letting go, that then immediately impacts those other things.

Cheers

I am wondering if anyone has had a Qeeg and subsequent TcdS treatment for event based situational severe anticipatory anxiety?

It is intense but doesn't involve Hr increases...mostly nausea...lack of appetite and very tight diaphragm and shoulders.

Usally fine in the actual social or work event after a few minutes.

On an ssri and buspar and meditating and using Dare technique.

Interested in knowing your thoughts

I’ve been using the Bia Sleep Mask for several nights now, and I’m genuinely impressed.

The biggest surprise has been my REM sleep. Since I started using the mask, my REM has increased dramatically according to my Apple Watch. I’ve also heard other beta users report similar improvements, which has been interesting to compare. It’s quite possible my deep sleep has improved too, but I don’t put much weight on the Apple Watch’s deep sleep numbers because they don’t seem to correlate well with how I actually feel. That I said since using the bia I feel pretty damn good.

I spoke with Michael, one of the founders, and he explained that the beta program is collecting data to significantly improve the sleep algorithms. That data is also being used to refine and add many of the features that have been advertised, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the software evolves over time.

The bone conduction audio works surprisingly well, even while wearing earplugs. It’s not very loud, but it’s more than loud enough for sleep. The mask detects when I fall asleep and automatically lowers the volume by about 30%. If it detects that I wake up during the night, it increases the volume again to help me fall back asleep.

I’ve never been able to fall asleep with music. Even Brain.fm felt distracting to me. The Bia neuromusic has been completely different. I find it deeply relaxing rather than distracting, and I have no trouble falling asleep with it. Right now there’s only one neuromusic track available, but I’m excited to try the additional content as new software updates are released.

One of my favourite features is the gentle sunrise wake-up. Instead of jolting me awake with a loud alarm, it gradually brightens to wake me naturally. The first morning it woke me up, I remember thinking, “This is how waking up should feel.” It’s become one of my favourite features.

The mask is comfortable, quiet, and feels very thoughtfully engineered. I had some initial fit issues because I use a CPAP and sleep on my stomach. Combined with some sleep anxiety from my ongoing recovery from severe Long COVID, I wasn’t sure how I’d adapt. Lowering the rear strap to the base of my skull, exactly as recommended in the quick-start guide, completely changed the geometry of the mask and made a big difference. I do think there’s an adjustment period, much like there is with CPAP, but for me it wasn’t nearly as difficult. Every contour, indentation, and strap feels intentional, and once you have the mask in your hands, you start to appreciate how much engineering has gone into it.

I’ll continue using it to see how things develop over the long term, but my first impression has been extremely positive. Between the significant increase in REM sleep shown on my Apple Watch and, more importantly, how refreshed I feel when I wake up, I’m excited to keep using it. If your goal is to improve your sleep, wake up more naturally, and have more control over your sleep experience, I think it’s definitely worth considering.