Learning Objectives:

• Define "neurofeedback" (NFB) and "neuroregulation" (NR) and differentiate from other neuroscience-informed treatments
• Describe the rationale and evidence supporting various NFB and NR protocols as interventions for persons with trauma and stressor-related disorders
• Discuss obstacles to implementing NFB and NR in psychological practice with persons with trauma and stressor-related disorders

Speaker:

Paul Frewen, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Western University, Canada. He is a Past Chair of the Traumatic Stress Division of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), and Past Chair of the Practice Committee of the American Psychological Association (APA) Trauma Psychology Division 56, and received early career awards from both divisions. He Co-Chaired with Dr. Courtois, the development of the Professional Practice Guidelines for Working with Adults with Complex Trauma Histories in 2024, and co-authored (with Dr. Lanius) the book, "Healing the Traumatized Self", in 2015. He has authored 140 peer-reviewed journal articles on trauma psychology and related topics, and is a practicing trauma psychologist in London, Ontario, Canada.

Citations Used for Presentation:

Cannard, C., Wahbeh, H., & Delorme, A. (2021). Electroencephalography correlates of well-being using a low-cost wearable system. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 15. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.745135

Cheng, Y., Su, M., Liu, C., Huang, Y., & Huang, W. (2022). Heart rate variability in patients with anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 76(7), 292–302. Doi:10.1111/pcn.13356

Orendáčová, M., & Kvašňák, E. (2021). Effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation and neurofeedback on alpha (EEG) dynamics: A Review. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 15Doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.628229. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.628229

      Nicholson, A. A., Densmore, M., Frewen, P. A., Neufeld, R. W., Théberge, J., Jetly, R., … Ros, T. (2023). Homeostatic normalization of alpha brain rhythms within the default-mode network and reduced symptoms in post-traumatic stress disorder following a randomized controlled trial of electroencephalogram neurofeedback. Brain Communications, 5(2). Doi:10.1093/braincomms/fcad068

Nicholson, A. A., Ros, T., Densmore, M., Frewen, P. A., Neufeld, R. W. J., Théberge, J., … Lanius, R. A. (2020). A randomized, controlled trial of alpha-rhythm EEG neurofeedback in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A preliminary investigation showing evidence of decreased PTSD symptoms and restored default mode and salience network connectivity using fmri. NeuroImage: Clinical, 28, 102490. doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102490