Mapping Protocols and Evidence on Combined EEG Neurofeedback and Meditation: A Systematic Review
Juan-Pablo Aristizabal, Vivian de Moura Dayrell, Alexandre Correia Pedra, Letícia Silva Madonado Cunha, Olívia Morgan Lapenta, Wânia Cristina de Souza
NeuroRegulation June 29, 2026 DOI: 10.15540/nr.13.2.154 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Neurofeedback Blinding Electroencephalography Sensorimotor rhythm Randomized controlled trial Intervention counseling Cognition Audiology Clinical psychology Modalities Biofeedback Cognitive psychology Systematic review Protocol science |
| Key findings | Combining meditation with EEG neurofeedback reduces stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue while improving well-being, attention, and resilience, but evidence is limited by methodological heterogeneity and small sample sizes. |
Abstract
Background. The combination of meditation and EEG neurofeedback has gained attention as a nonpharmacological approach for emotion regulation, stress reduction, and cognitive enhancement. Methods. This systematic review, registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024554716) and conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, aimed to map methodologies, protocols, and evidence on these combined interventions. Experimental or quasi-experimental empirical studies involving human participants across ages and contexts, published between 2015 and 2025, were included. Searches across six databases yielded 356 records; 45 met eligibility criteria. Results. Studies showed substantial methodological heterogeneity, with a predominance of randomized clinical trials (44%) and within-subject designs (33%). Focused attention and mindfulness meditations and auditory feedback prevailed; wearable devices were used in 35 studies. Intervention dose varied widely, from 1 to 50+ sessions, ranging from 1.5 to 80 min long. Primary outcomes consistently showed reductions in stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue, alongside gains in well-being, attention, and resilience. Neurophysiological findings included increases in alpha and theta power. Conclusions. Combining meditation with EEG neurofeedback is a promising strategy, but the lack of protocol standardization, small sample sizes, and limited blinding reduce evidence robustness. Future research with rigorous methodology is needed to establish clinical efficacy and guide interventions.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cites 29
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- The neuroscience of meditation: classification, phenomenology, correlates, and mechanisms. Progress in Brain Research 2019
- Conscious, Pre-Conscious and Unconscious Mechanisms in Emotional Behaviour. Some Applications to the Mindfulness Approach with Wearable Devices Applied Sciences December 8, 2017
- Efficacy Evaluation of Neurofeedback-Based Anxiety Relief Frontiers in Neuroscience October 28, 2021
and 24 more in the library