Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27303609›Full record

ArticleBasic and clinical neuroscience2016

Neurofeedback: A Comprehensive Review on System Design, Methodology and Clinical Applications.

Hengameh Marzbani, Hamid Reza Marateb, Marjan Mansourian

3 registry-linked trialsAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Basic and clinical neuroscience, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 211 papers, 19 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
211citing papers in PubMed, 19 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT03152331 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2017, after this paper: background citation

Nurse and Physician Stress Reduction: Learning Receptive Awareness Via EEG Feedback

TypeinterventionalSponsorC. Michael DunhamRan2017 to 2018Enrolled67ConditionsStress, Stress, Psychological, ElectroencephalographyArmsReceptive Awareness Training
NCT05936697 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

Neurofeedback Training to Improve Prefrontal Functioning in Older Adults With Subclinical Depression and Anxiety: a Randomised Control Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityRan2023 to 2024Enrolled90ConditionsDepression, AnxietyArmsfNIRS, EEG, Baseline Training
NCT07149974 naenrolling by invitationnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Developing an EEG-fNIRS Neurofeedback Application for Brain Training for Autistic Children

TypeinterventionalSponsorEducation University of Hong KongRan2025 to 2026Enrolled30ConditionsAutism, Autistic Disorders Spectrum, Neurofeedback, EEGArmsEEG and fNIRS, EEG, fNIRS
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

211 citing papers in PubMed, 19 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  4. Biofeedback-based Digital Games and Well-being in Childhood: A Systematic Review.Research on child and adolescent psychopathology · 2025
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151 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Hengameh MarzbaniDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
Hamid Reza MaratebDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
Marjan MansourianDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Neurofeedback is a kind of biofeedback, which teaches self-control of brain functions to subjects by measuring brain waves and providing a feedback signal. Neurofeedback usually provides the audio and or video feedback. Positive or negative feedback is produced for desirable or undesirable brain activities, respectively. In this review, we provided clinical and technical information about the following issues: (1) Various neurofeedback treatment protocols i.e. alpha, beta, alpha/theta, delta, gamma, and theta; (2) Different EEG electrode placements i.e. standard recording channels in the frontal, temporal, central, and occipital lobes; (3) Electrode montages (unipolar, bipolar); (4) Types of neurofeedback i.e. frequency, power, slow cortical potential, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and so on; (5) Clinical applications of neurofeedback i.e. treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, insomnia, drug addiction, schizophrenia, learning disabilities, dyslexia and dyscalculia, autistic spectrum disorders and so on as well as other applications such as pain management, and the improvement of musical and athletic performance; and (6) Neurofeedback softwares. To date, many studies have been conducted on the neurofeedback therapy and its effectiveness on the treatment of many diseases. Neurofeedback, like other treatments, has its own pros and cons. Although it is a non-invasive procedure, its validity has been questioned in terms of conclusive scientific evidence. For example, it is expensive, time-consuming and its benefits are not long-lasting. Also, it might take months to show the desired improvements. Nevertheless, neurofeedback is known as a complementary and alternative treatment of many brain dysfunctions. However, current research does not support conclusive results about its efficacy.

Indexed as

Brain diseasesBrain wavesComplementary therapiesElectroencephalographyNeurofeedback

Identifiers

PMID27303609
PMCPMC4892319

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.