Personalizing sleep therapy: Integrating EEG neurofeedback into the sleep disorders management

Insomnia, a highly prevalent sleep disorder, adversely affects daytime functioning, cognitive performance, and overall health, increasing the risk of cardiovascular, metabolic, and psychiatric conditions. While pharmacotherapy offers short-term relief, it carries risks of side effects and dependence. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia, though effective, faces accessibility challenges. This review evaluates EEG-based neurofeedback (EEG-NF) as a non-pharmacological alternative for insomnia management.

A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and PsycNet databases over the past decade (2014-2025) to inform this narrative review. From 179 initially identified records, 16 original studies were selected for descriptive synthesis.

Analysis indicates that EEG-NF protocols are promising for improving sleep. Studies report significant enhancements in both subjective sleep quality (measured by tools like the PSQI) and objective parameters such as sleep onset latency and total sleep time. The method facilitates self-regulation of brain activity to counter hyperarousal, demonstrating a favorable safety profile with benefits most pronounced in primary insomnia. Key advantages include non-invasiveness, personalization, and potential for home-based use. Current limitations involve small sample sizes, protocol heterogeneity, and a lack of long-term efficacy data.

EEG-NF represents a promising and safe non-pharmacological approach that warrants further investigation as a potential component of personalized insomnia management. However, larger controlled trials with standardized protocols are needed to establish its comparative efficacy relative to established treatments such as CBT-I. Future research should prioritize standardized protocols, large-scale multicenter trials, and technological advancements to enhance accessibility and confirm long-term benefits.