Neurofeedback, also known as ‘brain training’, may be an effective treatment for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a new study suggests. The findings of the study were published in the journal ‘Neurolmage: Clinical’. Neurofeedback involves exercises where individuals regulate their own brain activity.
In the study from the Lawson Institute for Health Research and Western University, researchers have found that neurofeedback may be an effective treatment for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Brain connection involves different parts of the brain communicating with each other and helping to regulate states of consciousness, thinking, feeling and feeling,” explained Dr. Ruth Lanius, a scientist at Lawson , professor at the West Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and psychiatrist at the London Center for Health Sciences.
“Individuals with PTSD tend to have broken patterns of brain connection, but our research suggests that they can use the brain to bring patterns back to a healthy balance,” Lanius said.
Neurofeedback uses a system called a neurofeedback loop in which a person’s brain activity is measured through sensors placed on the skin and displayed back to them using a computer interface. This allows the person to complete exercises and see the results visually.
The trial tested neurofeedback with a total of 72 participants, including 36 participants with PTSD and 36 healthy control participants. Of those with PTSD, 18 were randomized to participate in neurofeedback treatment while the other 18 worked as a comparison group.
The study found that the severity of PTSD symptoms decreased in randomized participants to receive neurofeedback treatment. After treatment, 61.1 percent of participants did not meet the definition for PTSD. This discount rate is compared to gold standard therapies such as trauma-based psychotherapy.
The research team also used magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) images at St. Joseph’s Healthcare London to capture brain scans of participants both before and after participating in the trial. They found that individuals with PTSD experienced progressive changes in brain connection in the salience network and the normal mode network after neurofeedback treatment.
“The biology network is involved in threat detection as part of the ‘fight or flight’ response. It is usually depressing in individuals with PTSD. At the same time, the network Normal mode is activated at rest and is involved in autobiographical memory. We often find that this network is less active due to rest and functional disturbance among people with PTSD, “said Dr. Andrew Nicolson, associate scientist at Lawson. “
Neurofeedback helped restore the functional connectivity of the two networks to healthier levels, “said Nicolson.
The study included weekly sessions of neurofeedback over 20 weeks. Participants were asked to reduce the intensity of the largest brain wave in the brain – the rhythm of the alpha. Brain activity was seen as either a still cartoon or an indistinguishable picture. If alpha rhythm was successfully reduced, the cartoon began to play or the picture began to become clearer.
“Participants were not instructed how to reduce alpha rhythm. Instead, each individual explored their own way of doing so,” Dr. Lanius said. “
For example, individuals said they would let their mind wander, think of positive things or distract them.
“The team noted that the treatment may have several clinical effects after further confirmation.”
Neurofeedback could offer an affordable and effective treatment option for people with PTSD. The treatment is easily scalable for implementation in rural areas and even at home, “said Dr Lanius.