Interactive brainwave games show promise to treat chronic nerve pain

An interactive game trial that trains people to change brain waves has shown promise as a treatment for neuralgia.

Developed by researchers in UNSW Sydney, PainWaive technology teaches users how to regulate abnormal brain activity associated with chronic nerve pain, providing potential alternatives to non-invasive opioids at home.

A recent technology exam led by Professor Sylvia Gustin and Dr. Negin Hezam Shariati of the NeuroeQuecal Research Hub in UNSW Sydney has produced promising results published in the Journal of Pain.

This study compared hundreds of measures across related issues such as pain in participants and pain interference before, during, and after four weeks of interactive gameplay. Their brain activity was tracked via EEG (EEG) headsets, and the app responded in real time to shifts in brain wave patterns.

Three of the four participants showed a significant reduction in pain, particularly towards the end of treatment. Overall, the pain relief achieved by the three was comparable or better than what the opioids offer.

Limitations on study size, design, and duration limit our ability to generalize findings or to exclude placebo effects.

But the results we see are exciting and give us confidence to move on to the next stage and our bigger trial. ”

Dr. Negin Hesam-Shariati, Neuroe Quecal Research Hub, UNSW Sydney

The PainWaive project is related to nerve (neuropathy) pain, based on the inventive research by UNSW professor Sylvia Gustin on thalamus changes (the central relay hub of the brain).

“EEG in people with neuropathic pain shows slower theta waves, fewer alpha waves, faster, higher beta waves,” says Professor Gustin.

“We believe these changes will hinder how the thalamus speaks to other parts of the brain, particularly the sensorimotor cortex, which registers pain.”

“Can we develop a treatment that directly targets these extraordinary waves and normalizes them?”

This assignment was addressed by an interdisciplinary team at UNSW Science and Neuroscience Research Australia (Neura), led by Professor Gustin and Dr. Hesam-Shariati, and brought painkillers.

Four participants in the first trial received a kit with a headset and a tablet preloaded with a gaming app. They were also given tips on various mental strategies, such as relaxing and focusing on happy memories, to help make brain activity a more “normal” state.

Meanwhile, the user data was uploaded to the research team for remote monitoring.

“After just a few zoom sessions, participants were able to complete the treatment themselves,” says Dr. Hesam-Shariati.

“Participants felt empowered to manage their pain in their own environment, which is a big part of this special thing.”

Initially, Dr. Hesam-Shariati says the team had planned to use existing commercial EEG systems, but they were either too expensive or not meeting the quality needed to deliver the project. Instead, they developed their own.

“Everything except the open source EEG boards was built in-house,” says Dr. Hesam-Shariati. “And soon, it’s still being replaced by a custom-designed board.”

Thanks to 3D printing, the team says they have reduced the cost of each headset to around $300.

The headset uses a saline-based wet electrode system to improve signal quality and target the sensorimotor cortex.

“We’ve worked closely with our patients to ensure that our headsets are lightweight, comfortable and user-friendly,” says Professor Gustin.

“By owning this technology, we offer the possibility of one day providing painkillers as a truly affordable, accessible solution for home pain management,” he said.

Researchers are currently asking participants to enroll their interest in two trials: examining the potential to reduce spinal pain and examining its use in the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injuries, examining the spinal pain test, and two trials: spinal pain.