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Neurofeedback in the Treatment of Early Life Stress: a “Nudge” for the Nervous System?

  • Early Life Trauma (M Teicher, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of review

Early life stress has been shown to have profound effects on the developmental trajectories of individuals. Findings have implicated most major areas of the brain as being affected, and existing treatments have been limited in ameliorating symptoms. The purpose of this review is to focus on the development of the autonomic nervous system in concert with the brain.

Recent findings

We suggest that the majority of psychopathology related to early life stress represents an allostatic equilibrium achieved by the autonomic nervous system organizing around threat states. Recent findings in the field of neurofeedback implicate alpha waves as a potential key to helping treat individuals who have been affected by early life stress.

Summary

We conclude that alpha neurofeedback may represent a novel treatment approach to engender changes within the autonomic nervous system in helping to achieve a homeostatic equilibrium. Alpha downtrain neurofeedback may represent a “nudge” for a stuck nervous system that acts as a precursor to increase the efficacy of other training protocols and more traditional talk therapy techniques.

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References and Recommended Reading

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: •• Of major importance

    ** The highlighted references provide evidence that alpha rhythms appear to be associated with organization and functioning of the default mode network. This is important because emerging research has shown that alpha downtrain neurofeedback can significantly change not only the alpha rhythms but also connectivity of the default mode network. Our suggestion is that neurofeedback may provide a unique means of regulating connectivity and functioning of large-scale networks in the brain which have been impacted by early life stress.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Wellspring Integrative Neurotherapy, 104 Russell St, Hadley, MA, 01035, USA

      Mark Gapen Ph.D./BCN

    2. Kari Centre, 214 Green Lane West, Greenlane, Auckland, 1051, New Zealand

      Travers Guy Psy.D.

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    1. Mark Gapen Ph.D./BCN
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    2. Travers Guy Psy.D.
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    Correspondence to Mark Gapen Ph.D./BCN.

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    Gapen, M., Guy, T. Neurofeedback in the Treatment of Early Life Stress: a “Nudge” for the Nervous System?. Curr Treat Options Psych 8, 77–94 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40501-021-00243-1

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