IMAGINE what it would feel like to walk into a doctor's surgery, have treatment and walk out feeling as if a lightbulb had been switched on in your head.

Suddenly, you would be able to think clearly, make sound judgements and act decisively. No fuss, no panic, no stress.

It all sounds too good to be true. But one doctor in St Albans offers treatment that claims to do just that. She calls it "the medicine of the future".

Originally pioneered to help stroke victims, epileptics, people in pain and those with attention deficit disorders, EEG neurofeedback treatment can also help stressed professionals and managers to improve their performance at work and lower their blood pressure.

So what is this wonder treatment? How does it work and where can we get it?

EEG neurofeedback is a learning process that helps a person to alter their brainwaves.

When information about a person's brainwave characteristics is fed back to them, they can learn to change them for the better.

Here in St Albans, Dr Surinder Kaur's practice is helping people of all ages to do just that.

Neurofeedback was pioneered in the 1960's in America, when Dr Barry Sterman was asked to help relieve the epileptic fits of Vietnam war veterans.

He triggered epileptic seizures in cats during his research and found that those given neurofeedback had fewer attacks.

Somehow, the moggies had learned to limit the brainwave patterns that cause fits.

Two years ago, Dr Kaur set up her practice in St Albans - the first full-time neurofeedback practice in the country.

Of the treatment, she says: "It allows a person to manage their own mental and physical states. Once a brain has been trained to go into a particular mental state, for example like riding a bike or walking, the process is there in the brain."

One example of a client affected for the better is a man who said he was in poor health and felt stressed, nervous and claimed: "I was unable to believe I would ever be able to cope with a job or mixing with people."

But even after one day's treatment, he noticed dramatic results.

He said: "It made me feel clear-headed and calm - like a breath of fresh air. As the days went on, my personality changed for the better. I became more relaxed and confident."

Another patient, called Laura, had attention deficit disorder, underachieved at school and was bullied. Now, a year after finishing her treatment, she has been given achievement awards for four school subjects and has made friends with her peers.

Yet another satisfied customer, Nicky Argent, was treated for high blood pressure. She was so impressed that she gave up her job to work for Dr Kaur as her assistant.

How neurofeedback works is simple.

First of all, an initial EEG - a picture of the patient's brain activity or electroencephalogram, is taken, along with a detailed description of symptoms and family history, which takes about three hours.

Clients are trained for 45 minutes by the practitioner. Follow-up training sessions last about 45 minutes and can be as many as three times a week, if necessary.

To start the treatment proper, two small pads are stuck on to the patient's scalp with a paste. These pads pick up tiny electrical signals generated by the brain, and an amplifier magnifies the signals, feeding them into computers.

Brainwave data is then rearranged into a video game, which is played by the client. This can be in the form of a maze, road, pacman game or island scenery.

The game moves faster or slower according to activity in different parts of the brain. As the sessions progress, the game's goals are adjusted.

The idea is that the brain responds to the feedback it is given and learns new brainwave patterns, or types of behaviour.

According to Dr Kaur, patients who have brain injuries as a result of concussion, whiplash or strokes, make great leaps forward.

They are less tired, irritable, confused and depressed. Their memory improves and pain is reduced.

For those with attention deficit disorder, symptoms of hyperactivity decrease.

So why does it work so well? According to Dr Kaur: "The brain is amazingly adaptable. It can also learn to improve its own performance, if it is given information about what changes to make.

"When the brain learns how to manage itself, it continues to do so. The treatment is absolutely fantastic, we feel the benefit as much as our patients." NEUROFEEDBACK FACTS FACT FILE rYou can be referred for treatment by your GP or medical specialist. Alternatively, you may refer yourself for treatment.

rThe downside is that training can take anywhere between 20 and 40 sessions, depending on the individual and their condition.

rSessions for children cost £50 plus VAT and £60 plus VAT for adults.

rEEG Neurofeedback Services is based at Dolphin Lodge, Dolphin Yard, Holywell Hill, St Albans, or telephone 01727 839533.

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