Neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback) is a noninvasive, evidence-based intervention that measures the brain’s electrical activity (electroencephalography, or EEG) and provides real-time feedback to help individuals learn to self-regulate their brain functioning. Through repeated training sessions, the brain is reinforced for producing more efficient and adaptive patterns of activity, which can improve attention, emotional regulation, cognitive performance, sleep, and overall nervous system stability. As described by Bessel van der Kolk in The Body Keeps the Score, neurofeedback offers a way to address the physiological effects of trauma by helping restore the brain’s capacity for self-regulation without requiring individuals to repeatedly relive traumatic experiences.
Current scientific evidence indicates that neurofeedback is most strongly supported as an adjunctive treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), epilepsy, and insomnia. Growing research also supports its use for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, depression, traumatic brain injury (TBI), substance use disorders, and autism spectrum condition (ASD). Major clinical guidelines recommend it as an adjunct rather than a replacement for established treatments. Ongoing research continues to investigate neurofeedback’s potential applications for additional neurological and psychiatric conditions as the evidence base expands.
