Infra-low frequency neurofeedback impact on post-concussive symptoms of headache, insomnia and attention disorder: Results of a randomized control trial.

This trial reported improvements in headache, sleep and attention after ILF neurofeedback. The findings support further study in veterans with persistent concussion symptoms.

Carlson J, Ross GW, Tyrrell C, Fiame B, Nunokawa C, Siriwardhana C, Schaper K.
Explore (New York, N.Y.) · Publication date: 2025-02-15
Added to site: 2026-09-09
DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2025.103137

Publication date from the authoritative indexed record; this historical addition is not newly published news.

Modalities

Neurofeedback, ILF

Clinical focus

Post-concussion symptoms, Headache, Insomnia, Attention

Population

Combat veterans with persistent post-concussive symptoms

Sample

87 enrolled; 36 intervention and 38 control completers

Intervention / method

Twenty 30-minute ILF sessions alongside usual care

Comparator

Eight weekly 15-minute health discussions alongside usual care

Clinician summary

The abstract reports intention-to-treat analysis and favorable baseline-to-end changes. It does not provide between-group effect estimates or confidence intervals.

How to interpret the findings

Unequal contact time and no sham feedback. Long-term durability and detailed adverse-event findings were not verified from the abstract.

Equipment and disclosures

Equipment details were not verified from the reviewed abstract.

The indexed record lists U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs support. Competing-interest disclosures were not verified from the abstract.

Related evidence

Compare findings from the same clinical area, including mixed results.

• Error Related Negativity and Error Positivity: Neural Indices of Double-Faults in Elite Athletes. · Positive with limitations
• Infra-slow EEG neurofeedback for insomnia: a single-case experimental study in primary care. · Positive with limitations
• Attention, Executive Function, Behavior, and Electrocortical Function, Significantly Improved With 19-Channel Z-Score Neurofeedback in a Clinical Setting: A Pilot Study. · Positive with limitations
• Slow Cortical Potential Versus Live Z-score Neurofeedback in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Multi-arm Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial with Active and Passive Comparators. · Mixed
• The potential of infra-low frequency neurofeedback training in peak performance: The first double-blinded placebo-controlled longitudinal study in healthy adults. · Neutral / negative
• Pain Outcomes and Exercise Data from the EXERT-Stroke Pilot Clinical Trial on Post-Stroke Headaches. · Mixed
• Personalizing sleep therapy: Integrating EEG neurofeedback into the sleep disorders management. · Positive with limitations
• Transcranial photobiomodulation to enhance sleep by elevating adenosine signaling: a translational study. · Positive with limitations