Cited by 112EEG and Brain-Computer InterfacesPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsDigital Mental Health Interventions

Neurofeedback, self-regulation and brain imaging: clinical science and fad in the service of mental disorders

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Thibault, Robert T., Lifshitz, Michael, Birbaumer, Niels, Raz, Amir·2015·Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics

Abstract

Neurofeedback draws on multiple techniques that propel both healthy and patient populations to self-regulate neural activity. Since the 1970s, numerous accounts have promoted electroencephalography-neurofeedback as a viable treatment for a host of mental disorders. Today, while the number of health care providers referring patients to neurofeedback practitioners increases steadily, substantial methodological and conceptual caveats continue to pervade empirical reports. And yet, nascent imaging technologies (e.g., real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging) and increasingly rigorous protocols are paving the road towards more effective applications and a better scientific understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Here, we outline common neurofeedback methods, illuminate the tenuous state of the evidence, and sketch out future directions to further unravel the potential merits of this contentious therapeutic prospect.

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  • In other psychiatric and neurological disorders, rtfMRI-NF has shown some clinical potential, showing generalization to NF-free transfer runs and longer-term beneficial effects on cognitive and behavior symptoms of up to several months.

    “In other psychiatric and neurological disorders rtfMRI-NF has shown some clinical potential (Thibault et al., 2015, 2016), showing generalization to NF-free transfer runs and longer-term beneficial effects on cognitive and behavior symptoms of up to several months (Zilverstand et al., 2015).”

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  1. Saxby E, Peniston EG: Alpha-theta brainwave neurofeedback training: An effective treatment for male and female alcoholics with depressive symptoms. J Clin Psychol 1995;51:685-693.

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Authors
Thibault, R. T., Lifshitz, M., Birbaumer, N., & Raz, A.
Affiliations
  • McGill University (CA)
  • IRCCS San Camillo Hospital (IT)
  • Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research (CA)
Venue
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
Publisher
S. Karger AG
Published
2015
Volume
84
Issue
4
Pages
193-207
ISSN
  • 0033-3190 (ISSN-L)
  • 1423-0348
OpenAlex
W1491964194
Cited by
112
References
126
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 3
FWCI
1.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship@McGill (McGill) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Mind and Life Institute
  • Volkswagen Foundation
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
Keywords
neurofeedback, self-regulation, EEG, mental illness, evidence base, treatment efficacy, methodological limitations
MeSH terms
Self-Control, Clinical Studies as Topic, Mental Disorders, Brain, Brain Mapping, Electroencephalography, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Neurofeedback

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