Experiences of a Neurofeedback-Based Mindfulness Meditation Intervention for Migraine: Qualitative Study.
Tora Levinton, Jan Gelech, Faly Golshan, Marla J S Mickleborough
JMIR neurotechnology 2025 DOI: 10.2196/68369 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study embedded in a randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Individuals with migraines aged 23 to 55 years who completed an 8-week neurofeedback-based mindfulness meditation program |
| Intervention | Neurofeedback-based mindfulness meditation |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Behavioral intervention Headache Migraine Mobile health Neurofeedback |
| Key findings | Participants reported that neurofeedback-based mindfulness meditation improved migraine management, leading to reductions in pain intensity, migraine frequency, and medication use, along with improved quality of life and emotional regulation. |
Abstract
Migraine is a debilitating neurological condition often impacting the quality of life and resulting in physical, emotional, and social burdens. Pharmaceutical interventions are the conventional treatment for migraine; however, behavioral interventions provide safe alternatives. Both mindfulness meditation and neurofeedback are behavioral interventions that have been separately studied for migraine treatment. To date, no studies have investigated neurofeedback-assisted mindfulness meditation for migraine treatment and prevention. The objective of our study was to document the experiences of individuals with migraines who participated in an 8-week neurofeedback-based mindfulness meditation intervention as part of a randomized controlled trial. Semistructured interviews were undertaken with 10 participants (7 female and 3 male participants) aged 23 to 55 years who had previously completed an 8-week neurofeedback-based mindfulness meditation program using Muse wearable sensory headbands as part of a randomized control trial. The interview data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants spoke to 3 categories of experiences: the positive impact of neurofeedback-based mindfulness meditation on migraine experiences, enhanced well-being and improved quality of life resulting from the intervention, and the benefits and drawbacks of incorporating a portable electroencephalogram technology into mindfulness meditation practices in the context of migraine treatment. In total, 9 participants felt that their ability to manage migraine symptoms was improved, and all participants expressed benefits beyond migraine prevention and pain management. Participants also spoke to the interconnectedness of migraine symptoms, daily stressors, and the framing of lived experience. Notably, as the first study to evaluate the experiences of individuals with migraines using an at-home, neurofeedback-based mindfulness meditation intervention, this investigation adds to our understanding of nonpharmaceutical migraine treatment. Participants reported that this neurofeedback-based mindfulness meditation intervention improved migraine management, leading to significant reductions in pain intensity, migraine frequency, and medication use. They also described improved quality of life and emotional regulation related to this intervention, which they attributed to enhanced attentional control and body awareness. This research supports the consideration of neurofeedback-based mindfulness meditation interventions using emerging technologies, such as wearable electroencephalogram devices, as an accessible behavioral intervention for migraine management.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 16
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- Mindfulness‐based stress reduction and attentional control Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy November 1, 2007
- Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences June 1, 2016
- Mindfulness in migraine: A narrative review Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics January 14, 2020
- Meditation Practice, Mindfulness, and Pain-Related Outcomes in Mindfulness-Based Treatment for Episodic Migraine. Mindfulness April 1, 2023
and 11 more in the library