Overview & Efficacy: Several small controlled studies have shown that EEG biofeedback improves memory and cognitive function among people with brain injuries.

This therapy is rated as between possibly and probably efficacious (levels 2 to 3 on a scale of 1 - 5 with 5 being the best) until more controlled and larger clinical studies with longer term follow-ups are published.

Why biofeedback would help this problem: Brain waves are electrical signals recorded from the surface of the head over the brain. They are called electroencephalographic (EEG) waves. They reflect activity in the brain structures which produce them. When a brain is injured, the EEG from the damaged area may be abnormal. Waves from undamaged parts of the brain which need to deal with the damaged parts while keeping the body going and thinking may also change as the undamaged parts of the brain work to compensate for the damaged parts. People having brain damage are taught to alter their brainwaves through neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback).

People who do neurofeedback generally feel that the parts of the brain generating the abnormal proportions of brainwaves can be taught to function normally by teaching the brain to produce the correct (normal) proportions of brainwaves. Theoretically, the more normal the brainwaves are, the more normally the patient should behave. Thus, the treatment's success is proportional to how well the patient learns to normalize his or her brainwaves.

People who do neurofeedback generally feel that the parts of the brain generating the abnormal proportions of brainwaves can be taught to function normally by teaching the brain to produce the correct (normal) proportions of brainwaves. Theoretically, the more normal the brainwaves are, the more normally the patient should behave. Thus, the treatment's success is proportional to how well the patient learns to normalize his or her brainwaves.

Detailed information on biofeedback augmented treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury

A. Citations to the papers summarized in the "brief summary" on Traumatic Brain Injury:

Keller, I. (2001). Neurofeedback therapy of attention deficits in patients with traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neurotherapy, 5 (1/2), 19-32.

Schoenberger, N.E., Shif, S.C., Esty, M.L., Ochs, L., & Matheis, R.J. (2001). Flexyx Neurotherapy System in the treatment of traumatic brain injury: An initial evaluation. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 16(3), 260-274.

Tinius, T. P., & Tinius, K. A. (2000). Changes after EEG biofeedback and cognitive retraining in adults with mild traumatic brain injury and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Neurotherapy, 4 (2), 27-44.

Thornton, K. (2000). Improvement/rehabilitation of memory functioning with neurotherapy/QEEG biofeedback. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 15(6), 1285-1296.

Walker, J. E., Norman, C. A., Weber, R. K. (2002). Impact of qEEG-guided coherence training for patients with a mild closed head injury. Journal of Neurotherapy, 6 (2), 31-43.