Efficacy of neurofeedback training for improving attentional performance in healthy adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the NFT effects on attentional performance in healthy adults. Six databases were searched until June 2022 to identify parallel randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating attentional improvements after NFT. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. We identified 41 RCTs for qualitative synthesis and 15 RCTs (569 participants) for meta-analysis. The overall NFT effect on attentional performance was significant (standardized mean difference = 0.27, 95% confidence interval = 0.10-0.44). However, no significant pooled effect was found within the trials comparing its effect with sham NFT (8 RCTs). Additionally, variable effects were observed on individual subsets of attentional performance. Further sham-controlled RCTs are required to validate the improvement of attentional performance with NFT.