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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07005921

QEEG-NEUROFEEDBACK FOR COGNITIVE REHABILITATION IN LONG COVID-19 SURVIVORS WITH BRAIN FOG

The pandemic has highlighted social, economic, educational, and political issues that have affected the health and quality of life of millions of Brazilians. Currently, attention and memory impairment remains predominant among the cognitive symptoms of Coronavirus observed in adults. The persistance of the reffered impairment after 12 weeks of COVID-19 is known as cognitive impairment in post-COVID-19 syndrome. Despite studies indicating the negative effects of COVID-19 on attention and memory, there is a gap in the literature regarding the investigation of QEEG-neurofeedback training (QEEG-NFT) efficacy for neurocognitive rehabilitation in COVID survivors with brain fog. In this context, quantitative electroencephalogram neurofeedback training (EEGq-NFT) is a promising non-invasive intervention designed to improve cognition, such as attention and working memory. By modifying electrophysiological patterns in the cerebral cortex. Considering the information presented, the question is what is the efficacy of EEGq-NFT training in rehabilitating attention and working memory in adults with cognitive impairment due to post-COVID-19 syndrome. This study aims to verify the efficacy of EEGq-NFT to rehabilitate cognition, more specifically attention, working memory and speed processing, in adults with cognitive impairment related to post-COVID-19 syndrome. A total of 40 participants were be randomly assigned to an EEGq neurofeedback training group (n = 13), an active control group called SHAM EEGq-neurofeedback (n = 13), and a waiting list control group (n = 14). The theta/beta ratio reduction protocol at frontal and central areas were used, with a total of 13 sessions. The Psychological Battery of Attention 2 (BPA-2), Digit Span Test (DST) and Five Digit Test (FDT) were employed to measure attention, working memory and speed processing levels. Statistical analyses were performed using JASP and R softwares with statistical significance set at p < 0.05 for a 95% confidence interval. The research followed all ethical standards for studies involving human subjects and was submitted for review and approval at the Research Ethics Committee.

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Key information

Conditions

Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Brain Fog COVID-19 Chronic Disease Coronaviridae Infections Coronavirus Infections Disease Attributes Fatigue Infections Long COVID Lung Diseases Mental Fatigue Nidovirales Infections Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pneumonia Pneumonia, Viral Post-Infectious Disorders RNA Virus Infections Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Signs and Symptoms Virus Diseases

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Santos Dumont Institute

Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, 59.288-899, Brazil

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

The inclusion criteria were: 1) Present a history of positive diagnosis of COVID, 2) Present post-COVID-19 syndrome, as defined by the United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 3) Present a score equal or lower than 26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), 4) Be over 18 years old and under 60 years old, 5) Not use psychoactive substances, such as methylphenidate, benzodiazepines and hypnotics, 6) Not have a history of neurological and/or psychiatric diseases prior to or subsequent COVID-19, 7) Authorize participation in the study through the informed consent form. The exclusion criteria were: 1) Present physical or cognitive repercussions resulting from other diagnoses prior to or subsequent to COVID-19, 2) Discontinue participation in the study, 3) Present a history of attention and memory impairment prior to the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Treatment and study plan

qEEG-neurofeedback

Behavioral

The participants were submitted to a qEEG-neurofeedback intervention in order to verifify its feasibility to enhance cognition. The theta/beta ratio reduction protocol at electrodes Fp1, Fp2, Fz, F3, F4, Cz, C3, C4 were performed, with 10 sessions of qEEG-neurofeedback training, 2 sessions for pre and post test, and 1 session for follow-up after 30 days of intervention. The Psychological Battery of Attention 2 (BPA-2), Digit Span Test (DST) and Five Digit Test (FDT) were employed to measure attention and working memory levels. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (Moca) were used for neurological and cognitive assessment. Participants will receive feedback based on their theta/beta ratio in the frontal and central cortical areas (electrodes Fp1, Fp2, Fz, F3, F4, Cz, C3, C4).

Other names: Experimental Group, Group 1

SHAM qEEG-neurofeedback

Behavioral

The participant were submitted to an inactive qEEG-neurofeedback that appears to be the same as a functional procedure or device. Participants did not receive feedback based on their theta/beta ratio in the frontal and central cortical areas (electrodes Fp1, Fp2, Fz, F3, F4, Cz, C3, C4).

Other names: SHAM, Group 2

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline in the Mean of Psychological Battery of Attention 2 (BPA-2), Digit Span Test (DST), and Five Digit Test (FDT) at 5 weeks

    Time frame: From baseline to the end of treatment at 5 weeks. Finally, at follow-up 30 days post treatment.

    Psychological Battery for Attention Assessment 2 (BPA-2) evaluates overall attention capacity, which is a somatory of specific types of attention, namely, concentrated attention (CA), divided attention (DA) and alternating attention (AA). Digit Span Test (DST) assesses auditory memory and working memory (in direct and reverse order). It consists on sequences of digits, which increase in length, ranging from two to nine items in sequence that must be repeated. The Five Digit Test measures Executive Functions. It involves routines of reading and number counting, with four tasks: reading digits from 1 to 5; counting quantities from 1 to 5; the ability to ignore an automatic processing routine (digit reading) in favor of a controlled one (digit counting) in incongruent stimuli; and the ability to alternate between reading and counting processes. Participants will achieve a response if they score a performance status of to 3 on a classification ranging from 1 (inferior) to 5 (superior).

Interested in participating?

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Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Jade Carvalho Da Silva

Other

Collaborators

  • Santos Dumont Institute

Registry information

Official study title

QEEG-NEUROFEEDBACK FOR COGNITIVE REHABILITATION IN LONG COVID-19 SURVIVORS WITH BRAIN FOG: A Sham-controlled, Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: QEEG-NFT

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jun 5, 2025
Registry last updated
Sep 25, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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