Migraine trial finds greater confidence in management, with symptom benefits uncertain
Neurofeedback mindfulness improved headache-management confidence more than audiobook listening, while differences in disability, severity and anxiety were inconclusive.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Among participants who completed the programme, neurofeedback mindfulness produced a greater improvement in confidence about managing headaches than audiobook listening. Both groups improved in headache disability, severity and anxiety, but differences between groups were inconclusive. Greater confidence is a distinct outcome and does not establish that mindfulness reduced migraine symptoms more.
This abstract-based summary reflects a completer analysis, rather than results for everyone enrolled. The authors call for larger trials to estimate effects more precisely; longer-term migraine outcomes are not reported.
What researchers found
Headache-management self-efficacy
Neurofeedback mindfulness versus audiobook listening after 8 weeks; self-efficacy means confidence in managing headaches.
What the headbands added
All participants wore headbands that recorded brain activity, but only the mindfulness group could see feedback in real time. The comparison therefore evaluated the combined mindfulness and feedback programme against an attention task.
Confidence and symptoms were linked
Within the mindfulness group, increases in confidence were associated with lower disability, severity and anxiety. These correlations do not show that confidence caused symptom changes or explain whether the programme altered migraine itself.
The original publication
Randomized controlled trial of neurofeedback mindfulness meditation as a practice for migraine management.
Golshan F, Sun G, Francisco J et al.
J Clin Neurosci · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41101279
- Record checked
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