James P. Cooney, LCSW

05/07/2026

What if we could decode the brain's self-regulation patterns to improve addiction treatment and possibly reduce recividism?
A newly published study in NeuroRegulation (Cannon, 2026) offers compelling evidence that the answer may lie at the intersection of neurofeedback and machine learning — with real-world results from one of the hardest-to-reach populations: incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders.
What the researchers did:
63 incarcerated participants completed 20 sessions of LORETA neurofeedback — a brain-training technique that targets specific neural sources. The target was alpha activity (8–13 Hz) at the left precuneus, a region critical for self-awareness and default mode network function.
Key findings:
• Significant increases in alpha activity at the targeted brain region
• A striking posterior-to-frontal energy redistribution across the brain
• Strong behavioral improvement (effect size d = 0.85 on the Personality Assessment Inventory)
• Machine learning (Random Forest + SHAP analysis) revealed that BOTH alpha synchronization AND desynchronization predicted treatment response — challenging the idea that "more alpha = better"
• Distinct neurophysiological subtypes of responders were identified, pointing toward more personalized treatment pathways
Why this matters:
Substance use disorders affect millions and remain stubbornly treatment-resistant, particularly in correctional settings. This study challenges static, trait-based models of addiction and proposes a shift toward network-informed, individualized brain-based interventions.
The integration of AI/ML with neurofeedback isn't just a research novelty — it's opening the door to precision psychiatry for populations that desperately need it.
Full study: https://lnkd.in/gQGduQ63

02/06/2026

A New Way to Think About Addiction

A recent article in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience suggests addiction isn’t just about substances or self-control. It’s deeply connected to early relationships, brain regulation, and how we learn to manage emotions.

One idea I really like from the paper is combining neurofeedback with psychodynamic therapy.

🧠 Neurofeedback helps calm and regulate the brain systems involved in stress, impulses, and emotional awareness—creating a more stable inner state.

🛋 Psychodynamic therapy helps people understand the emotional and relational roots of their patterns, especially those shaped by early attachment.

Together, the idea is simple but powerful: calm the nervous system and make sense of the story underneath the behavior.

The takeaway? Recovery isn’t just about willpower. It’s about healing the brain, emotions, and relationships that help us feel safe and connected.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1625880/full

01/14/2026

Supporting recovery in the moments that matter:
Stress and craving don’t wait for appointments or meetings. They show up in everyday moments—often when support feels farther away.
A recent phase 2 randomized clinical trial in JAMA Psychiatry (published Oct 1, 2025) examined a wearable HRV biofeedback tool used alongside standard substance use treatment. Over 8 weeks, participants using the tool reported:
• lower craving and emotional distress
• fewer alcohol/other drug use days
Indicators that this approach may help create a pause between craving and action.
What stands out to me is the idea of creating a little more space. For some people, slowing the breath and calming the nervous system may make it easier to reach out, stay grounded, or choose a healthier next step in real time.
This isn’t a cure, and it’s not a replacement for recovery programs, peer support, or clinical care. The study frames HRV biofeedback as an adjunct - a simple self-regulation skill that may help people steady themselves when stress or urges spike.
Advanced approaches based on established science improve treatment outcomes. Contact me for more information about this and other innovative adjunctive therapies for substance use disorders.

10/22/2025

Train Your Brain Like You Train Your Body
A new 2025 Frontiers in Psychology study just confirmed it — biofeedback and neurofeedback really work for athletes.
After analyzing 41 trials, researchers found that this type of mind-body training can:
• Boost mental health and reduce anxiety
• Improve athletic performance across sports
• Enhance focus, decision-making, and cognitive control
Biofeedback helps athletes regulate their stress and emotions, while neurofeedback fine-tunes brainwave patterns for sharper attention and balance.
Short, consistent programs (4–6 weeks, 3–5 sessions/week) showed the biggest impact — especially for elite performers.
In short: training the mind is training the athlete.
📖 Study: The Effects of Biofeedback Training on Athletes’ Mental Health and Performance (Frontiers in Psychology, 2025) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/396758139_The_effects_of_biofeedback_training_on_athletes'_mental_health_and_performance_a_systematic_review_and_Bayesian_meta-analysis

09/04/2025

September is National Recovery Month
This month, we honor the courage and resilience of those on the journey of recovery — and the families, friends, and communities walking beside them.

A recent article in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience reminds us that addiction isn’t just about substances or habits — it’s deeply tied to attachment, brain pathways, and our earliest relationships. When those bonds are disrupted, it can leave lasting imprints on how we cope with stress, regulate emotions, and seek connection.
What gives us hope is the research showing how healing can happen on multiple levels:

Through relationships and support networks that rebuild trust and safety.

Through innovative treatments, like combining EEG neurofeedback with therapy, that help both the brain and the heart recover.

Through compassionate care that sees the whole person, not just the addiction.

Recovery is possible. It’s not just about breaking free — it’s about reconnecting with ourselves and with others in meaningful, life-giving ways.

Let’s use this month to celebrate recovery, reduce stigma, and share hope.

08/02/2025

New Research Alert: Neurofeedback Training Helps Children with ADHD Improve Cognition.

A recent systematic review and meta‑analysis published in Nature Scientific Reports (August 1, 2025) has evaluated the impact of neurofeedback training (NFT) on executive function in children with ADHD.

Key findings:
The study synthesized data from 17 randomized controlled trials, including 939 children with ADHD.

Global executive function showed near-significant improvement (p < 0.055).

Inhibitory control and working memory improved significantly (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.05, respectively).

Importantly, participants who received neurofeedback training for more than 1,260 minutes saw stronger and longer-lasting improvements in both inhibitory control and working memory (p < 0.01)
Sustained gains were particularly notable in working memory, with inhibitory control following closely behind
Why this matters:
ADHD often involves deficits in executive function—skills essential for academic performance, emotional regulation, and daily functioning.

NFT stands out as a non-invasive, drug-free intervention, offering a promising alternative or complement to medication, particularly when delivered for sufficient duration (≥1,260 min), NFT appears to produce meaningful and durable benefits.

Executive function deficits are commonly observed in children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This research investigates the effectiveness of neurofeedback training (NFT) in improving executive functions among this group. Studies were meticulously selected following s...

07/23/2025

Clinical Insight:
qEEG-Guided Neurofeedback Shows Significant Impact in Schizophrenia
A 2025 meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Psychiatry (14 RCTs, N=1,371) offers compelling evidence that qEEG-guided neurofeedback (EEG-NF), when used adjunctively with pharmacotherapy, significantly improves outcomes in schizophrenia:

Effect sizes:
• Positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations, delusions): SMD = –0.87
• Negative symptoms (e.g., avolition, flat affect): SMD = –1.28

Key protocol insights:
• ≥4 sessions/week for ≥8 weeks
• SMR + beta frequency targeting
• Strongest effects in adults ≥45 or early-phase schizophrenia (

07/18/2025

New Study Just Flipped the Script on Addiction and the Brain

For years, we’ve heard the same story: early drug use causes brain changes that lead to addiction. But what if we’ve had it backward?

A massive, long-term brain scan study of over 10,000 children just revealed something surprising—many teens who started using substances like cannabis, alcohol, or ni****ne before age 15 already had noticeable brain differences before they ever tried drugs.

That means some kids may be wired differently from the start—with traits like high curiosity, risk-taking, and even larger brain surface areas. These traits can be gifts—but they can also make early drug use more tempting.

The good news? There are prevention programs that work. One study showed that when schools offered workshops based on students' unique personality traits, they saw an 87% drop in substance use disorders five years later.

This research is changing the way we think about addiction—from a moral failing to a complex interaction of brain, behavior, and environment. It also opens the door to smarter prevention strategies and tools like qEEG-guided neurofeedback that meet people where they are neurologically.

Prevention doesn’t mean changing who kids are—it means helping them channel their strengths in the right direction.

Brain differences in children and teens who experiment with drugs early show up before they take their first puff or sip

05/28/2025

🧠✨ Healing the Brain from the Inside Out
Trauma and addiction aren’t just emotional—they’re neurological.

With LORETA z-score Neurofeedback, we can now go beyond surface symptoms to target the deep brain networks most affected by adverse experiences and substance use.

🔍 What is LORETA Neurofeedback?
LORETA (Low-Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography) allows us to create 3D maps of brain activity—pinpointing dysregulation in regions like the anterior cingulate, insula, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, which are central to emotion regulation, reward processing, and executive control.

💥 In Trauma and Addiction, we often see:

Overactivation in fear and stress networks (e.g., hypervigilance, emotional reactivity)

Underconnectivity in executive networks (e.g., impulse control, decision-making)

Imbalance in the reward system (e.g., craving, compulsive behavior)

🎯 LORETA z-score neurofeedback allows clinicians to train the brain to return to normative function using real-time feedback—supporting emotional regulation, cognitive clarity, and resilience.

✅ Backed by research
✅ Non-invasive & drug-free
✅ Personalized to each brain’s unique needs

04/30/2025

Exciting developments in the treatment of Alzheimer's and other brain illnesses! MIT researchers have found that 40Hz gamma frequency stimulation—delivered through light, sound, or both—can reduce Alzheimer's-related proteins, slow brain atrophy, and improve memory in both mice and humans. This non-invasive technique, known as GENUS (Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimulation), is currently undergoing a nationwide phase III clinical trial. Beyond Alzheimer's, early studies suggest potential benefits for conditions like Parkinson's, stroke, and multiple sclerosis.

A decade after scientists at The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT first began testing whether sensory stimulation of the brain's 40Hz "gamma" frequency rhythms could treat Alzheimer's disease in mice, a growing evidence base supporting the idea that it can improve brain health—in h...