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Neurofeedback Therapy for Concussion and TBI
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can happen after an impact to the head. This might occur from a fall, sports injury, accident, or other unexpected event. While some injuries are mild (often called concussions), their effects can still linger and feel anything but minor.

If you’re experiencing ongoing symptoms after a head injury, it can be frustrating. Many people with TBI notice changes in thinking, mood, sleep, or energy.
Research shows that TBI often affects how the brain functions and communicates, rather than just its physical structure. This means the challenges you’re feeling are real, even if they’re not always visible.
Concussion and TBI Symptoms
Concussion and TBI symptoms can vary widely depending on the person and the injury. Some may appear right away, while others develop over time.
- Common symptoms include:
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
- Mental fatigue or feeling easily overwhelmed
- Headaches or pressure in the head
- Dizziness or sensitivity to light and sound
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritability, anxiety, or mood changes
- Feeling “slower” or not like yourself
These symptoms are not a reflection of effort or motivation. They are linked to changes in how the brain is functioning.
How does it show up in the brain?
After a concussion or a TBI, the brain’s communication networks can become disrupted. This doesn’t always mean there is visible damage. It often means the brain’s activity patterns are out of balance.
Research using EEG shows that TBI can involve:
- Slower or irregular brainwave activity
- Difficulty coordinating communication between brain regions
- Overactivation or underactivation in certain areas
- Challenges shifting between states of focus and rest
These changes can affect attention, memory, emotional regulation, and overall mental clarity.
In simple terms, the brain may have trouble “staying organized” after injury.
Neurofeedback works by helping the brain recognize and adjust these patterns. Over time, this can support more efficient communication within the brain and a greater sense of stability and control.
How does Neurofeedback help/treatment Outcomes
Research suggests that neurofeedback may support improvements in areas often affected by concussion or TBI, including attention, memory, emotional regulation, and overall cognitive functioning. Some individuals report:
- Clearer thinking and improved mental processing
- Better focus and reduced “brain fog”
- More stable mood and reduced irritability
- Improved sleep and energy levels
What other therapies do we offer that can help?
In addition to Neurofeedback (NFB), Boston Neurodynamics provides a range of complementary, evidence-informed therapies.
These modalities are designed to support brain and body regulation and can be used individually or in combination.
- Biofeedback (BFB): Helps individuals gain awareness and control over physiological functions such as heart rate, breathing, and muscle tension to promote relaxation and stress management.
- Bioregulation Therapy (BRT): Uses gentle electromagnetic signals to encourage the body’s natural self-regulation and restore balance in the nervous system.
- Hemoencephalography (HEG): It is a form of neurofeedback that measures the brain’s blood flow. People have found that HEG helps improve blood flow to the prefrontal lobe.
- Photobiomodulation (PBM): Uses light (photonic) energy to modulate the function of cells; this is accomplished by stimulating molecular entities capable of absorbing discrete wavelengths.
- Psychotherapy: Provides a supportive environment to explore emotions, behaviors, and thought patterns while integrating neurophysiological insights for more effective outcomes.
- Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART): This program helps participants regain control and build resilience through a variety of mind and body principles and self-care interventions,leading to reduced medical symptoms and enhanced quality of life.
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): It is a simple form of brain stimulation that can be used to alter brain activity. In tDCS, a very weak direct electrical current is applied to the scalp. tDCS is an active, non-invasive treatment.
Re-Route and Re-Wire Brain Networks Disrupted by Concussion.
After a physical impact, brain tissue can become bruised or lose its ability to communicate smoothly across different regions, resulting in fatigue, mood swings, and headaches. Neurofeedback acts like physical therapy for your brainwaves. By identifying damaged communication pathways via mapping, we train your brain to build healthier, more efficient neural workarounds

Selected Concussion/TBI and Neurofeedback related research
- De Ridder, D., & Vanneste, S. (2019). Surgical brain implants for tinnitus. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, 52(5), 903-912.
- Dohrmann, K., Weisz, N., Schlee, W., Hartmann, T., & Elbert, T. (2007). Neurofeedback for treating tinnitus. Progress in Brain Research, 166, 473-485.
- Eggermont, J. J. (2003). Central tinnitus. Auris Nasus Larynx, 30(Suppl), S7-S12.
- Guntensperger, D., Thuring, C., Kleinjung, T., Neff, P., & Meyer, M. (2020). Individualized alpha/delta neurofeedback for chronic tinnitus: Brief report on a randomized controlled trial. Brain Sciences, 11(1), Article 20.
- Hartmann, T., Lorenz, I., Müller, N., Langguth, B., & Weisz, N. (2015). The influence of neurofeedback on cortico-cortical connectivity in chronic tinnitus patients. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9, Article 11.
- Kamps, S., & Agelink, M. W. (2009). Einfluss von EEG-Neurofeedback auf chronischen Tinnitus [Influence of EEG neurofeedback on chronic tinnitus]. Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, Medizinische Psychologie, 59(1), 40-46.
- Loo, S. K., Cho, A., Hale, T. S., McGough, J., McCracken, J., & Smalley, S. L. (2016). Characterization of EEG, clinical, and cognitive features in ADHD subtypes. Journal of Attention Disorders, 20(8), 698-708.
- Neff, P., Schoisswohl, S., Meyer, M., Noffs, G., Zoege, A., Schoelvinck, M. L., Langguth, B., & Schecklmann, M. (2017). The relation between tinnitus loudness and distress, and the acoustic characteristics of tinnitus. Frontiers in Physical Health, 5, Article 42.
- Othmer, S., & Othmer, S. F. (2018). Infra-low frequency neurofeedback for PTSD: A clinical case series. Journal of Neuroregulation, 5(3), 85-97.
- Pineda, J. A., Juarez, M. A., & Cole, B. R. (2017). Neurofeedback training in autism spectrum disorders. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, Article 426.
- Vanneste, S., & De Ridder, D. (2014). In dolo: Frontal cortex bistability leads to a loss of functional connectivity in the visual cortex for flashing tinnitus. Brain Structure and Function, 219(5), 1839-1851.


