Abstract :
The aim of this study was to verify the effect of neurofeedback on pain control. A literature review was performed to describe the neurofeedback technique, pain and the impact of the neurofeedback on pain control. Neurofeedback is a noninvasive technique that provides information about brain functioning in real time, allowing the individual to learn to self-regulate. This process involves repetition, memory and learning and is associated with neuroplasticity and neural efficiency. Pain is an alert mechanism for the protection of the individual and its perception involves many brain structures. Pain is a complex process that involves from the discriminative-sensory aspects to affective-emotional aspects. Neurofeedback can act on specific brain regions and, through repetition, learning and memory mechanisms, together with neuroplasticity ability and neural efficiency, allows the reorganization in neural networks related to pain control and their emotional experiences. The use of neurofeedback was related to reduced pain and its impact on the individual's daily life, decreased fatigue, depression and anxiety, improved quality of life, increased alpha activity, decreased beta activity, more activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex region and, more control in the insula activity. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of the neurofeedback in different painful conditions and to establish the mechanism of action of neurofeedback in pain control.
Keyword :
neurometry, neurometria, neurofeedback, biofeedback