Advancing Brain Trauma Treatment: The Impact of Neurofeedback on Injury Recovery

It affects 5.3 million people in the U.S. every year. It can happen in a matter of seconds, but the effects can last for a lifetime. Sports injuries, car accidents, physical violence, falls and blast injuries from combat can cause it. Even in its milder forms, traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause harmful, long-term effects on a person’s health. While some people may recover in weeks or months, others may experience a wide variety of chronic health concerns. Due to individual variability in the healing process, each TBI case comes with its own challenges. Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) brain mapping and neurofeedback training may be especially helpful in personalizing brain trauma treatment.

The Hidden Impact of TBI

TBI is caused by an external, physical force impacting the head. Even though concussions are a less severe form, called mild TBI (mTBI) they can still cause harmful, long-term effects on a person’s health. For example, a person who has mTBI may develop symptoms that impact their memory, attention and even their energy, hormonal balance and mental health. 

How does this happen? How can a physical injury to the head lead to mental health problems and other chronic health problems? Brain trauma can impact the structure of the brain and alter its ability to function. After the initial injury, there can be a cascade of brain health problems. This includes neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and changes to the brain’s metabolism, vasculature and even the blood-brain barrier. Diffuse axonal injuries (DAI) can also occur, affecting the functional connectivity of the brain, which can give rise to long lasting cognitive, emotional and behavioral symptoms.

It’s like dominos. With TBI, one domino gets knocked over and other dominoes can get pushed over too. In a series of unfortunate biological events, the brain starts to work differently and chronic symptoms can show up.

The distinct pattern of symptoms that shows up partly depends on what areas of the brain are affected. Sometimes there are harmful effects across the brain. This is why brain trauma treatment can be so complex. The health challenges with TBI vary greatly from one person to the next. Due to this, brain trauma is a type of injury that requires a personalized approach to recovery, especially for those who are experiencing more persistent symptoms. 

Risks to Brain Health Over Time

When chronic symptoms are present, it’s important to address them because the risks to brain health can stack up over time. Brain trauma treatment must consider the effects of chronic neuroinflammation, elevated oxidative stress and problems with the brain’s ability to clear out excess proteins. These can lead to serious neurodegenerative disorders down the road. In fact, some people with TBI have an increased risk for Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Stroke, Anxiety, Depression and PTSD.

Chronic brain health problems can also affect a person’s energy levels because the elevated oxidative stress can damage the mitochondria, impacting how well cells can make energy. It’s easy to see why it’s important to address any chronic symptoms that occur after a brain trauma event, no matter how mild the injury may seem at first. 

Cognitive and emotional symptoms of TBI come with their own challenges as well. There may be long-term consequences to a person’s quality of life because of TBI related disability. Memory, attention and fatigue symptoms may make it difficult for a person with TBI to maintain employment. Meanwhile emotional and mood symptoms after TBI could affect a person’s family and social relationships, further impacting their quality of life.

Taking inventories to assess what body systems are affected is key to addressing the unique health challenges that a client has. NewMind has tools and assessments for subjective and objective measurement of a person’s whole health status. These tools can be used as a guide to help neurofeedback clinicians determine how to best help clients in their recovery.

Improve Client Results

Advantages of Quantitative EEG as an Investigative Tool

Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) is a helpful, investigative tool for getting a picture of how the brain is functioning after TBI. For example, it can be helpful to determine whether or not the client is experiencing deficits in global brain functioning, or if there are specific brain areas that are not functioning optimally.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can all show information about the brain’s condition after TBI. However there are some limitations with these imaging methods when it comes to capturing the full story of the injury’s effects on brain function, particularly in regards to brain wave patterns. 

While traditional imaging is necessary when determining a diagnosis of TBI, there are times when the injury is not visible in these methods. According to the American Society of Neuroradiology, MRI and CT may not pick up on every case of TBI, until many years later when the brain atrophies due to pathological complications from TBI. That’s why when TBI is suspected, it is important to use all the tools in the investigative toolkit.

One of the advantages of qEEG as an investigative tool, is that it helps to get a more well-rounded picture of brain function after TBI. It may be especially useful for revealing why certain chronic symptoms are present. When it comes to brain trauma treatment, it is essential to have more information about how the brain is doing. 

As an additional tool, the qEEG brain maps can help guide clinicians on how to approach brain trauma treatment in a personalized manner. These brain maps can also be used at different time points to track recovery, providing invaluable insights into the effectiveness of the personalized treatment.

Neurofeedback Training in Brain Trauma Treatment

Neurofeedback training is a non-invasive, personalized approach to brain trauma recovery. Combined with qEEG brain mapping, clients can be guided through personalized training programs. For example, a qEEG brain map can be useful in determining how theta wave functioning may be contributing to symptoms. Theta waves are associated with several aspects of brain trauma treatment, including memory, attention and emotional regulation. Beyond that theta wave activity also influences the nervous system, which is key for shifting the body to rest, digest and heal mode. In this way, neurofeedback training can aid in brain trauma treatment through its ability to promote recovery. 

Another example of the specific capabilities of neurofeedback for brain trauma treatment is evident in alpha wave functioning. Often associated with meditation and other stress-relieving activities, optimal alpha wave functioning is important for the brain’s healing process. However, alpha wave functioning may become imbalanced as a result of brain trauma.

Since PTSD is common among people with TBI, it is important to consider how neurofeedback training may help recovery in individuals who present with both. In a double-blind, randomized, controlled study, neurofeedback training helped to promote alpha wave resynchronization and improved symptoms of people with PTSD. Alpha wave resynchronization supports the health of the default mode network (DMN) in the brain, with implications for improving emotional regulation and psychological resilience. 

Unlocking the brain’s potential for restoration hinges on guiding the brain towards these relaxed, healing states. Supporting the brain’s processes for recovery through neurofeedback training aims to reduce neuroinflammation and stabilize brain function. This enhances the healing process, reducing symptoms and improving quality of life.

Personalized Pathways to Brain Trauma Recovery 

Given that brain trauma treatment varies from person to person, it makes sense that the best plans for recovery involve a personalized approach. With a wide range of possible symptoms and various areas of the brain affected, having a protocol for brain trauma treatment that can be personalized could make all the difference. 

It should be noted that there are individual factors in each person that influence how well they recover. Factors that existed before the TBI may influence the healing process. This includes:

• Early Life Stress
• Chronic Stress
• Genetics
• Medical Conditions
• Age
• Sex
• Educational Background
• Socioeconomic status 
• Mental Health Disorders

The possible influence of these factors makes it apparent that individualized brain trauma treatment would be the most helpful. It also suggests that brain trauma treatment timelines could be variable. Due to these individual factors, it is important to have tools like qEEG brain mapping and specific neurofeedback training protocols to aid in building a personalized approach to brain trauma treatment.

Real-World Applications

Neurofeedback has been used successfully to support individuals in their TBI recovery. People of various ages receiving brain trauma treatment have seen benefits from neurofeedback training. From cases of repeated head injuries to moderately severe TBI, neurofeedback training can promote recovery and reduce symptoms.

A Story of Repeated Head Injuries. A 56-year old female who had repeated head injuries, chose to do neurofeedback training as part of her recovery. She originally started neurofeedback training for anxiety, insomnia and cognitive problems. Then she experienced a fall that led to a head injury. A few months later, She endured another head trauma from a fall.

She decided to continue neurofeedback training. Over a period of 11 months, she did 36 sessions. Through that time she tracked her symptoms, which included new symptoms after the head trauma incidents. Her symptoms after the falls added migraine, panic attacks, nausea, fainting, agitation, tremors, visual problems and seizure disorder, on top of the prior symptoms of insomnia, anxiety and cognitive problems. 

Her clinician was able to use qEEG brain mapping to gain an understanding of how her brain function was affected. Comparing the brain maps before and after each head injury, he could personalize her training accordingly. 

After 10 months of training, she reported improvements across her symptoms. Her depression and anxiety were reduced, as well as her TBI symptoms and she began to enjoy enhanced functioning and quality of life.

A Tale of Two Young Ones. In just two months, two young people (12 year old female, 20 year old male) with moderately severe TBI, were able to witness physical improvements in the brain’s structure and function. Before neurofeedback training began, MRI scans, concussion symptom reports and neuropsychological tests were taken. 

Both of them were experiencing problems with concentration, memory and angry outbursts. They were also having headaches, dizziness, fatigue and intolerance to light and noise. These symptoms impacted their ability to function so much that they were considered moderately disabled. Their symptoms even hindered their ability to interact with their families. 

After just 20 sessions of neurofeedback training, results could be seen in neuroimaging and cognitive tests. Along with these improvements to the physical structure of their brains, they also found relief in their symptoms. 

NewMind’s Resources for Brain Trauma Treatment

With the right support, there is so much potential for the brain to heal from TBI. The path to recovery may look different for each person, but there are ways to improve quality of life and overall wellness. Although brain trauma treatment is complex due to differences in symptom expression and functional impairments, there are tools and protocols that can aid in personalizing recovery. 

Neurofeedback training protocols and qEEG brain maps can be used to detect and address symptoms that would otherwise be hidden. Ignoring chronic symptoms that appear after TBI can be detrimental to a person’s health and mental wellness, because the symptoms may indicate ongoing damage to brain health. Symptoms that affect fatigue, memory, attention, mood and mental health could point to brain inflammation and neuroendocrine disruption. Not only can these brain health conditions interfere with a person’s ability to function and quality of life, they can also set the stage for increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders.

NewMind has resources and protocols to help clinicians address recovery, in a personalized manner. Symptom inventory checklists and tools like qEEG brain mapping can provide insights into the individual’s unique circumstances. They can also be used to track progress and symptom improvement: Explore Tools for Success

Neurofeedback training can be personalized to specific problems that a client is experiencing. In addition to resources for assessing brain function and tracking progress, NewMind also has resources for convenient, in-home training, helping clients to have easier access to sessions, from the comfort of their home. 

 Reach More Clients with In-Home Training

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Works Cited

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Brett, B. L., Gardner, R. C., Godbout, J., Dams-O’Connor, K., & Keene, C. D. (2022). Traumatic Brain Injury and Risk of Neurodegenerative Disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 91(5), 498–507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.05.025 

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Hakiminia, B., Alikiaii, B., Khorvash, F., & Mousavi, S. (2022). Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction following traumatic brain injury: From mechanistic view to targeted therapeutic opportunities. Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology, 36(4), 612–662. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcp.12767 

Mahajan, C., Prabhakar, H., & Bilotta, F. (2023). Endocrine Dysfunction After Traumatic Brain Injury: An Ignored Clinical Syndrome? Neurocritical Care, 39(3), 714–723. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-022-01672-3

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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2024, October). Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/traumatic-brain-injury-tbi   

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