Biofeedback
Biofeedback, a technique by which patients monitor their own bodily functions in an attempt to alter those functions. Primarily used in treating painful or stress-related conditions, biofeedback helps a patient control physiological processes that are normally considered involuntary. In biofeedback training, electronic or mechanical instruments attached to the patient measure physical functioning, such as the degree of muscle tension. The machines then transform this information into amplified signals that the patient can hear or see—for example, a beep or a flashing light—thus enabling the patient to know when internal responses are abnormal. This feedback information (see Automation ) can then guide the patient in trying to gain control over the internal condition. Biofeedback learning has been likened to that involved in mastering an athletic skill. Although this kind of learning may occur in biofeedback, its benefits often are largely the result of relaxation induced by the procedu