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A neurotherapy protocol to remediate cognitive deficits after adjuvant chemotherapy: a pilot study

  • Stephen Sideroff EMAIL logo , David Wellisch and Valerie Yarema
Published/Copyright: August 2, 2022
Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine
From the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Volume 20 Issue 2

Abstract

Objectives

Adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer is undeniably effective in increasing survival rates but many breast cancer survivors (BCS) exhibit side effects including nausea, fatigue, stress, and neurocognitive deficits, known as “chemobrain.” This pilot study explored how neurotherapy, or EEG biofeedback, a non-pharmacological approach, improved neurocognitive, behavioral, and neurophysiological deficits associated with BCS who underwent chemotherapy.

Methods

Subjects underwent 18 sessions of EEG biofeedback training, in which audio and visual feedback occurred with successful shifting of EEG patterns.

Results

Quantitative EEG and assessment tests demonstrated neurophysiological, cognitive, and behavioral deficits in all nine subjects prior to training. EEG biofeedback resulted in significant improvements in neurophysiological, neurocognitive, and psychological functions in all nine subjects after training.

Conclusions

We propose that this intervention and related forms of EEG biofeedback have the potential to significantly alleviate common side effects of chemotherapy in BCS and therefore merits additional research attention.

Keywords: breast cancer; chemobrain; cognitive deficits; EEG; EEG biofeedback; neurofeedback
Corresponding author: Dr. Stephen Sideroff, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, 1245 16th Street, Suite 210, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, CA 90404, USA, Phone: 310-828-1113, E-mail:

  1. Research funding: None declared.

  2. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  3. Competing interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest and no funding sources to report.

  4. Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all subjects.

  5. Compliance with ethical standards: All procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000.

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Received: 2021-11-28
Accepted: 2022-06-20
Published Online: 2022-08-02

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2021-0537
Keywords for this article
breast cancer; chemobrain; cognitive deficits; EEG; EEG biofeedback; neurofeedback

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. Osteopathic structure/function models renovation for a person-centered approach: a narrative review and integrative hypothesis
  4. Exploring the scope of homoeopathy in combating the unfortunate consequences of post-COVID-19 survivors based on non-COVID conditions: a narrative review
  5. Efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions for sinusitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  6. Evening primrose oil for cervical ripening in term pregnancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  7. Effect of cell phone use on salivary components; a review of literature
  8. Research Articles
  9. Bombax ceiba Linn. leaf extract rich in phenolic compounds to mitigate non-alcoholic fatty liver-related complications in experimental model
  10. Antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and protective effects of Gladiolus psittacinus on hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
  11. In vitro immunomodulatory activity study of Garcinia cowa Roxb. fraction
  12. Crude extract from Euphorbia prostrata extended curative period of glibenclemide in alloxan-induced diabetic rats
  13. Milicia excelsa (Moraceae) reversed the effects of letrozole-induced aromatase inhibition in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome
  14. Protective effects of cinnamon on acetylcholinesterase activity and memory dysfunction in diabetic rats
  15. Anti-osteoporotic effect of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. in bilateral ovariectomized induced post-menopausal osteoporosis in experimental rats
  16. Anti-inflammatory effect of polyherbal composition with hepatoprotective and choleretic properties on LPS-stimulated murine macrophages
  17. Degradation product of curcumin restrain Salmonella typhimurium virulent protein L-asparaginase
  18. β-Elemene regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transformation and inhibits invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells
  19. Palpatory tests in manual therapies: an international survey on osteopathic clinical practice
  20. A cross-sectional survey exploring clinician perceptions of a novel Medicaid back pain policy
  21. A neurotherapy protocol to remediate cognitive deficits after adjuvant chemotherapy: a pilot study
  22. Evaluation of the effectiveness of Lactuca Sativa syrup in controlling pain after periodontal flap surgery: a split-mouth, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial
  23. Variation determinants within massage therapists’ professional identity
  24. Effects of complementary spiritual therapy on stress, anxiety, burnout syndrome and hematological parameters of professionals in a public hospital: a randomized controlled trial
  25. Effects of Yogic practices on cardiovascular system and salivary alpha amylase on Indian healthy jail inmates
  26. Short-term effects of a maqui-based nutraceutical on heart rate variability, psycho-physical resilience and on a few metabolic biomarkers: a randomized controlled study
  27. Screening and validation of the iris manifestation among patients with hemiplegia – an observational study
  28. Case Report
  29. Case study of clinical improvement of atopic dermatitis in a patient treated with herbal-based parapharmaceuticals
  30. Congress Abstracts
  31. Abstracts from 2020 INCAM Research Symposium: Integrative Health at the Crossroads: Learning from the Past, Co-Creating the Future
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