Is there enough research?

Neurofeedback started in animal research.  Over 1000 studies have been published related to this field.  The early animal research, which has been validated in many peer-reviewed journals since the 1970s, showed:  1) the EEG can be changed through operant conditioning (based on Skinner's work), and 2) that seizures are reduced with EEG training.

These were done with animals – with no chance of placebo effects.  That research has been verified in human studies.   There will always be a need for much more.   But the basis for this field is extremely solid.  There are a number of good outcome studies.  No one has published any significant studies suggesting neurofeedback doesn't work.

Click here for a select subset of studies and research-like articles.  We've selected studies to help you gain a solid understanding of what's been done in the field, but it's a lot easier to digest than the big list.  This is the same list provided to the attendees of the neurofeedback workshop at the American Psychiatric Association annual meeting. 

A well recognized medical journal in child and adolescent psychiatry devoted much of a special issue to research in neurofeedback in January 2005.  It's well worth reviewing.  It was edited by an associate professor from Brown Medical School, a psychiatrist from Harvard Medical School and a psychiatrist from University of California, Davis. Click here to learn more about this journal, how to order it, or how to get links to a couple of the chapters.

The majority of outcome studies are in three areas:  epilepsy, ADD, and substance abuse, in addition to basic research.  Even thought neurofeedback is widely used for other issues, there are currently a limited number of outcome studies.  There's some smaller studies listed for OCD, for autism, depression, and anxiety and learning disabilities. More are in progress.

Though many more studies are needed, the literature that exists is substantial.  Most the research is published in small specialized journals. To understand the research and science requires reading multiple studies and articles about neurofeedback. That must be combined with a good understanding of the neurophysiology of cognitive behavioral function and the EEG (see Integrative Neuroscience).   Add to this a good understanding of arousal, the thalamus and the brainstem.  Once you’ve studied these, it provides a solid scientific underpinning for this emerging field. (There is a introductory course that does a good job of synthesizing this information and making it understandable).   

Frank Duffy, a noted Harvard Neurologist, reviewed the literature inn 2000.  He wrote an editorial that identified some unresolved research issues.  Then he added:

    "The literature, which lacks any negative study of substance, suggests that EBT (EEG Biofeedback Therapy) should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy it would be universally accepted and widely used."                                            
From the medical journal Clinical EEG and Neuroscience

Is neurofeedback considered experimental?   No, unless your criteria is that any off-label use is experimental.  In medicine, off-label use is commonly practiced.

A comment about the need for studies
The first that changes for most people when training in neurofeedback is sleep. Every clinician learns that quickly.  Neurofeedback helps insomnia and a number of other sleep problems.  But there is no real research on neurofeedback and sleep.  Remarkable - there's just not funding for it and no academics pursing the research.  Most experienced clinicians in the field know - if you add neurofeedback training to any psychiatric, psychological, or neurological treatment, the chances of improvement is extremely high. When the brain works better, it's easier to treat problems.  That being said, health professionals long for more outcome studies.  Not to convince themselves, but to convince other health professionals and insurance companies of efficacy.

Thousands of licensed health professionals use neurofeedback.  Continued growth over twelve years has occurred with psychologists, psychiatrists, and professors. All are subject to licensing boards.  Many are highly credentialed.  Neurofeedback is expensive and time consuming for patients.  It requires significant efforts by clinicians to learn.  It has been argued it could not grow without clear clinical success.