There is so much written “out there” about neurofeedback that it can be difficult to sort out the outrageous claims from the well-grounded ones. This reading list is my attempt to try and help those who want to read on their own before making the leap to try brain training. Among the neurofeedback-specific books, A Symphony in the Brain is probably the best place to start. It is old–the first edition was written in 2008–but it captures the history and development of this powerful tool.  Stephen Larsen’s books are also quite good.

Keep in mind that the journal articles listed below are a sampling and are nowhere near a complete list of the scientific literature supporting neurofeedback.

For a booklet about neurofeedback that’s a shorter read, check out the home page or the box at the bottom of this page, where you can sign up for a free copy of the e-book Neurofeedback at a Glance.

Neurofeedback-Specific Books

  • Biofeedback for the Brain, by Paul Swingle, PhD (geared toward the trainer)
  • Handbook of Neurofeedback, edited by James Evans
  • The Healing Power of Neurofeedback, by Stephen Larsen
  • The Neurofeedback Book, by Michael and Lynda Thompson (geared toward the trainer)
  • The Neurofeedback Solution, by Stephen Larsen
  • A Symphony in the Brain, by Jim Robbins
  • When the ADHD Diagnosis is Wrong: Understanding Other Factors that Affect Attention in Children, by Paul Swingle, PhD

Books about the Brain

  • The ADHD and Autism Nutritional Supplement Handbook, by Dana Laake, RDH, MS, LDN and Pamela Compart, MD
  • The Anatomy of Violence, by Adrian Raine
  • The Angel and the Assassin:  The Tiny Brain Cell that Changed the Course of Medicine, by Donna Jackson Nakazawa
  • The Brain that Changes Itself, by Norman Doidge
  • Brain-Building Nutrition, by Michael Schmidt
  • Brain Wash, by David Perlmutter, MD
  • The Brain’s Way of Healing, by Norman Doidge, MD
  • Brainstorm, by Daniel Siegel
  • Mapping the Mind, by Rita Carter
  • The Other Brain, by Douglas Fields
  • The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg
  • Rhythms of the Brain, by Gyorgy Buzsaki
  • Spark! How exercise will improve the performance of your brain, by John Ratey
  • A User’s Guide to the Brain, by John Ratey

Mindfulness, Personal Development, and Just Good Reads

  • Authentic Happiness, by Martin E.P. Seligman
  • Braving the Wilderness, by Brené Brown
  • Coming to Our Senses, by Jon Kabat-Zinn
  • The EFT Manual, by Gary Craig
  • Energy Medicine, by Donna Eden
  • Full Catastrophe Living, by Jon Kabat-Zinn
  • The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brene Brown
  • Gut and Psychology Syndrome, by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride
  • In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, by Dr. Gabor Mate
  • Mindset, by Carol Dweck
  • Peace is Every Step, by Thich Nhat Hanh
  • The Power of Kindness, by Piero Ferrucci
  • The Promise of Energy Psychology, by Donna Eden and David Feinstein
  • Psychopath Free, by Jackson MacKensie
  • Radical Acceptance, by Tara Brach
  • What We May Be, by Piero Ferrucci
  • When the Body Says No, by Dr. Gabor Mate
  • Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, by Robert M. Sapolsky

Selected Journal Articles

The following articles have appeared in peer-reviewed journals and represent a sampling of interesting articles; they are in no way comprehensive. You will find that most of the research done so far has centered around specific mental-health related diagnoses, such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, and PTSD.  Although informative, studies that are based solely on diagnosis can be challenging, because there is no one specific electrical pattern in the brain that researchers can count on to show that a person has, say, a diagnosis of anxiety.  Another drawback is that much of the research is focused on a small sample size due to funding issues. Money simply does not flow in to neurofeedback research the way it does other fields.

Research into performance, such as University of London professor John Gruzelier’s excellent work with musicians, faces fewer hurdles, because it is not based on a presumption of mental illness.

It is worthwhile to note that although research is important, most practitioners share their experiences and learn within a community of peers. They rely far more on each other than on research that often simply confirms 50 years of common knowledge.

Arns, M, de Ridder, S, Strehl, U, Breteler, M, & Coenen, A. (2009). Efficacy of neurofeedback treatment in ADHD: The effects on inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity: A meta-analysis. Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, 40(3) 180–189.

Baehr, E., Rosenfeld, J. P., & Baehr, R. (2001). Clinical use of an alpha asymmetry neurofeedback protocol in the treatment of mood disorders: Follow-up study one to five years post therapy. Journal of Neurotherapy, 4(4), 11–18

Boynton, T. (2001). Applied research using alpha/theta training for enhancing creativity and well-being. Journal of Neurotherapy, 5(1–2), 5–18

Cunningham, M., & Murphy, P. (1981). The effects of bilateral EEG biofeedback on verbal, visuospatial and creative skills in LD male adolescents. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 14(4), 204–208.

Fritson, K. K., Wadkins, T. A., Gerdes, P., & Hof, D. (2007). The impact of neurotherapy on college students’ cognitive abilities and emotions. Journal of Neurotherapy, 11(4), 1–9.

Gruzelier, J., Egner, T., & Vernon, D. (2006). Validating the efficacy of neurofeedback for optimising performance. Progress in Brain Research, 159, 421–431

Heinrich, H., Gelvensleben, H, & Strehl, U. (2007). Annotation: Neurofeedback- train your brain to train behavior. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 48(1), 3-16.

Hoedlmoser, K., Pecherstorfer, T., Gruber, E., Anderer, P., Doppelmayr, M., Klimesch, W., & Schabus, M. (2008). Instrumental conditioning of human sensorimotor rhythm (12–15 Hz) and its impact on sleep as well as declarative learning. Sleep, 31(10), 1401–1408

Lubar, J. F. (2003). Neurofeedback for the management of attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorders. Chapter in M. S. Schwartz & F. Andrasik (Eds.), Biofeedback: A Practitioner’s Guide (Third Edition New York, Guilford), 409–437

Moore, N. C. (2000). A review of EEG biofeedback treatment of anxiety disorders. Clinical Electroencephalography, 31(1), 1–6

Putman, J. A., (2002). EEG biofeedback on a female stroke patient with depression: A case study. Journal of Neurotherapy, 5(3), 27–38

Reiter, K., Andersen, S. B., Carlsson, J. (2016). Neurofeedback treatment and posttraumatic stress disorder: effectiveness of neurofeedback on posttraumatic stress disorder and the optimal choice of protocol. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 204(2), 69-77. Doi

Rice, K. M., Blanchard, E. B., & Purcell, M. (1993). Biofeedback treatments of generalized anxiety disorder: Preliminary results. Biofeedback & Self-Regulation, 18, 93–105

Rossiter, T. R., & La Vaque, T. J. (1995). A comparison of EEG biofeedback and psychostimulants in treating attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders. Journal of Neurotherapy, 1(1), 48–59

Tansey, M. A. (1991). Wechsler (WISC-R) changes following treatment of learning disabilities via EEG biofeedback in a private practice setting. Australian Journal of Psychology, 43, 147–153

Toomim, H., Mize, W., Kwong, P. C., Toomim, M., Marsh, R., Kozlowski, G. P., Kimball, M., & Remond, A. (2004). Intentional increase of cerebral blood oxygenation using hemoencephalography (HEG). Journal of Neurotherapy, 8(3), 5–21

Vanathy, S., Sharma, P. S. V. N., & Kumar, K. B. (1998). The efficacy of alpha and theta neurofeedback training in treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology, 25(2), 136–143.

Williams, J. (2010). Does neurofeedback help reduce attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder? Journal of Neurotherapy, 14(4), 261–279