Meeting/Event Information

AAPB 54th Annual Scientific Meeting

Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center, Denver, Colorado

May 8-11, 2024

Pre-conference workshops May 8-9 (separate registration); Conference May 10-11, 2024 

Don't miss your chance to be part of this transformative event! Register now for the AAPB 54th Annual Scientific Meeting and chart a course towards a new frontier of knowledge, innovation, and collaboration. 

QUICK LINKS:

• Onsite Guide
• CME Learner Notification
• Joint Accreditation Statement
• Preliminary Program/Schedule of Events
• Downloadable/Printable Registration Form
• Full Conference Session Details, Course Descriptions, Learning Objectives (BOS01-BOS12)
• Full Conference Session Details, Course Descriptions, Learning Objectives (BOS13-BOS28)
• Presenter Bios
• Preconference Workshops Registration 
• Preconference Workshop Session Details, Course Descriptions, Learning Objectives (Wednesday, May 8)
• Preconference Workshop Session Details, Course Descriptions, Learning Objectives (Thursday, May 9)
  
• Exhibitors
• Poster Presenter Guidelines

ABOUT OUR MEETING:

The AAPB Annual Scientific Meeting provides a forum for the sharing of research, clinical strategies, and theoretical formulations across all facets of applied psychophysiology -- biofeedback, heart rate variability, neurofeedback, and evidence-based self-regulation. This international assembly of professionals represents an array of disciplines, including psychologists, medical doctors, naturopathic doctors, educators, academic researchers, nurses, speech pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, Masters-level practitioners, students, and others with an interest in the study of and treatment delivery using this modality. The 54th Annual Meeting of AAPB will showcase recent innovations in how we conceptualize and address a variety of disorders using biofeedback. The theme of the meeting is, “Translating Evidence into Practice: Improving Outcomes in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback.” Evidence-based practice is a process of using the best evidence, research findings, to guide the delivery of health services. The need for standardized assessments of clinical efficacy and effectiveness for feedback-based therapies is imperative - today’s research climate has higher standards for efficacy and effectiveness than were current during much of the time in which biofeedback and neurofeedback evolved. The goals of the meeting are to highlight recent innovations that speak to a multifaceted and contextualized understanding of the evidence-based science of self-regulation and its effects; engage a discussion about the state of research and practice; feature contextually focused interventions; identify key avenues for future research; and to demonstrate how appreciating these processes and impacts can inform a more comprehensive approach to improving the lives of individuals. The Annual Meeting is also where professionals gather to see old friends and respected colleagues, meet new ones, and develop and strengthen collaborative relationships to move the field of biofeedback forward. New members, active members, non-members, and students are invited to submit proposals and attend the meeting. International participation is strongly encouraged.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Six keynote/general sessions featuring world renowned scientists and practitioners:

• • Mara Mather, PhD presents, “Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on the Brain and on Blood Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease.”
  • Steve Cole, PhD presents, “Molecular Biofeedback: Autonomic Regulation of Gene Expression.”
  • Patrick Steffen, PhD presents, “The Impact of Chronic Stress on Chronic Pain.”
  • Vietta Sue Wilson, PhD, and Lindsay Shaw, EdD present, “Applying a Sport Model to Enhance your Business: Jump Over the Bar – Backwards.”
  • Julian Thayer, PhD
  • Ronald Swatzyna, PhD, presents the 2024 Distinguished Scientist Lecture

Pre-Conference hands-on, extended, in person Workshops on Wednesday, May 8 & Thursday, May 9

Over two dozen Symposia/Breakout Sessions on Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11

Exhibit Hall and Networking Receptions to allow you to meet and collaborate with those who share a subject matter knowledge and interest in biofeedback

MAXIMUM 33 CE credits available for full participation. AAPB does not charge additional fees for CE credits.

INVITED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Join us for an extraordinary experience at the forefront of applied psychophysiology and biofeedback. Our stellar lineup of keynote speakers includes trailblazers in the fields of neuroscience, genomics, psychology, and social work, promising a convergence of cutting-edge research, innovative insights, and transformative discoveries. Immerse yourself in the world of Dr. Mara Mather, where aging and affective neuroscience converge to reveal the secrets of emotion, stress, and memory. Uncover the mysteries of the human genome with Dr. Steven Cole, a pioneer in human social genomics, whose work has unraveled the intricate connections between social factors and genomic activity. Dive into the realm of behavioral medicine with the expertise of Dr. Patrick Steffen, exploring the impact of culture and spirituality on health. Journey into neurophysiology and clinical social work with Dr. Ronald J. Swatzyna, a distinguished leader integrating cutting-edge techniques into the treatment of challenging cases. This is your exclusive opportunity to engage with leaders shaping the future of mind-body connection. Whether you're a seasoned professional, researcher, or student, this conference promises unparalleled insights, networking opportunities, and a chance to be part of groundbreaking discussions. 

Friday, May 10 at 9:30 am Mountain Time

Mara Mather, PhD, Professor of Gerontology, Psychology, and Biomedical Engineering -  USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology: Mara Mather is Professor of Gerontology, Psychology and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California. Together with her lab members and research collaborators, she has conducted innovative work on the critical role of the noradrenergic system in cognition and aging, how emotion and emotional arousal affect cognition, and how inducing heart rate oscillatory activity benefits emotional brain networks and the aging brain. Based on her highly cited work, she was identified as one of the top 1% of scientists worldwide (Baas, Boyack, Ioannidis, 2021). Her current research mission is to use physiological interventions to slow brain aging. She has received the Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology from the American Psychological Association, a National Institutes of Health K02 Career Development award, an Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Fellowship and a Max Planck Sabbatical Award. She received her Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Princeton University and completed her undergraduate degree and postdoctoral training at Stanford University.

PRESENTS: Effects of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on the Brain and on Blood Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: Growing evidence indicates that heart rate variability biofeedback reduces stress, anxiety, and depression and may have other health benefits. However, less is known about changes in the brain and body that support these changes.  To examine how heart rate variability biofeedback affects the brain and body, we randomly participants to one of two 5-week interventions involving daily biofeedback that either increased heart rate oscillations (Osc+ condition) or had little effect on heart rate oscillations (Osc− condition) and examined effects on brain structure, brain activity during rest and during regulating emotion, and on blood biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease. This randomized clinical trial was completed by 106 young adults and 56 older adults completed the study. Among younger adults, the Osc+ condition improved coordination within emotion-related brain networks during resting-states and increased brain indications of successful emotion regulation during a emotion-regulation task, while the Osc- had no effect. Among both younger and older adults, there were significant condition differences in brain volume in a brain region previously identified as especially associated with heart rate variability (the left OFC), and significant differences in changes in blood-based biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease. These findings indicate that a few weeks of heart rate variability biofeedback can have significant effects on multiple systems related to emotion and health within the brain and body.

Friday, May 10, 2:00 pm Mountain Time

PRESENTS: Molecular Biofeedback: Autonomic Regulation of Gene Expression: This talk outlines the role of the autonomic nervous system in regulating human genome function, including the basic physiologic, cellular, and molecular mechanisms involved; their role in disease (particularly sympathetic regulation of inflammatory gene expression) and stress resilience (parasympathetic support for antiviral gene expression); their contribution to social epidemiology and health disparities; their evolutionary roots; and the emerging prospect of “molecular biofeedback” to help shape behavior and lifestyle to maximize human health and well-being.

Friday, May 10 at 6:15 pm Mountain Time

PRSESENTS: The Impact of Chronic Stress on Chronic Pain:  Over 51 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, or 21% of the adult population (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7215a1.htm). Chronic pain impacts quality of life, ability to engage in everyday activities, and is a factor in missed work. Chronic stress and mental health problems play a significant role in chronic pain and is associated with poor coping with pain and higher levels of reported pain. Chronic stress is also highly prevalent in American society, with many studies finding over half of people reporting more stress than they can adequately cope with (see APA’s annual Stress in America Surveys, https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress). The purpose of this presentation is to discuss key factors in chronic pain, how they are exacerbated by chronic stress, and potential solutions to improved coping with chronic pain.

Saturday, May 11 at 9:35 am Mountain Time

Vietta Sue Wilson, PhD - Professor Emeritus, York University: Vietta ‘Sue’ is a retired professor from York University and a member of AAPB over 50 years with a Lifetime Achievement award from the Biofeedback Foundation of Europe. Her teaching and research were in sport psychology, learned self- regulation, and counselling.  She developed a biofeedback assisted relaxation program for York University in 1978 which continues to be highly regarded. Sue has been a team member in a clinic for cerebral palsy, a counselling center, with corporations and is a Performance Enhancement Specialist (beginning in 1974 with numerous Olympic & world medalist) considered by many to be the “grandmother” of biofeedback in sport. Sue is a co-author of Biofeedback & Neurofeedback in Sport Psychology and has chapters in Case Studies in Applied Psychophysiology: Neurofeedback and in Biofeedback, Biofeedback: Practitioner’s Guide as well as 2023 publications on the effects of a group stress management program for the public, EEG based program for intractable epilepsy in an athlete and improving the effectiveness of on-line training. The software and training courses for the Optimizing Performance and Health Suite are distributed world -wide. Her expertise is in the teaching of brief self regulation skills, validated by psychophysiology, to allow individuals to perform to their capabilities. Her legacy project, is the building of a state of the art home based, AI controlled, Integrated Biofeedback/Neurofeedback equipment with  transfer of self- regulation skills.

Lindsay Shaw, EdD, Director of Sport Psychology - Cleveland Guardians: Lindsay is the Director of Sport Psychology for the Cleveland Guardians baseball team. She oversees the mental health and mental performance needs for players and baseball staff in the organization. She previously spent a decade as a sport psychologist and psychophysiologist for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, where she was responsible for meeting the performance and clinical needs of both summer and winter US National Team athletes. She utilizes brain computer interfaces, brainwave stimulation, sleep assessments, heart rate variability interventions, and other novel approaches in her work with elite athletes. Her Master’s and Doctoral degrees are from Boston University in Counseling Psychology, with a specialization in sport performance. Lindsay is a licensed psychologist, and is board certified in biofeedback and neurofeedback by BCIA, and received postdoctoral training in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia at UPenn. She holds various consulting appointments including with a Fortune 10 company, special operations team and concierge health and wellness group. She has authored peer reviewed journals, book chapters, and other publications.

PRESENT: Applying a Sport Model to Enhance your Business: Jump Over the Bar- Backwards: This address will review the recent history of biofeedback/neurofeedback in sport, current research, and personal experience as to what works, what doesn’t work and future changes necessary to thrive in the expanding performance domain.  We will review the skills and experiences that led us to work in environments of Olympic, professional and elite sport settings. We suggest that a new model is needed for many biofeedback practitioners to survive in the coming Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution. Some practices from sport application may be relevant to maintaining a viable practice. Included in the session are skills that are important to successful delivery of biofeedback/neurofeedback to organizations including sports, business, and health. Our emphasis is on performance, education, and health, not pathology, as these provide more opportunities in a much larger marketplace. Additionally, with advances in technology, less expensive, validated equipment and programs, purposeful and successful performance training is facilitated as well as the collection of data from where it matters: on the job.

Saturday, May 11 at 2 pm Mountain Time

Julian Thayer, PhD, Distinguished Professor, University of California, Irvine

Dr. Julian F. Thayer received his Ph.D. from New York University in psychophysiology with a minor in quantitative methods. Dr. Thayer is currently Distinguished University Professor of Psychological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine and the Ohio Eminent Scholar Professor in Health Psychology Emeritus and Academy Professor at The Ohio State University. He has published over 500 research papers and is one of the world’s leading experts on heart rate variability. Dr. Thayer has received numerous research awards including the Sigma Xi Research Recognition Award, the Early Career Award for Contributions to Psychosomatic Medicine from the American Psychosomatic Society, and distinguished scientist awards from the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, The Society for Psychophysiological Research, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, and the American Psychosomatic Society. Dr. Thayer was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2023. From 2020 to 2023 he was identified by the Web of Science as a “Highly Cited Researcher”, a designation given to the top 0.1% of researchers. Dr. Thayer is also an internationally acclaimed jazz musician with many recordings to his credit.

PRESENTS: The Future of Heart Rate Variability: A Neurovisceral Integration Perspective

The intimate connection between the brain and the heart via the vagus nerve was enunciated by Claude Bernard over 150 years ago. Darwin in his classic book on the expression of emotion in man and animals also stressed the importance of the vagus nerve. The neurovisceral integration model builds on this pioneering work and revives interest in the vagus. It has been proposed that vagally-mediated heart rate variability (HRV) is a transdiagnostic marker for psychopathology. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies suggest an important role for HRV in the identification of those at risk for psychopathology as well as being a potential marker for treatment outcome. The present talk further elaborates the model and updates it with recent results. Supportive evidence from recent studies of neuroimaging, fear conditioning, attention, and executive function show that low HRV predicts hypervigilance, poor safety learning, and inefficient allocation of attentional and cognitive resources. In addition, the role of vagal afferents in emotion and fear extinction will be discussed. Importantly, evidence will be presented on the potential role of HRV in resilience to poor outcomes. HRV may provide a transdiagnostic target for the understanding of the etiology as well as the diagnosis and treatment of stress-related mental disorders.

Saturday, May 11 evening

2024 Distinguished Scientist Lecturer

The AAPB Distinguished Scientist Award is presented annually in recognition of an outstanding career and scientific contributions to the field of applied psychophysiology and biofeedback. This award recognizes a scientist who has advanced biofeedback through a significant body of research conducted, as judged by publications, awards, and peer review, and has made a major impact upon the field of study, both nationally and/or internationally. Nominees must hold a doctoral degree in psychology, biomedical science, medicine, or another health-related field. Recipients are selected based on the following evaluation criteria:

·        Scientific importance of research discoveries.

·        Mentorship of students, postdoctoral fellows, and new faculty.

·        Continued impact on the field.

CONFERENCE LOCATION:

We invite you to join us for springtime in the Rockies at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center in Denver, Colorado. With a stay at Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center, you'll be within a 5-minute drive of The Landmark Theatre Greenwood Village and Cherry Creek State Park. This 4-star hotel is 11.8 miles from Empower Field at Mile High and other downtown attractions. The nearest airport is Denver Intl. Airport (DEN) - 25.6 miles away. AAPB has reserved a block of sleeping rooms at a steeply discounted rate. Your support in staying at the host hotel helps to keep AAPB's meeting and membership costs down. 

HOTEL ADDRESS: 7800 E TUFTS AVE, DENVER, COLORADO 80237.

SPECIAL RATE RESERVATION DEADLINE: Ended Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 3 pm. 

EVENT DATES: Wednesday, May 8 - Saturday, May 11, 2024
Preconference workshops will be held May 8-9. The conference will begin on Friday May 10 and continues through the evening of Saturday, May 11.

RESERVATIONS:

• By phone at 303-779-1234, option 2, and then option 1 to be connected to a live human
• Online Reservations  https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/DENVE/G-5ANM

BEWARE OF 3RD PARTY HOTEL SCAMS OFFERING TO BOOK YOUR ROOM!
Only book your hotel reservations through the AAPB website reservation link or by calling the hotel directly, as listed above. AAPB and/or Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center staff will never contact attendees and/or exhibitors, via phone or direct email, offering to book your room, offering a more significantly reduced rate than listed above or to inform you the block is selling out. DO NOT give your CC or payment information to anyone who calls/emails to help with your reservation.

CONTINUING EDUCATION STATEMENTS:

Psychologists: The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback maintains responsibility for the program and its content.

This virtual workshop offers a MAXIMUM of 33 CE credits for maximum participation.

BCIA Recertification: Hour-for-hour attendance may be used to fulfill the continuing education requirements for recertification with certificate of attendance

Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Association for Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback. Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians

ACCME Credit Designation Statement
Amedco LLC designates this live activity for a maximum of 33.25 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM for physicians.
Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses

ANCC Credit Designation Statement
Amedco LLC designates this activity for a maximum of 33.25 ANCC contact hours.

Social Workers

ASWB Credit Designation Statement
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Amedco is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved
Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Amedco maintains responsibility for this course.
ASWB Content Level: Beginner. Social workers completing this course receive up to 33.25 continuing education credits.

The following state boards accept courses offering ASWB ACE credit for Social Workers: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL,
GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OH, OK*, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX,
UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WV*, WY

*OK: Accepts ASWB ACE for live, in-person activities but not for ethics and/or online courses.

*WV: Accepts ASWB ACE unless activity is held live in West Virginia.

The following state boards accept courses offering ASWB ACE credit for Counselors: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, ID,
IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, ME, MO, ND, NE, NM, NH, NV, OK*, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY

MI: No CE requirement

The following state boards accept courses offering ASWB ACE credit for MFTs: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, IA, ID, IN, KS, MD, ME,
MO, NC, NE, NH, NM, NV, OK*, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY

AL MFTs: Credits authorized by NBCC or any other state licensing agency will be accepted.

MA MFTs: Participants can self-submit courses not approved by the MAMFT board for review.

MI: No CE requirement.

The following state boards accept ASWB ACE credit for Addictions Professionals: AK, CA, CO, CT, GA, IA, IN, KS, LA, MO, MT,
ND, NM, NV, OK, OR, SC, WA, WI, WV, WY

Materials that are included in this conference may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of mental health professionals. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your profession’s standards.