There can sometimes be resistance, especially from teenagers, to using the 'goop' (or paste) underneath the sensors with the NeurOptimal neurofeedback system. Meanwhile some cheaper neurofeedback systems (especially those that use a headband - see photo below) offer paste-free alternatives. So what’s the difference?

At one stage NeurOptimal neurofeedback founder, Val Brown, considered moving to dry-sensor technology (without paste). But Val has tested most of the dry technology systems on the market and, unfortunately, they just don't give the signal integrity that is needed for neurofeedback to work accurately. Put simply the paste helps with the conducting of electricity and the systems that don’t use paste are just not accurate enough. These lesser quality systems that don’t use paste have to eliminate some of the most important frequency responses at the low end and the high end of the brain’s frequency range.

NeurOptimal measures the frequency responses from 0.001 all the way up to 64 herz, while most dry-sensored-systems cut off both the lower-end and the higher-end responses of the brain. 

For example, most dry-sensored systems stop measuring below 4 herz. Unfortunately, that removes some of the most important aspects of the brain’s signal to consider because it's those low, slow, very powerful points of brain activity that can influence the rest of the nervous system quite profoundly.  

Additionally, the cheaper, dry-sensored systems stop measuring the higher frequencies at about 35-45 herz, also missing the opportunity to provide important feedback to the brain at the higher frequencies. Whereas our system measures right up to 64 herz!

So if you are considering going with a neurofeedback model that is not using paste, you may like to reconsider. Keep in mind if you are paying $1000 to buy a headband-type system versus paying roughly the same amount to hire a $16,500 (AUD) NeurOptimal neurofeedback system, your results will reflect the difference in the dollar cost of owning each system. The former may deliver temporary results whilst you or your child is having the session, while the NeurOptimal system is working to permanently heal and change the brain.

Consequently, please don't worry about having to use paste - it will actually be much more beneficial for you if you access the type of neurofeedback that does use paste! Moreover, if you or your teenager has long hair, I have a fool-proof method for not getting any 'goop' in your hair!