The Effectiveness of Neurofeedback Therapy as an Alternative Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children: A Systematic Review
Journal of Psychophysiology
van Hoogdalem, L. E., Feijs, H. M. E., et al. (2021).
Journal of Psychophysiology, 35(2), 102-115.
This systermatic review investigates the effect of neurofeedback interventions in children on the autism spectrum.
No funding received
Not specified
Peer-reviewed studies with a control group
20
Findings demonstrated low quality and emerging evidence that neurofeedback interventions were generally associated with positive outcomes for children on the autism spectrum. Specific gains were not consistent across studies, and some studies reported reductions in targeted outcomes. Only two studies investigated maintenance of gains, both of which measured outcomes at 6 months post-treatment. Of these two studies, one demonstrated lasting improvements in social behavior and executive functioning, and one demonstrated lasting improvements in cognitive flexibility. These result should be interpreted with caution due to heterogeneity in study designs, small sample sizes, and reduced methodological rigor of included studies. Further research is indicated to determine the feasibility and efficacy of this treatment in a non-research setting.
