Just one hour of neurofeedback brain training leads to improved brain activity, suggesting avenues for future therapy in neurological illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease and stroke, according to a Brazilian research team.
Neurofeedback is a time-tested therapy that allows participants to access brain activity in real time and gain control over it. Researchers from D’Or Institute for Research and Education used the technology to train study participants for 30 minutes as they imagined moving their own hands. Their neural networks were scanned both before and after the training to gauge impact on brain wiring and neural communication.
The results showed the brain’s ability to immediately adapt itself, researcher Theo Marins, Ph.D., said in a statement. The connection between the brain’s right and left hemispheres exhibited increased integrity, the neural network controlling body movements was strengthened, and there was a positive impact on the default mode network, a brain network which is impaired after stroke, Parkinson’s and depression, among other illnesses. The changes were not observed in the control group, the researchers noted.
“Understanding of how we can impact on brain wiring and functioning is the key to treat neurological disorders,” said Marins.
Neurofeedback is a powerful tool with promise for future therapeutic use, added Fernanda Tovar Moll, president of IDOR and study lead in a statement. “Now, our goal is to develop new studies to test whether patients with neurological disorders can also benefit from it.”
