EEG-based neurofeedback improves attention in teens

The use of electroencephalogram-based neurofeedback (EEG-NF) can help combat inattention among adolescents and young adults, though its efficacy for controlling hyperactivity or impulsivity remains unestablished, a recent meta-analysis has found.

A total of five randomized controlled trials were retrieved from the online databases of PubMed, Embase, ClinicalKey, Science Direct, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Cumulatively, 279 participants (mean age 23.46 years) were included, of whom 183 had undergone EEG-NF treatment.

Forrest plot analysis revealed no significant difference between EEG-NF and comparison groups in terms of inattention (standardized mean difference [SMD], –0.11, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], –0.39 to 0.18; p=0.46), hyperactivity/impulsivity (SMD, 0.01, 95 percent CI, –0.23 to 0.25; p=0.91), and total score (SMD, –0.08, 95 percent CI, –0.36 to 0.2; p=0.56).

However, when comparing EEG-NF with waitlist or treatment-as-usual, the former showed a significant improvement in inattention (SMD, –0.48, 95 percent CI, –0.9 to –0.06; p=0.03). Meanwhile, hyperactivity/impulsivity remained unaffected by EEG-NF. The dropout rate was also comparable between the two arms.

“The results of the current meta-analysis support the use of surface EEG-NF for improving inattention in adolescents and young adults, either as single or add-on therapy, despite the small numbers of included trials,” the researchers said.

“Nevertheless, current evidence supporting the therapeutic effect of surface EEG-NF against hyperactivity/impulsivity remains inconclusive,” they added. “Further large-scale randomized controlled trials focusing on adolescents or adults are warranted to support our findings.”