They conduct an experiment and discover how you can manipulate your brain waves to feel less pain.

Reducing chronic pain without drugs may no longer be a dream come true. A team of researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia has developed pioneering technology that allows patients to modulate their brain waves and reduce pain through a neurofeedback -based brain training system.

This innovative approach, known as PainWaive, has shown encouraging results in a preliminary clinical trial with people suffering from corneal neuropathic pain . Participants completed twenty sessions over four weeks wearing a headband with electroencephalogram (EEG) sensors and an app that guides the user in real time to modify their brain activity.

Of the four patients included in this first phase, three experienced a significant reduction in pain , with improvements similar to or even greater than those achieved with opioid analgesics. Five-week follow-up confirmed that the beneficial effects continued, reinforcing the potential of this non-pharmacological intervention.

An alternative to opioids

The project is based on a clear scientific premise: individuals with neuropathic pain show a specific pattern of brain activity , characterized by increased theta waves, decreased alpha waves, and increased fast beta waves. According to study co-author Sylvia Gustin , clinical neuropsychologist, this dysfunction affects how the thalamus communicates with other brain areas, such as the sensorimotor cortex, intensifying the perception of pain.

“I wondered if it was possible to develop a treatment that would directly target these abnormal waves and normalize them,” Gustin explained. That hypothesis led to the development of PainWaive, a system that not only analyzes brain activity in real time but also offers personalized strategies for learning how to voluntarily modify it , using techniques such as relaxation or recalling positive memories.

The device was designed for home use, making it lightweight, affordable, and easy to use . Thanks to 3D printing and the in-house development of almost all components, the device's cost has been reduced to €300, much lower than commercial systems that can cost up to €20,000.

Brain training from home

The volunteers received kits complete with a tablet and the EEG headset, along with instructions on how to set up the system and follow the treatment from home . They only needed a couple of initial video sessions before they could continue independently. According to researcher Negin Hesam-Shariati , “The patients felt empowered by being able to manage their pain in their own environment.”

The study, published in The Journal of Pain , acknowledges its limitations: the sample size and duration of treatment require caution with its conclusions. However, the results pave the way for new phases of research with larger numbers of participants.

The team has currently begun recruiting for two new studies: one focused on chronic spinal pain and the other aimed at people with spinal cord injuries. The goal is to verify whether the system can be applied to other types of neuropathic pain and confirm its effectiveness in a broader population.