Key result
Wearable neurofeedback-assisted meditation drives a ~3-point greater reduction in perceived stress scores vs non-assisted meditation.
Why the study?
To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of a neurofeedback wearable device for stress reduction.
Does neurofeedback-assisted meditation using a wearable device reduce perceived stress in adults with psychological stress and depression or sleep disturbances?
RCT (n=38)
Double-blind
Stratified permuted block randomization
No
Does neurofeedback-assisted meditation using a wearable device reduce perceived stress in adults with psychological stress and depression or sleep disturbances?
Absolute Event Rate: 6.45% vs 3%
p-value: p=0.037
Neurofeedback-assisted meditation using a wearable device significantly improved subjective stress reduction compared to non-assisted meditation over a two-week period.
Neurofeedback-assisted meditation may reduce perceived stress more than standard meditation; extends small RCT evidence but requires larger trials before clinical adoption.
Background: To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of a neurofeedback wearable device for stress reduction.Methods: A randomized, double-blind, controlled study was designed.Participants had psychological stress with depression or sleep disturbances.They practiced either neurofeedback-assisted meditation (n = 20; female, 15 [75.0%]; age, 49.40 11.76 years) or neurofeedback non-assisted meditation (n = 18; female, 11 [61.1%];age, 48.67 12.90 years) for 12 minutes twice a day for two weeks.Outcome variables were self-reported questionnaires, including the Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Insomnia Severity Index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and State Trait Anxiety Index, quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), and blood tests.Satisfaction with device use was measured at the final visit. Results:The experimental group had a significant change in PSS score after two weeks of intervention compared with the control group (6.45 0.95 vs. 3.00 5.54, P = 0.037).State anxiety tended to have a greater effect in the experimental group than in the control group (P = 0.078).Depressive mood and sleep also improved in each group, with no significant difference between the two groups.There were no significant differences in stress-related physiological parameters, such as stress hormones or qEEG, between the two groups.Subjective device satisfaction was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P = 0.008).Conclusion: Neurofeedback-assisted meditation using a wearable device can help improve subjective stress reduction compared with non-assisted meditation.These results support neurofeedback as an effective adjunct to meditation for relieving stress.
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Lee et al. (2024) conducted an RCT in Psychological stress with depression or sleep disturbances (n=38). Neurofeedback-assisted meditation (MAVE wearable device) vs. Neurofeedback non-assisted meditation was evaluated on Change in Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) score (p=0.037). Neurofeedback-assisted meditation using a wearable device significantly reduced Perceived Stress Scale scores by 6.45 points compared to a 3.00 point reduction with non-assisted meditation (P=0.037).
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