Research results

A scientifically documented course

There have been research projects carried out on the basic course in DB-System®. In two of these, measurements of brain activity with EEG were used to objectively evaluate any changes in the brain. Psychological surveys were also used to explore experienced change and how these correlated with physical changes in the brain.

High standards have been followed in the preparatory work for the research, and high international methodological and ethical guidelines have been followed as well. Not only for the preparatory work, but also for implementation of the EEG and the questions that the participants have answered.

Dr. Svetla Velikova M.D. Ph.D is a globally recognized researcher on EEG and the publication is in the most referenced psychological journal in the world. Both publications are done in collaboration with Associate professor Bente Nordtug at Nord University in Norway.

To be published, the study must be peer-reviewed, i.e. reviewed by other researchers who quality assures the work and look for errors.

The purpose of the first research project was to investigate whether the course could have a health effect on healthy persons. This was conducted in 2010/2011 and is published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience in 2017. Data measured prior to start-up was compared to data after three months of self-training and a repetition of the course.

The second research project was conducted in spring / autumn 2016, and here the focus was to verify and elaborate the results from the first project, as well as to study whether the training affected cognitive functions. The project had a similar design but was expanded to include cognitive tests and use of a control group. The project was published in 2018, in the same scientific journal.

They are the first two publications, which document self-guided positive imagery training (self-management).

Researchers have once again looked into DB-System® and carried out research on health professionals’ experiences of dealing with their own emotional reactions in encounters with patients, so-called countertransference. Such countertransference is a known factor for the outcome of treatment given. In February 2022 the results were published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Research results: The participants described how using the techniques from DB-System® had helped them to manage countertransference and led to changes that the researchers categorized in three themes: Managing personal vulnerability, setting clearer boundaries, and practicing self-care.

Conclusion: The results suggest that by promoting well-being and managing unresolved internal conflicts, DB-System® helps healthcare professionals to deal with countertransference.

The techniques one is trained in, through DB-System®, are in the study called “Self-guided imagery in meditation” – abbreviated to SIM.

This video is from 2017 when DB-System® was called ConsioussnessTraining™.

Brain training with immediate effect

Straight after completing the course, the brain has positive and physical lasting changes. The research showed that this is not due to placebo effect but is directly related to this brain training.

The effect appeared as increased emotional and cognitive development (emotion and thinking). Greater balance between emotions and logic is important for managing small and larger challenges and tasks in daily life. This is also something course participants say they experience straight after the course.

Think smarter and more efficiently

The brain uses less energy, while we think more efficiently. The plasticity (the brain’s ability to change) increases. The increased plasticity means that there are more functional contacts between the different parts of the brain.

Smarter and more effective thinking appeared as:
– greater ability to use logic to solve new problems
– increased intuition and creativity
– increased learning and memory
– increased ability for emotional self-regulation

These results are some of the reasons that the course is recommended for academic purposes. Course participants say that they more easily master schoolwork, study assignments and assignments at work after the course. They also experience seeing more and other solutions than before, also in cooperation with others.

Remove stress – get a better overview

Some of the first changes course participants experience after the course is that stress is replaced by calmness and a better overview in daily life. In the research, this appears as functional changes in prefrontal cortex (an area associated with self-reflection and analysis). It also appears as an increased presence of mind and alertness.

Course participants provide feedback telling that unnecessary chaotic thoughts disappear and, together with increased presence of mind and alertness, they find it easier to step into new and unknown tasks. They also experience seeing a greater difference between what is right and what is wrong. They also experience a greater sense of mastering. In the research, it appears as increased expectation of mastering.

Two techniques to utilize in daily life

In the course you are taught two techniques that can be used in situations that are relevant in your life here and now. The research shows that you can use the techniques without the guidance of a therapist. This means that you can influence your own brain in relation to events or situations. This promotes one’s own mental health.

Course participants report that they feel more secure when making independent choices and decisions, without a need to ask others. They have techniques for self-management and mastering.

Never before has it been so easy

What is special about this particular training is that you get huge results after just two days at the course. In the research results it appeared as functional changes in the brain, and lower frequencies (the brain was calmer) while remaining alert. It previously took many years to achieve similar results. The course participants are also surprised by such great results in such a short period of time. Never before has it been so easy to get such great results in such a short time!

A summary of results

Imagery training is a promising tool for treating phobias, anxiety and depression. The first two research projects were carried out on healthy people, where people with early symptoms of depression were included in the studies. Self-guided emotional and cognitive development, as done with the basic course in DB-System®, has not been previously investigated.

The techniques can among other be used to work with personal goals, change emotions related to negative experiences, or to improve relations with other people. The techniques can be used in your own home, without guidance from a therapist. The techniques can be applied to situations that are relevant in your life here and now (thematic adaptation).

The course is considered an effective method for managing everyday tasks and challenges, but also for changing unfavourable thought patterns. Both the major disadvantages that are the result of post-traumatic stress, but also lesser disadvantages such as being annoyed by a colleague at work.

Both those with depressive symptoms and the “healthy” participants achieved an improvement in several goals for health and quality of life. Those with depressive symptoms had less depressive symptoms after the course. In addition, they experienced increased satisfaction with life, and they could more easily change focus from negative to positive emotions (increased emotional and social understanding).

The healthy ones achieved an improvement in non-verbal reasoning, which is a kind of indicator of general intelligence. Both groups achieved improved belief in mastering, more positive thinking, and an improvement in interpersonal relationships. In both groups, experienced changes matched with functional changes in the brain.

Of some functional changes, we can mention significant reduction in the insular cortex in those with early symptoms of depression. This can explain some of the reasons why this group gained increased emotional and social understanding, as well as increased satisfaction with life. The insular cortex is involved in our regulation of emotions. The area processes both negative and positive emotions.

Insular cortex also plays a role in our sensitivity to the feelings of others. Because changes in both the insular cortex and prefrontal cortex were found, together with the score of increased social understanding, these functional changes may be related to the participants’ ability to change focus from negative to positive emotions. In other words, they gained improved balance between emotions and logic.

Because those with depression improved after a course, it is likely that the course will have a beneficial effect also for those with anxiety and phobias.

An important conclusion is that the training gives increased ability to self-regulate, a skill that is essential for managing “life”, in a lifetime perspective.

Practical meaning

In the first study where EEG measurements were used, emphasis was placed on the importance of emotional self-regulation. In the second study with similar design, it was emphasized that when we develop emotionally, this will also strengthen our cognitive functions.

The research was done on healthy people, demonstrating that the course is important for managing small and larger tasks and challenges in everyday life. For example, when we are working to achieve our goals, or we get annoyed by a colleague at work, or we are in conflict with family/friends. The fact that the participants learn two techniques that can be customized for the situation they are in, without the use of a therapist, means that the course is considered to be cost-effective when it comes to facilitating goals for good mental health and quality of life in society. For the same reason, the course is considered to be beneficial for strengthening cooperation and efficiency at the workplace.

Skills in influencing and improving emotional well-being, personal relationships and ability to solve problems can also be of importance for academic purposes (school / study results, task solving at work).

In addition to the fact that the course is considered beneficial for healthy people, being able to influence and improve our feelings and thoughts could have a good effect in the treatment of pathological diseases. For example (PTSD) post-traumatic stress disorders. Both trauma as a result of having been in war or accidents, but also trauma as a result of growing up in homes marked by neglect. These patients can also benefit from improving emotional well-being.