The Birth of Biofeedback: The Legacy of Dr. Joe Kamiya

Dr. Joe Kamiya, often referred to as the “Father of Biofeedback,” was a pioneering figure in the field of psychophysiology and biofeedback. His groundbreaking work in the late 1950s and early 1960s laid the foundation for a new clinical and research discipline that continues to evolve and influence various areas of psychology and medicine today.

Early Life and Education

Born in California, Kamiya was an Asian American who faced significant challenges during his early years. In 1942, during the US-Japan War, he was forced into one of ten relocation camps for Californians of Japanese ancestry. Despite these hardships, Kamiya persevered and went on to graduate with a BA in philosophy, social welfare, and psychology in 1948 and a PhD in psychology in 1954, both from UC Berkeley.

The Birth of Biofeedback

Kamiya’s first position was as an instructor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago. His office was across the hall from Professor Nathaniel Kleitman’s sleep laboratory. Dr. Bill Dement, then a medical student and an assistant in the lab, taught Kamiya about the EEG, including how to attach electrodes and how to identify different stages of sleep. Kamiya began studying physiological indicators of sleep and of dreaming and found eye movements of REM sleep to be the most interesting.

A few years later, Kamiya moved to UCSF where he stayed until his retirement in 1992. It was here that he became the “Father of Biofeedback,” starting a whole new clinical and research discipline. His work involved training individuals to control their brainwave activity, a process that became known as biofeedback. This technique has since been used in various applications, from helping children overcome attention deficit disorder to assisting individuals in managing stress and anxiety.

The Future of Biofeedback

Kamiya believed in the potential of biofeedback and its future development. He emphasized the importance of further clinical research and the need for larger budgets and sample sizes to validate the efficacy of biofeedback. He also highlighted the potential of the internet in facilitating collaboration and idea generation within the field.

Kamiya passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 3, 2021, leaving behind a significant legacy in the field of psychophysiology and biofeedback. His work continues to influence researchers, clinicians, and patients, and his contributions to the field will not be forgotten.

Videos on Dr. Joe Kamiya

For a more in-depth understanding of Dr. Joe Kamiya and his work, you can watch these videos:

1. Joe Kamiya: The Birth of Biofeedback
2. Joe Kamiya: The Birth of Biofeedback Part 2
3. Joe Kamiya: The Birth of Biofeedback Part 3

These videos provide a detailed account of Kamiya’s journey in the field of biofeedback, his research, and his thoughts on the future of the discipline.