Biofeedback and Neurofeedback: Techniques and Uses
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 3 Nov 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Learn how biofeedback and neurofeedback measure bodily functions and brain waves, the main feedback techniques and the conditions these therapies help treat.
At a Glance
- 1 - Biofeedback began in the late 1960s and grew as a widely promoted tool through the 1970s.
- 2 - Neurofeedback relies on operant conditioning, guiding brainwaves toward new prescribed patterns.
- 3 - Neurofeedback has been studied for ADHD, but ADHD guidelines recommend behavioral treatment and medication first.
- 4 - EEG monitoring links brain waves to mental states such as beta for wakefulness, alpha for relaxation, theta for calmness and delta for sleep.
Topic Definition
- Biofeedback and Neurofeedback
Biofeedback is a mind-body technique that measures quantifiable bodily functions - such as skin temperature, sweat gland activity, heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension - and feeds that information back to a person in real time so they can learn to influence processes that normally happen unconsciously. By connecting to electrical sensors and watching how the body responds, patients build awareness and conscious control that can promote relaxation and ease a range of stress-related physical and mental health conditions. Neurofeedback is a specialized form of biofeedback that focuses on the brain, using scalp sensors to measure brainwave activity and returning that data as video, sound, or vibration, with positive feedback for desired activity and negative feedback for undesired activity. Also known as neurotherapy or EEG biofeedback, it trains self-regulation of brain function and has been studied for conditions including ADHD, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and insomnia. Together these therapies form a complementary and alternative approach that centers on the patient's own understanding of their physical and neurological state.
Overview
Biofeedback is a form of alternative medicine that involves measuring a subject's quantifiable bodily functions such as skin temperature, sweat gland activity, blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension, conveying the information to the patient in real-time. This raises the patient's awareness and conscious control of their unconscious physiological activities.
Neurofeedback, a type of biofeedback treatment, has become a popular treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); electromyogram biofeedback, used for muscle tension, has been widely studied and is currently accepted as a treatment for incontinence disorders. The role of biofeedback in controlling hypertension is also becoming recognized.
Neurofeedback, also called neurotherapy, neurobiofeedback or EEG biofeedback (EEGBF) is a therapy technique that presents the user with real-time feedback on brainwave activity, as measured by sensors on the scalp, typically in the form of a video display, sound, or vibration.
Other areas where neurofeedback has been researched include treatment of substance abuse, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, OCD, learning disabilities, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, anger and rage, cognitive impairment, migraines, headaches, chronic pain, autism spectrum disorders, sleep dysregulation, PTSD and MTBI.
Feedback Techniques
The three most commonly used forms of feedback techniques that are available are:
- Thermal biofeedback, which measures the skin temperature.
- Electromyography or EMG, which measures muscular tension.
- Neurofeedback or electroencephalography (EEG) which measures brain wave activity.
Usually it is temperature, heart rate or neurological frequencies that is the input to feedback devices. An electromyograph, or EMG, is one of the most commonly used modalities in biofeedback treatment. An EMG in a biofeedback setting typically uses electrodes to measure muscle action potentials. These action potentials result in muscle tension. The patient can learn to recognize the way tension subjectively feels by using the objective EMG readings, and as a result learn to control the muscle tension.
- Pneumograph: Measures abdominal/chest movement (as when breathing), usually with a strain gauge. They are used for detecting breathing rate, and correct ineffective breathing patterns such as thoracic breathing, reverse breathing, and apnea.
- Capnometer: Measures end-tidal CO2 with an infrared detector.
- Hemoencephalography or HEG Biofeedback: A method of functional infrared imaging that indirectly measures neural activity in the brain. There are two known types of HEG, passive infrared (pIR) and near infrared (nIR).
- Electroencephalograph or EEG: Monitors the activity of brain waves. These brain waves correspond to different mental states, such as wakefulness (Beta waves), relaxation (Alpha waves), calmness (Theta waves), and light sleep and deep sleep (Delta waves).
- Electrodermal activity (EDA) biofeedback: Sensors measure the activity of a patient's sweat glands. The amount of electrical resistance measured on the skin indicates the level of anxiety. This information can then be used to treat emotional disorders such as phobias, anxiety, and stuttering.
- Photoplethysmographs or PPGs: In biofeedback, are used to measure peripheral blood flow, heart rate, and heart rate variability(HRV). In thermal biofeedback, a thermistor attached to the subject's digits or web dorsum measures the subject's skin temperature. Because there is a correlation between a drop in body temperature and the patient's experience of stress, a low-temperature reading indicates the need to begin relaxation techniques.
Biofeedback and Neurofeedback Quick Facts
- The person doing neurofeedback consciously learns how to control their brainwaves.
- Most patients aren't even aware of the physical and neurological responses their bodies generate daily until they are given this information.
- Neurofeedback depends on operant conditioning; guiding brainwaves into new and prescribed patterns.
- Conditions related to stress are also treated using biofeedback, such as certain types of headaches, high blood pressure, bruxism or teeth grinding, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, substance abuse, and some anxiety disorders.
- In 2012, an American Academy of Pediatrics list of psychosocial interventions placed biofeedback in its highest evidence level for attention and hyperactivity problems, but study results remain mixed, and ADHD clinical guidelines, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics guideline of 2019, recommend behavioral treatment and medication rather than neurofeedback.
- Biofeedback is successfully used with symptoms and health problems such as chronic pain, tension headache and migraine, sleep disturbance and insomnia, hypertension, anxiety, depression, GI problems, Raynaud's disease, stroke rehabilitation, Attention Deficit Disorder, and stress-related disorders.
- Small studies and anecdotal reports suggest neurofeedback may be a potentially useful intervention for a range of brain-related conditions. It has been used for addiction, aggression, anxiety, autism, depression, epilepsy, headaches, insomnia, Tourette syndrome, and brain damage from stroke, trauma, and other causes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is biofeedback therapy painful?
No, biofeedback is noninvasive and painless, since sensors only read signals like temperature, heart rate, or muscle activity from the surface of the skin.
How many biofeedback sessions are usually needed?
The number varies by condition and person, though many programs involve a course of sessions over several weeks so skills can be practiced and reinforced.
Can you do biofeedback at home?
Yes, wearable devices and apps allow some home biofeedback, but working with a trained clinician first helps ensure the technique is used correctly.
Is neurofeedback safe for children?
Neurofeedback is generally considered safe for children and is often studied for ADHD, though it should be guided by a qualified practitioner.
How is biofeedback different from meditation?
Meditation relies on internal focus alone, while biofeedback adds real-time data from sensors so you can see how your body responds and adjust accordingly.
Does insurance cover biofeedback or neurofeedback?
Coverage varies widely by provider and diagnosis, so it is best to confirm with your insurer whether a specific condition and treatment plan qualify.
Are the effects of neurofeedback permanent?
Many people retain gains after training, but results differ by individual and condition, and some may benefit from occasional follow-up sessions.
What is heart rate variability biofeedback?
Heart rate variability biofeedback teaches slow, paced breathing while a sensor shows how the time between heartbeats changes. It is used to reduce stress and anxiety.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team. Last updated: