In the 1960’s, Dr. Barry Sterman was training an experimental group of cats to increase SMR or Sensorimotor Rhythm—a brain wave. While Sterman was doing his own research, NASA asked him to investigate the possibility that exposure to hydrazine (rocket fuel) was causing seizures in humans. Sterman began his research with the same group of cats that were part of his SMR research project.

When the experimental group of cats were exposed to hydrazine they were much more resistant to seizures than ordinary cats. He discovered that the effect could be generalized to humans. That is, individuals with epilepsy could reduce the incidence of seizures if they learned to increase SMR—just like his cats did. He also observed a decrease in hyperactivity and restlessness in certain trainees.

Thereafter, Dr. Joel Lubar, at the University of Tennessee, applied Sterman’s techniques to children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and demonstrated that hyperactivity/impulsivity can be reduced and attention can be increased with SMR/beta training (or, fast wave training). Since then other researchers and clinicians have refined his techniques and applied them to many other disorders including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, non-verbal learning disorder, Age-related Cognitive Decline, peak performance training etc.