Clinical applications of neurofeedback based on sensorimotor rhythm: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Frontiers in neuroscience Vol. 17; p. 1195066
• Main Authors: Ribeiro, Tatiana Ferri, Carriello, Marcelo Alves, de Paula, Eugenio Pereira, Garcia, Amanda Carvalho, Rocha, Guilherme Luiz da, Teive, Helio Afonso Ghizoni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Frontiers Research Foundation 20-11-2023; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Biofeedback; Clinical outcomes; Design; Electroencephalography; Feedback; Fibromyalgia; Imagination; Intervention; Medical imaging; Meta-analysis; Neuroimaging; neurologia; Neurons; neuropsiquiatría; Neuroscience; Paralysis; pathology; Patients; Rhythm; Sensorimotor system; sensory motor rhythm; Software; standard therapy; Statistical analysis; Stroke; Systematic review
• ISSN: 1662-453X; 1662-4548; 1662-453X
• DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1195066

post-intervention scales. Statistical analysis indicated that stroke patients did not benefit from neurofeedback interventions when compared to other therapies (Std. mean. dif. 0.31, 95% CI 0.03 -0.60, p = 0.03), and there was no significant heterogeneity among stroke studies, classified as moderate I² = 46% p-value=0.06. Patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia showed, by means of quantitative analysis, a better benefit for the group that used neurofeedback (Std. mean. dif. -0.73, 95% CI -1.22 --0.24, p = 0.001). Thus, on performing the pooled analysis between conditions, no significant differences were observed between the neurofeedback intervention and standard therapy (0,05, CI 95%, -0,20 -0,30, p = 0,69), with the presence of substantial heterogeneity I² = 92.2%, pvalue <0.001. Conclusion: We conclude that although neurofeedback based on electrophysiological patterns of SMR contemplates the interest of numerous researchers and the existence of research that presents promising results, it is currently not possible to point out the clinical benefits of the technique as a form of clinical intervention. Therefore it is necessary to develop more robust studies with a greater sample of a more rigorous methodology to understand the benefits that the technique can provide to the population.