ArticleChild and adolescent psychiatry and mental health2022
Surface electroencephalographic neurofeedback improves sustained attention in ADHD: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Article in Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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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.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Optimal exercise intensity for improving executive function in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: systematic review and network meta-analysis.European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2025Pooled it
- Mapping the evolution of neurofeedback research: a bibliometric analysis of trends and future directions.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2024Pooled it
- Trial
- SMR/Theta Neurofeedback Training on Attention and Reading Abilities in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Predominantly Inattentive.Applied psychophysiology and biofeedback · 2026Article
- A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Neurofeedback for Training of Attention and Related Cognitive Functions.Clinical psychopharmacology and neuroscience : the official scientific journal of the Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2026Review
- Integrating single-channel EEG neurofeedback into video game-based digital therapeutics for ADHD.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Brain-computer interface: an update for the clinicians.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2026Review
- Multi-level treatment outcome evaluation in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health · 2025Article
- Clinical practice guidelines on cognitive impairment and ADHD-Assessment and Management.Indian journal of psychiatry · 2025Article
- Interest of neurofeedback training for cognitive performance and risk of brain disorders in the military context.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundThe efficacy of surface electroencephalographic neurofeedback (EEG-NF) for improving attentional performance assessed by laboratory measures in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remains unclear.
methodsFollowing the PRISMA guidelines, the PubMed, Embase, ClinicalKey, Cochrane CENTRAL, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of surface EEG-NF against ADHD focusing on attentional performance evaluated by laboratory measures from inception to January 2022.
resultsFourteen eligible studies were analyzed. Of the 718 participants involved, 429 diagnosed with ADHD received EEG-NF treatment. Significant improvement in attentional performance in ADHD subjects receiving EEG-NF was noted compared to their comparators (p < 0.01). Besides, there was a significant EEG-NF-associated beneficial effect on sustained attention (Hedges' g = 0.32, p < 0.01), whereas the impact on selective attention (p = 0.57) and working memory (p = 0.59) was limited. Moreover, protocol including beta wave enhancement was superior to that only focusing on reducing theta/beta ratio or modulation of slow cortical potential. Subgroup analyses showed that three sessions per week of EEG-NF produced the best effect, while the efficacy of surface EEG-NF was much poorer (Hedges' g = 0.05) when only studies that blinded their participants from knowledge of treatment allocation were included. No significant difference was noted in the improvement of attentional performance 6-12 months after EEG-NF intervention (n = 3, p = 0.42).
conclusionsOur results demonstrated the satisfactory effectiveness of surface EEG-NF for improving sustained attention, especially when beta wave enhancement was included, despite its failure to sustain a long-term effect. Further large-scale trials are warranted to support our findings.
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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.