Neurofeedback Impact on Chronic Headache, Sleep, and Attention Disorders Experienced by Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study

Abstract

A good number of veterans while serving in recent combat zones experienced blast injuries resulting in traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), 80% of which were mild (m) with 25%–50% having prolonged postconcussive symptoms (PCSs). Neurofeedback (NFB) has demonstrated a decent degree of efficacy with mTBI PCSs in civilian and veteran populations. Using infra-low frequency NFB, the authors conducted a pilot study to determine the feasibility and initial efficacy with veterans. Because these results were promising, funding for a full clinical trial was subsequently applied for and acquired.

Use of Novel Concussion Protocol With Infralow Frequency Neuromodulation Demonstrates Significant Treatment Response in Patients With Persistent Postconcussion Symptoms, a Retrospective Study

“…The ILF treatment efficacy results correspond with reports of improved clinical outcomes in TBI patients administered varied modalities of neurofeedback. Our findings also correspond with the sole previous study on use of ILF training in postconcussion, which demonstrated improved symptom scores after receiving a total of twenty 32-minute sessions of ILF neurofeedback at a frequency of three sessions per week ( Carlson and Webster Ross, 2021 ). In our study, patients received one 50-minute session of ILF neurofeedback once to twice per week, and often with greater than 1 week between successive sessions, with a treatment goal of at least 20 sessions; despite a reduced weekly frequency, our results found similar efficacy of ILF therapy to that of Carlson and Webster Ross (2021) .…”

“…The choice for infra-low frequency (<0.01 Hz) neuromodulation is to more directly engage with large-scale brain networks that lie below the networks of cognition or lateralization; many of these networks have been characterized in fMRI studies, most notably the DMN. Infralow frequency (ILF) brain training, the method we use in this study, has been shown to enhance the quality of life of veterans with mTBI by alleviating their chronic postconcussion symptoms, with significant clinical gains found in self-reported chronic headaches, insomnia and attentional difficulties ( Carlson and Webster Ross, 2021 ).…”

Infra-Low Frequency Neurofeedback: A Systematic Mixed Studies Review

“…In a small pilot study, Carlson and Webster Ross ( 2021 ) treated four disabled male war veterans, 35–56 years, who reported headaches, insomnia, attention difficulties and general somatic and psychological symptoms due to traumatic brain injury during deployment; selection of participants was influenced by time constraints. Participants received 20 sessions three times weekly of ILF-Neurofeedback, with individually defined optimal frequency and positioning, starting at T3-T4 for stabilization and then adding T4-P4, T4-FP2, and T3-FP1.…”

Infra Low Frequency Neurofeedback Training for Trauma Recovery: A Case Report

“…Following up on the theory that ILF NF could be used for mTBI, (Carlson and Ross, 2021 ) conducted a pilot study at the VA Center in Hawaii on veterans suffering with post concussive symptoms from IED blasts during their combat tours. Based on the success of the pilot study a follow-on clinical study with a larger number of participants has been funded (Carlson personal communication 3/15/22).…”