Neurofeedback, Biofeedback, and Basic Learning Theory: Revisiting the 2011 Conceptual Framework

The paper entitled, Neurofeedback and Basic Learning Theory: Implications for Research and Practice, published in 2011, provided an overview of our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of operant conditioning when administering neurofeedback. Here, we expand on the basic tenets described in that paper to include learning in biofeedback, address random schedules of reinforcement, the neurochemistry of reinforcement learning, placebo effects, new theories of psychophysiological learning, and the role of the client-clinician interaction in facilitating learning success. It is intended both as a companion to the 2011 publication and as an updated reflection of our increased understanding of the learning principles that underlie these modalities.