NeurOptimal has been explored through published academic research, pilot studies, clinical investigations, and case reports examining different aspects of brain functioning and well-being.
Researchers have investigated areas including attention, concentration, emotional well-being, cognitive functioning, fatigue, tinnitus, and sleep.
Some of these studies have reported encouraging improvements, providing an interesting foundation for continued research.
For anyone interested in exploring the wider collection of available materials, the NeurOptimal Research Library brings together studies, academic projects, and clinical reports.
Let's look at some of the published findings.
If you're new to NeurOptimal or curious about how it differs from traditional neurofeedback, you can learn more in my article, Neurofeedback at Home: What Is NeurOptimal and How Does It Work?
One area researchers have explored is attention and ADHD-related difficulties.In a study published online in 2018, Harris, Lambie, and Hundley examined the experiences of 11 college students diagnosed with ADHD.
Participants completed 16 neurofeedback sessions over approximately eight weeks.
The researchers reported improvements in several areas, including inattention, hyperactivity, and ADHD-related self-concept.
Interestingly, improvements in impulsivity were not statistically significant, suggesting that different aspects of functioning may respond differently.
Although this was a relatively small study, it offers an interesting starting point for further investigations into attention and everyday functioning.
Read the research: The Effects of Neurofeedback Training on College Students' Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms — Harris, Lambie & Hundley (2018)
Another study by Harris, Hundley, and Lambie explored changes in depression, anxiety, and academic self-efficacy among college students diagnosed with ADHD.
Academic self-efficacy refers to someone's confidence in their ability to succeed academically.
The researchers examined changes following 16 neurofeedback sessions.
They reported encouraging improvements in measures of depression, anxiety, and academic self-efficacy.
This is particularly interesting because concentration, emotional well-being, and confidence can influence one another.
Someone who finds it difficult to concentrate may become increasingly anxious about their performance. That anxiety may then make concentration even more difficult.
In my own practice, I've most often had people describe improvements across several areas of functioning while using NeurOptimal.
Someone might begin hoping to improve concentration but also notice that they're feeling calmer or less overwhelmed.
I find this possibility of changes across several areas of functioning particularly interesting.
The study was published online in 2019 and appeared in the journal's 2021 volume.
Read the research: The Effects of Neurofeedback on Depression, Anxiety, and Academic Self-Efficacy — Harris, Hundley & Lambie
One of the more interesting areas of NeurOptimal research involves cognitive difficulties experienced by people following cancer treatment.
Sometimes referred to as chemo brain, these difficulties can include problems with memory, concentration, mental clarity, and processing information.
For some cancer survivors, these challenges can persist long after treatment has ended.
A study published in Integrative Cancer Therapies investigated EEG biofeedback in 23 cancer survivors experiencing cognitive difficulties.
The researchers reported improvements in perceived cognitive functioning, fatigue, psychological well-being, and several measures of sleep.
These improvements were generally maintained at follow-up.The study provided an encouraging foundation for further investigation into neurofeedback as a supportive approach for cancer survivors.
Read the research: The Effect of EEG Biofeedback on Reducing Postcancer Cognitive Impairment — Alvarez et al. (2013)
I'm particularly interested in research conducted at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.
In 2022, researchers published a pilot feasibility study examining NeurOptimal in 16 breast cancer survivors experiencing cognitive difficulties and fatigue.
Participants completed 20 NeurOptimal sessions over ten weeks.
The researchers used questionnaires and cognitive assessments to explore changes in functioning.
They reported statistically significant improvements in perceived cognitive difficulties, fatigue, sleep, and psychological symptoms.
The study used a waiting-list design, allowing researchers to compare participants' experiences before and during the neurofeedback intervention.
The findings were encouraging and supported continued investigation into NeurOptimal as a complementary approach for cancer survivors.
Read the research: Exploring the Effect of Neurofeedback on Postcancer Cognitive Impairment and Fatigue: A Pilot Feasibility Study — Luctkar-Flude et al. (2022)
The Queen's University researchers also published a separate paper exploring participants' experiences.
Twelve breast cancer survivors participated in interviews following their NeurOptimal sessions.
Researchers identified themes involving symptom improvements, meaningful changes in everyday functioning, enjoyment of the sessions, and participants' willingness to recommend the experience to other cancer survivors.
I particularly appreciate this type of research because it provides information that isn't always captured through standardized questionnaires.
Sometimes the changes people find most meaningful involve their ability to participate in everyday life, manage responsibilities, or feel more like themselves.
Read the research: Exploring the Impact of Nonlinear Dynamical Neurofeedback on Post-Cancer Cognitive Impairment and Cancer-Related Fatigue: Results of Interviews With Breast Cancer Survivors — Luctkar-Flude & Tyerman (2022)
Tinnitus is another area where researchers have investigated NeurOptimal.
Tinnitus involves perceiving sound when there isn't a corresponding external sound source.
People may experience ringing, buzzing, hissing, or other sounds.
For some, tinnitus is relatively manageable. For others, it can significantly affect sleep, concentration, emotional well-being, and quality of life.
A 2023 Italian pilot study examined NeurOptimal in adults experiencing tinnitus.
Participants were assigned to either a NeurOptimal group or a waiting-list comparison group.
Those receiving NeurOptimal completed 20 sessions.
Researchers examined tinnitus-related difficulties, anxiety, depression, and quality of life.
They reported statistically significant improvements in several measures, including tinnitus-related distress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and aspects of quality of life.
One particularly useful feature of this study was the inclusion of a comparison group.
Although the study was preliminary, its findings provide an encouraging foundation for further research into NeurOptimal and tinnitus-related well-being.
Read the research: Can the Neuroptimal® Method Promote a State of Wellbeing in Subjects Suffering From Tinnitus? A Pilot Study — Marchi et al. (2023)
Given my background as a trauma therapist, this is an area I'm particularly interested in.
Trauma can affect many aspects of nervous system functioning, including sleep, attention, emotional regulation, and the ability to recover from stress.
Researchers at Wayne State University have registered investigations involving NeurOptimal and trauma-related experiences.
One project explores NeurOptimal as an adjunctive wellness intervention for postpartum mothers with histories of trauma exposure.
The researchers are interested in feasibility and potential changes in emotional well-being, trauma-related symptoms, and everyday functioning.
Explore the study: An Adjunctive Neurofeedback Training Program to Enhance Wellness Among Trauma-Exposed Postpartum Mothers — Wayne State University
Another study examines NeurOptimal among people experiencing obsessive-compulsive symptoms alongside post-traumatic stress symptoms.
The researchers are exploring potential changes in well-being, emotional regulation, dissociation, and other trauma-related experiences.
Explore the study: Neurofeedback and Well-Being Among People With Co-Occurring Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms — Wayne State University
These are ongoing investigations rather than published outcome studies.
Nevertheless, I'm pleased to see researchers exploring NeurOptimal with populations experiencing complex nervous system challenges.
Another research initiative that caught my attention comes from the Southeast Ontario Neurofeedback Research group at Queen's University.
Researchers are investigating the feasibility and potential effects of NeurOptimal for people experiencing migraines or chronic headaches.
The project involves 20 neurofeedback sessions and examines outcomes such as headache frequency, severity, disability, fatigue, sleep, and psychological well-being.
This is particularly interesting to me because I personally experienced substantial improvements in migraines after beginning NeurOptimal in 2018.
I also found that using the system during a migraine often coincided with the migraine resolving.
I'm pleased to see researchers investigating this area more formally.
Research can help us understand whether experiences like mine reflect patterns that occur consistently across larger groups of people.
Explore the research: Southeast Ontario Neurofeedback Research — Queen's University
Research helps us understand broader patterns, but individual experiences can offer another valuable perspective. I've shared more about my own experiences and observations from nearly nine years of using NeurOptimal in What Can NeurOptimal Help With? My Experiences After Eight Years of Neurofeedback.
NeurOptimal isn't used exclusively by people hoping to improve sleep, concentration, or emotional well-being. It has also attracted interest from professional and Olympic athletes looking to support their ability to perform under pressure.
For example, Singaporean world champion para archer Nur Syahidah Alim shared her experience using NeurOptimal. After just four sessions, she reported feeling calmer, more relaxed, and more productive during training. She also noticed improvements in her sleep.
Dutch Olympic rower Govert Viergever, who competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, reportedly experienced improvements in stress tolerance and performance-related anxiety following eight weeks of NeurOptimal training.What I find particularly interesting about these experiences is that the athletes weren't describing changes in their physical abilities. They were describing changes in how they felt and responded to the demands of their sport.
Being able to remain calm, focused, and adaptable under pressure can be enormously valuable, whether you're competing at the Olympics, preparing for an important presentation, or simply navigating the challenges of everyday life.
These individual experiences complement the growing body of research exploring NeurOptimal and its potential relationship with attention, stress tolerance, and emotional well-being.
You can read more about these athletes' experiences through NeuroZen's collection of NeurOptimal athlete testimonials.
Another area where I've been particularly interested in NeurOptimal is recovery following a brain injury.
An Australian NeurOptimal provider, Life Brain Training, has shared a video testimonial featuring Brian and his family, discussing their experience with NeurOptimal during Brian's recovery from a traumatic brain injury.
I always find these personal accounts interesting because brain injuries can affect so many different aspects of functioning, including concentration, memory, emotional regulation, sleep, and the ability to manage everyday activities.
And this is an area that's particularly meaningful to me because of my own experience.
In October 2018, I sustained a significant concussion.
Unfortunately, this wasn't my first brain injury. I'd experienced numerous concussions over the years, and I was very aware that repeated brain injuries can have cumulative effects.
This latest concussion left me unable to work, unable to drive, and struggling with even ordinary daily activities.
I was terrified.
When I first met with my physiotherapist, I brought her a list of my previous brain injuries.
I remember asking her, "Do you think I'll be able to recover from this?"
Her response was simply, "We'll do our best."
It wasn't exactly the reassurance I was hoping for.
What I didn't know at the time was that she wasn't particularly optimistic about my chances of making a substantial recovery.
She only told me that later, after I'd made remarkable progress - that given my history and the severity of my symptoms, she had not though I was going to be able to recovery anywhere near as much as I did.
We both felt NeurOptimal must have been a significant part of that.
For me, this isn't simply an interesting area of research. It's personal.
One of the things I appreciate about scientific research is that it allows us to move beyond individual experiences and look for broader patterns.
In clinical practice, we often hear about changes that are meaningful to the person experiencing them.
Research allows us to explore how consistently those changes occur, which individuals may benefit most, and how improvements develop over time.
I'm particularly interested in research examining individual differences.
Why might one person notice improvements in sleep while another notices changes in concentration or emotional regulation?
Are there particular characteristics that influence how people respond?
And can we identify ways to make neurofeedback more accessible and comfortable for people with complex or highly sensitive nervous systems?
These are exciting questions for future research.
The published NeurOptimal studies provide useful starting points, and I'm encouraged to see researchers continuing to investigate this approach.
If you're curious about experiencing NeurOptimal for yourself, I offer home rentals throughout Canada. You can learn more about NeurOptimal home rentals, including how the process works and what's included.