In the Tatort episode Murot und der Elefant im Raum (Murot and the Elephant in the Room), neurofeedback appears not as a form of therapy, but as a narrative device. The film uses "neurofeedback" as a label. The term lends an air of medical legitimacy to a completely fictional technology, even though the effects depicted have nothing to do with the actual method.

The Plot
Inspector Felix Murot is under severe psychological strain and is undergoing therapeutic treatment alongside his investigative work. This involves a technical-looking apparatus described as an "advanced development" of neurofeedback, which allegedly allows a person to enter their own internal psychological space and penetrate the subconscious.

Simultaneously, Murot is investigating a missing person's case. A woman has kidnapped her young son and retreated to a remote forest cabin. After an accident, she falls into a coma. The child's location is unknown, and traditional investigative methods fail to yield results. The film links these two levels. Murot uses the apparatus to confront his own psyche and later to enter the consciousness of the comatose mother by having both parties wear electrode caps. The idea of connecting two people to enter one person's subconscious is presented as a new, previously untested expansion of the technology. This inner world is staged as a surreal, physical space. Murot discovers clues that ultimately lead to the child's rescue. In parallel, conventional investigations also succeed, and the child is found alive.

Why the Depiction of Neurofeedback Is Not Realistic
The term "neurofeedback" linguistically categorizes the shown technology within a medical-therapeutic context without explaining how it actually works. During the application, Murot twitches convulsively; after his stay in the comatose woman's internal psychological space, he appears disoriented, shows hallucinatory symptoms, and later nearly causes a traffic accident.

The staging is reminiscent of neurological emergencies, overstimulation, and loss of control. While neurofeedback is not explicitly labeled as dangerous, it is visually linked to physical collapse and risk. For experts, this depiction is clearly recognizable as fiction; however, for a lay audience, it can lead to a false understanding of a real therapeutic procedure.

In reality, neurofeedback records brain activity and translates it into feedback that supports self-regulation processes. Seizures, disorientation, or hallucinatory states are medical emergencies, not therapeutic effects. Furthermore, it is impossible to read another person's thoughts or "enter" their subconscious. The depiction in the film is therefore not a simplified version of reality, but a fundamentally different construction that attributes properties to a real procedure that it simply does not possess.

Conclusion
The term "neurofeedback" is used to lend credibility to a fictional technology. This is precisely why it is important to contextualize this depiction and clearly name it for what it is: fiction using real vocabulary, not the representation of a therapeutic procedure.
 

Evelyn Gollwitzer's occupational therapy and neurofeedback practice in Erlangen offers a wide range of therapies for children and adults. Since 2019, the occupational therapist has been working independently, drawing on her many years of experience, empathy, and a clear goal: to improve her clients' quality of life in the long term.She treats children with developmental disorders, especially ADHD, as well as adults with orthopedic, neurological, or mental illnesses. This includes clients suffering from pain, people who have had a stroke or have multiple sclerosis, people with dementia, and clients with depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
 

Neurofeedback as an effective supplement

Evelyn Gollwitzer has been successfully using neurofeedback in her therapeutic work since 2015. She mainly works with the ILF method according to Othmer and combines it with frequency band training such as alpha-theta or SMR training, depending on the objective. “Neurofeedback promotes self-regulation, allowing classic approaches to be more effective. The effects are immediately noticeable, and the best thing is that clients don't have to do anything. All they have to do is watch their brain activity,” explains Evelyn Gollwitzer.
 

Neurofeedback for all ages

In practice, neurofeedback is offered for all age groups, from toddlers to seniors. Many clients report better sleep, greater serenity, and increased relaxation in everyday life. They provide feedback on their state of mind and fill out a diary in which they evaluate their main symptoms using individual, positively worded sentences. This allows progress to be observed in a targeted manner and the therapeutic approach to be optimally adjusted. “This daily reflection not only makes changes visible, but also provides inspiration for everyday life - such as more breaks or consciously planned family time,” explains Evelyn Gollwitzer.
 

Success stories from practice

For Evelyn Gollwitzer, every client is unique with their own story. Particularly impressive is the case of a client who suffered from severe irritable bowel syndrome and was greatly restricted as a result. Her fears meant that she was barely able to leave her house. “Today, she goes on vacation again, relaxed and with confidence in her body,” says Evelyn Gollwitzer. This example demonstrates the success and profound effect of neurofeedback. The therapy helps clients access their own feelings and release inner blockages.
 

Proven collaboration with BEE Medic

Evelyn Gollwitzer has been using BEE Medic systems since she began her neurofeedback work. "Before I started with neurofeedback, I thought it was only for tech-savvy people. Fortunately, that was a false assumption. The devices are intuitive to use and also ideal for someone like me who is technically illiterate," she says with a smile.

The variety of animations is a big advantage for Evelyn Gollwitzer. Some clients prefer colorful options such as Innertube, while others appreciate quieter variants such as Aurora from Dreamscapes. Children like to use Arcade or watch movies. Evelyn Gollwitzer also finds the combination with biofeedback sensors enriching. “This allows clients to see how thoughts are reflected positively or negatively in their stress levels in their bodies. This is often very impressive.”
 

About the Occupational Therapy & Neurofeedback Practice

Evelyn Gollwitzer's practice focuses on the individual, with all their unique needs and circumstances. The goal is to support people of all ages in strengthening self-regulation, well-being, and everyday skills. Whether in the practice, at home, or in a nursing home, treatment is always holistic, individualized, and highly empathetic.
 

📍 Occupational Therapy & Neurofeedback Practice
Friedrichstraße 30, 91054 Erlangen
📞 09131 – 8272925
🌐 www.ergotherapie-neurofeedback.de

It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of Matt Fleischman, founder of the Neurofeedback Advocacy Project (NAP).
Matt was not only the initiator of the Neurofeedback Advocacy Project, which he shaped with great clarity, perseverance, and personal conviction. He was also an extraordinary person. His death leaves a void that is deeply felt by us, not only professionally, but above all on a personal level.

Matt Fleischman worked as a licensed psychologist with a doctoral degree in Eugene, Oregon. Throughout his professional life, he worked at the intersection of behavioral therapy, neurofeedback, and healthcare systems. As a principal investigator, he was involved in a project funded by the National Institute of Mental Health in which family-based treatment programs were implemented in social service settings.

Matt first encountered neurofeedback in the late 1980s. In the decades that followed, he explored a wide range of neurofeedback approaches and their integration into therapeutic practice. He taught and lectured in the United States and internationally, and remained consistently committed to the practical and responsible use of neurofeedback-based methods.

In his memory, we would like to share the story of the project that was particularly close to his heart.

The Founding of the Neurofeedback Advocacy Project
Matt founded the Neurofeedback Advocacy Project in 2018 after retiring from active clinical practice. His goal was clear: neurofeedback should be made available where the need is greatest – in social service institutions. He was not focused on short-term effects, but on building sustainable structures and a solid foundation for decision-making in the practical delivery of care. To make the benefits of neurofeedback understandable and verifiable, he emphasized the systematic collection of data from real-world practice from the very beginning.

To support this effort, Matt developed the Results Tracking System. It enables clinicians to document relevant progress and outcome information in a structured way. This data foundation was central to him, as it made practical experience visible and allowed the effects of neurofeedback in social service settings to be assessed in a well-grounded manner.

Collaboration with BEE Medic
Since December 2020, BEE Medic and the Neurofeedback Advocacy Project have worked closely together, particularly in the areas of data analysis and project development. Matt advanced the project with perseverance, clarity, and great personal commitment. The regular exchanges were marked by respect, openness, and a shared commitment to developing meaningful and responsible solutions. Over time, this collaboration grew into not only a professional partnership, but also a personal bond. 

Results and Impact of the Project
Publicly available analyses from the Neurofeedback Advocacy Project’s Results Tracking System show meaningful changes across several areas that are particularly relevant to social service settings. The data are based on systematically collected self-assessments and progress documentation from participating institutions. Among other findings, the reports indicate reductions in the severity of identified problem areas as well as improvements in emotional regulation and behavior. Changes are also observed in areas such as school-related behavior, substance relapse, emergency care utilization, and hospitalizations. These results highlight the potential of neurofeedback-based interventions in addressing complex challenges such as trauma, chronic stress, and multiple psychosocial risk factors. Systematic data collection makes it possible to contextualize and further develop the use of neurofeedback in social care environments.

Continuation of the Project
The Neurofeedback Advocacy Project will continue. In the fall, Colette Melancon was appointed Executive Director. We are very pleased that she has taken on this role and will continue the work of the project.

Farewell
With Matt Fleischman, we lose the founder of the Neurofeedback Advocacy Project and a person who influenced many through his integrity, energy, and humanity. His commitment and approach live on in the project he built.

Further information:
https://www.neurofeedbackadvocacyproject.com/