JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

There is burgeoning interest in the application of neuroscientific technology to facilitate meditation and lead to beneficial psychological outcomes. One popular approach is using consumer-grade neurofeedback devices to deliver feedback on brain targets during meditation (mindfulness-based neurofeedback; mbNF).

Objective:

To systematically review and meta-analyze the impacts of consumer-grade mbNF.

Methods:

Sixteen randomized controlled training trials, as well as 5 randomized within-subject designs were included (21 total), which examined effects on psychological distress, cognitive function, physiological health, mindfulness, and brain measures. Study risk of bias, reporting bias, and publication bias was assessed.

Results:

Samples were typically small, and the majority of studies employed mindfulness apps as controls. There was a modest effect for decreases in psychological distress compared to controls (g = -0.16). However, there was no evidence for improvements in cognition, mindfulness, physiological health compared to controls. Mechanistic modulation of brain targets was not found. Gender (male/female), age, clinical status, study quality, sample size, and neurofeedback duration did not moderate effects. There was some evidence for reporting bias, but no evidence of publication bias. Adverse effects were not assessed in 19/21 studies.

Conclusions:

Assertions that consumer-grade devices can allow participants to modulate their brains and deepen their meditations are not currently supported. It is possible that neurofeedback effects may rely on neurosuggestion (placebo effects of neurotechnology). Future research should examine more extensive calibration and individualization of devices, larger sample sizes, and gold-standard sham-controlled RCTs. Clinical Trial: https://osf.io/8fz73