Carmen Russoniello, PhD, LRT, LPC, BCB, BCN has more than 20 years of clinical experience as a therapist/counselor as well as a researcher on the effects of gaming and biofeedback on stress related medical disorders. He is currently Associate Professor and Director of the Psychophysiology Lab and Biofeedback Clinic at East Carolina University and serves as scientific advisor to Biocom Technologies. Dr Russoniello is a fellow in both general and neurofeedback from the Biofeedback Certification Association of America (BCIA) and is a past member of this board where he served as chair of the ethics committee. Dr Russoniello is also past president of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback and is past president of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association.

Dr. Russoniello teaches undergraduate and graduate biofeedback courses through a first of its kind global classroom initiative and directs a biofeedback program for Wounded Warrior Marines at Camp Lejeune. The novel biofeedback intervention involves EEG and heart rate variability (HRV) feedback and includes the use of virtual reality. Dr. Russoniello is himself a former Marine machine gunner and decorated Vietnam combat veteran. Personal Interest include; Running (13 marathons including Boston x2) dogs, fishing and gardening.

Dr. Russoniello’s psychophysiological research on video games, mood, and stress has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Wired Magazine, CNN, BBC, Ladies Home Journal, Women’s World, Web MD and numerous other publications. His previous research on the physiological and biochemical aspects of recreation participation has been included in the President’s Council on Physical Activity and his research on the prevalence and treatment of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children after natural disasters has been cited in a number of government publications including the Department of Ecology and the Veterans Administration’s Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Contact Information:

Carmen V. Russoniello, PhD., LRT, LPC, BCB, BCN
Professor and Director,
Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Lab
Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies
East Carolina University
Carol Belk Building Suite 2501
Greenville, NC 27858
Phone: 252-328-0024
Fax: 252-328-4642
russonielloc@ecu.edu
http://www.ecu.edu/cs-hhp/rcls/Russoniello.cfm

Tami S. Maes, M.S., LPC, BCB, LRT, is trained and certified in biofeedback through the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America. While completing her masters degree from East Carolina University, she held the position of Research Assistant at ECU's Psychophsysiology and Biofeedback Lab, developing and implementing several research studies, including utilizing EEG & Neurofeedback to help children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and youth at risk suffering with Explosive Disorders. During this time she was awarded the first ever Walter B. Cannon Scholarship in recognition of exemplifying her commitment to innovation, science and intellectual curiosity. In 2005, she was appointed an Intern position at National Institutes of Health where she employed Heart Rate Variability to measure autonomic nervous system functioning in patients with substance abuse disorders. For her Master's thesis, Ms. Maes researched the psychological aftermath of a natural disaster in children suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She has also assisted in researching video games for health. Read more here for details of the study. Beginning January 2008, Ms. Maes teamed up with East Carolina University to implement biofeedback and neurofeedback training with Marines returning from deployment to assist in recovery of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Matthew T. Fish, M.S., BCB, LRT, CTRS, is trained and certified in biofeedback through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance. While working on his master’s degree, Matt has held the position of Program Coordinator for the Wounded Warrior Project at ECU's Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Lab and recently finished conducting a clinical research study. Matt spent time as an intern with Ms. Tami Maes, Clinical Psychophysiologist of Capital Biofeedback, Inc.. During this time Matt worked with patients, utilizing Neurofeedback and General Biofeedback modalities, who had been diagnosed with various mood and mental disorders. For his Master's thesis, Matt conducted a clinical study titled, A Randomized Controlled Study of the Effectiveness of Casual Video Games in Reducing Symptoms of Anxiety in a Depressed Population.

Ruth-Ann Styron, CTRS, is working as a Graduate Research Assistant in the East Carolina University Psychophysiology Lab and Biofeedback Clinic. She is studying to earn a master of science in recreational therapy administration. In the ECU Psychophysiology Lab and Biofeedback Clinic, Ruth-Ann works with participants in the Wounded Warrior Project utilizing general biofeedback modalities. She has spent time as a supervised biofeedback assistant working with children with behavioral and emotional disorders utilizing general biofeedback modalities at Pathways to Life, Inc in Greenville, NC.

Holly Paton, B.S., graduated from East Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy. Through her undergraduate degree, she has taken Biofeedback courses and has worked in ECU’s Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Lab. Since graduating, Holly has started pursing a master’s degree in Recreational Therapy Administration. She continues to work in ECU’s Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Lab where she assists in multiple studies and the Wounded Warrior Project. Holly will soon be conducting a thesis researching the efficacy of virtual reality as a treatment modality for combat-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.