Scientists have taught people to change their brain waves to feel less pain

In an initial experience, patients with chronic nerve pain from an interactive game trained to change their special brain waves. Promising results can lead to a new generation of drug -free treatments, according to the study.

A research team led by psychologists from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, developed Painwaive-a training system that teaches users to regulate abnormal brain activity that is based on nerve pain-as a possible alternative at home and non-invasive to the Afun. Results, published in Pain Magazine In April, it showed that three out of four participants witnessed significant discounts in the pain after five weeks of last treatment.

The Painwaive System consists of an EEG headphone (EEG) that records brain activity associated with an application that guides patients on how to control statement. Four participants suffer from corneal anoplasia – a condition that causes painful hypersensitivity to the eyes, face or head – with a show of 20 painful sessions over a period of four weeks.

Doctors are not sure exactly, causing the pain of corpo neuropathy, and this condition rarely responds to the current treatments, according to researchers. But they assumed that changing the brain waves generally associated with nerve pain could provide comfort.

“The brain waves show people with neuropathy with a distinct style: slow Theita waves, a few alpha waves, and more high -speed beta waves,” said co -author Silvia Gustin, a clinical psychologist and professor at the statement. Its research has searched for changes in the hypothalamus – a central brain structure that transmits sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex – associated with nerve pain.

She said: “We believe that these changes interfere with how the mulch speaks to other parts of the brain, especially the sensory shell, which records the pain,” she said. “I wondered, can we develop a treatment that directly targets and normalizes these abnormal waves?”

This curiosity ultimately led to the first clinical development and experience of Painwaive. In this study, Gustin and her colleagues presented four participants with groups that included EEG headphones and a tablet that was previously loaded with the game application. Participants have also received instructions on mental strategies that can help them convert their brain waves from an abnormal state to a natural condition, such as relaxation techniques.

The researchers evaluated the symptoms of nerve pain in the cornea of ​​the participants immediately after using Painwaive and five weeks after treatment. During this follow -up, the participants were encouraged to continue to use the brain change strategies they learned through training. The results indicate that three of the four participants were subjected to similar or larger pain relief than that of opioids, according to UsW.

While these early results are promising, more clinical experiences will need to confirm the safety and effectiveness of Painwaive. The co -author, the co -author, said: “The restrictions in the statement” said the restrictions on the size of the study, its design and duration. “But the results we have seen are exciting and give us confidence to move to the next stage and our greatest courts.”

Now, she and her colleagues recruit the participants in two coming experiences that will achieve Painwaive’s capabilities to reduce chronic spine pain and chronic nerve pain in people with spinal cord injuries.

The development of drug -free pain treatments plays an important role in combating the opioid crisis. In the United States, Ophyon’s deaths have turned into a corner in recent years, with temporary data indicating 24 % Decrease Between 2023 and 2024, but more options for non -opioid pain management are still needed.

Hesam-Shariati, Gustin, and their colleagues hope that Painwaive will advance through clinical trials, and will know all of these boxes. Gustin said: “Owning this technology provides us with the ability to present Painwaive one day as a right and accessible solution to managing pain at home, especially for those who have limited access to traditional treatments.”