Research › Ageing, Memory & Cognition
The Effect of EEG Biofeedback on Reducing Postcancer Cognitive Impairment
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Study at a glance
- Area
- Ageing, Memory & Cognition
- Study type
- Pilot / open study
- Authors
- Alvarez J, Meyer FL, Granoff DL, Lundy A
- Journal
- Integrative Cancer Therapies
- Year
- 2013
- Participants
- 23 female breast cancer survivors
- Population
- Adults
- Protocol
- EEG biofeedback (neurofeedback) after a waitlist control period
- Sessions
- 20 sessions over 10 weeks
Key findings
- All 23 participants completed the study, supporting feasibility in this group
- Significant improvements (P < .001) on all 4 cognitive measures, fatigue, and the 4 psychological scales
- Most sleep scales improved, with 2 of 8 showing no significant change
- Gains were maintained 4 weeks after training, when most measures no longer differed from population norms
A 6-month feasibility study of EEG biofeedback (neurofeedback) for post-cancer cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors who had finished chemotherapy. Women were first followed through a 10-week waitlist period, then completed 20 neurofeedback sessions, with self-report measures of cognition, fatigue, sleep and psychological symptoms repeated throughout and at follow-up. All participants finished, and scores improved steadily during training. The authors conclude that, within the limits of this small study, neurofeedback shows potential for easing cognitive and emotional effects of cancer treatment.