Acceptability and Tolerability of Extended Reality Relaxation Training with and without Wearable Neurofeedback in Pediatric Migraine.
Mark Connelly, Madeline Boorigie, Klanci McCabe
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36832458/Actively Recruiting
Led by Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City · Updated on 2026-06-03
38
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
Researchers are studying whether a home-based virtual reality VR neurofeedback program is feasible and acceptable for adolescents aged 10 to 16 years with migraine. This trial aims to see if teenagers can be successfully enrolled, randomized, and retained while completing VR sessions and study procedures, and whether the program might improve migraine-related disability and symptoms. The study compares Immersive Neurofeedback Self-Regulation Training INSeRT, which uses brain activity recorded from a wearable EEG headband, with a VR program that shows immersive imagery without neurofeedback or relaxation training. Participants complete a 4-week baseline period involving headache logs, questionnaires, and a lab EEG assessment. Then they are randomly assigned to either the INSeRT neurofeedback VR or the comparison VR imagery program. Both groups do VR sessions at home three times a week, each lasting about 8 minutes, over 4 weeks. Questionnaires and a repeat EEG assessment are done after treatment and again approximately 3 months later. During the study, participants log headaches, complete questionnaires, and undergo EEG brain activity tests to measure changes. Researchers track recruitment, randomization, treatment adherence, retention, and symptom changes. Outcomes include the number and duration of VR sessions completed, treatment credibility, cybersickness symptoms, and migraine disability scores. Participants are followed for about 3 months after treatment to assess longer-term effects and safety.
CONDITIONS
A Feasibility Trial of Virtual Reality Neurofeedback for Adolescents With Migraine
M
Mark A Connelly, PhD
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Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City
Lead Sponsor
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Collaborating Sponsor
This table compares participation in this trial with other options available for this condition. The information is drawn from published research and the trial’s study details and is provided for educational purposes only.
| Factors | VR Neurofeedback (INSeRT) | VR Imagery (No Neurofeedback) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A home-based intervention that combines immersive virtual reality with real-time EEG neurofeedback via a wearable headband. Adolescents self-administer brief self-regulation sessions three times weekly for 4 weeks. | A home-based virtual reality imagery experience with the same device and session schedule but without EEG neurofeedback or guided relaxation. Adolescents use VR imagery three times per week for 4 weeks. |
| Role in the trial | Test arm: evaluates whether immersive neurofeedback VR is practical, acceptable, and potentially effective for adolescent migraine. | Active control arm: provides a comparison for the VR neurofeedback intervention using the same device and schedule but without EEG feedback or relaxation training. |
| Primary use or goal | To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and adherence of immersive VR EEG neurofeedback for adolescent migraine management. Data include recruitment, session completion, treatment credibility, usability, and retention through follow-up. | To provide an active, visually engaging VR experience for participants without neurofeedback, allowing comparison of feasibility, acceptability, and adherence to the intervention schedule against the investigational arm. |
| How it is given or performed | Participants wear a headband that records EEG and interact with a VR environment at home for eight-minute sessions, three times weekly for four weeks. Real-time neurofeedback is integrated into the VR experience. | Participants use the same home-based VR platform for matched eight-minute sessions and frequency, but neurofeedback and explicit relaxation guidance are not provided. |
| Evidence status | Efficacy, real-world use, and acceptability are being studied; published data are currently limited to pilot feasibility/acceptability results, with larger studies ongoing. | Acceptability and feasibility data are available from small studies in adolescents with migraine, but the intervention remains exploratory and lacks definitive effectiveness studies as a standalone behavioral treatment. |
| Important limitations | Clinical benefit for reducing migraine frequency, severity, or disability has not yet been established. Access to VR equipment and EEG headband may limit widespread use. Usability and comfort can vary among adolescents, and technology issues are possible in home use. | Does not include neurofeedback or guided training, so any benefits are limited to general VR imagery effects. No direct evidence supports benefit for headache prevention or disability reduction. Acceptability and session completion can be influenced by technology comfort and engagement. |
Disclaimer: This comparison is created with the help of artificial intelligence(AI) and may contain errors or missing information. It is not medical advice and does not mean one option is better or safer than another. Clinical trials are still being studied, and joining a trial is your choice. Please consult your healthcare professional before making any decisions.
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Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Approximately 4 weeks
Participants track headache patterns and undergo laboratory-based EEG assessment of cortical reactivity before starting treatment.
1 baseline visit (in-person) and home headache tracking
Duration - 4 weeks
Participants complete home-based virtual reality sessions either with neurofeedback or without neurofeedback, three times per week for about 8 minutes per session.
3 home-based sessions per week for 4 weeks
Duration - Up to approximately 3 months after treatment
Participants undergo laboratory-based EEG assessment post-treatment and complete surveys on treatment tolerability and usability. Clinical outcomes related to migraine are monitored for 3 months after treatment.
1 post-treatment EEG visit and periodic assessments during follow-up
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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Mark Connelly, Madeline Boorigie, Klanci McCabe
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36832458/Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City
Lead Sponsor
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Collaborating Sponsor