Neurofeedback
Training that gives real-time feedback on brain activity measured through EEG.
What is it?
01Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback that lets you see or hear a signal based on your brain activity in real time. It gives you a way to practise shifting patterns of activity using immediate feedback.
Most neurofeedback uses EEG, where small sensors on your scalp record the brain's electrical activity. Some studies use fMRI brain scans to provide feedback. That's a different technique, used mainly in research settings.
What may it help with?
02People explore neurofeedback when they feel constantly on alert, get startled easily or struggle to settle or concentrate. Some studies have found improvements in PTSD symptoms, including in people who had already tried other treatments.
Neurofeedback has also been studied in children with ADHD. Some individual studies report improvements, but the strongest comparisons haven't found a meaningful overall benefit for ADHD symptoms.
How does it work?
03A computer translates the signal from the sensors into something you can see or hear. A video might play more clearly, for example, or a tone might sound when your brain activity shifts towards the pattern being trained.
The idea is that, through repeated practice, your brain may get better at producing that pattern. That's the connection to neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change with experience. Researchers are still working out which patterns are worth training and when a change during a session translates into a lasting change in how you feel, focus or respond to stress.
What does the evidence say?
04Some people report feeling calmer, more focused or better able to handle stress after neurofeedback. Research has found encouraging results for some conditions and training methods.
- PTSD and hypervigilance. In a randomised trial led by Bessel van der Kolk, adults with chronic PTSD who received EEG neurofeedback improved more than those on a waiting list. After treatment, around a quarter of the neurofeedback group still met criteria for PTSD, compared with around two thirds of the waiting list group [1].
- Depression. In a small randomised trial of 36 adults, six people who received brain-scan feedback targeting the amygdala met criteria for remission at the end of the study, compared with one person who received feedback from a different brain region. That's an encouraging early result for a specific form of fMRI neurofeedback [2].
- ADHD and attention. A large 2025 review of 38 trials found neurofeedback didn't meaningfully improve ADHD symptoms overall, although there was a small benefit in trials using established training methods [3].
What does a session or practice look like?
05You sit comfortably while a practitioner places sensors on your scalp, sometimes using a small amount of gel. You then watch a screen or listen to sounds that respond to the signal. In standard EEG neurofeedback, the sensors record brain activity and the feedback comes through the screen or speakers.
Training usually involves a series of sessions over several weeks or months. Ask what schedule the practitioner recommends for you and when you'll review whether it's making a difference in daily life.
Risks and considerations
06If you feel tired, get a headache or feel unsettled after a session, tell your practitioner. They can review the session with you and discuss whether to adjust the training.
Questions to ask a practitioner
07- What are your clinical qualifications, and what training do you have in neurofeedback?
- Which approach would you recommend for me or my child, and what evidence supports it?
- How often would we meet, and how many sessions would you suggest before we review progress?
- If I feel tired, unsettled or notice other changes after a session, when should I let you know?
- How will we tell whether it's helping in everyday life, and how will we decide whether to continue?
- How would neurofeedback fit alongside the care I'm already receiving?
Founder’s Insight
I found neurofeedback helpful. I also use a home device now when my stress levels are high and I need to calm down. I'd lived with hypervigilance my whole life, and talking through that initial look at my brain activity helped me put a name to how often I felt on alert. After a series of sessions, I felt calmer, less jumpy and more able to focus. Everyday stress felt easier to handle. It felt like my brain was learning a different way to respond.
I was going twice a week and felt quite tired in those first two to four weeks. My brain was learning something new, and I learnt to give myself a bit more room to rest. Having sessions close together seemed to give me better results, and I'm glad I gave it enough time to notice what was changing. The biggest difference showed up in ordinary moments, when something that would usually put me on edge just didn't hit me in the same way.
I also found it helpful when I was working on my impulsivity and the habits I'd fallen into around addiction. I felt like I had a little more room to pause before acting on an urge. For me, that made neurofeedback a tool worth having in my toolbox.
Founder, The Mental Wealth Hub
You’ve read about it. Now what can you actually do?
You don’t need to have the perfect plan. Choose the next step that feels most useful for where you are right now.
Always speak with a qualified health professional before starting something new. If you are struggling right now, find immediate support.
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This is educational information. It is not a recommendation that this approach is right for you. Always speak with a qualified health professional.
