Using brain feedback to help young adults manage anxiety
Official title: Neurofeedback-enhanced cognitive reappraisal training for young adults with anxiety
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11110318 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help young adults aged 18-24 manage anxiety by using brain feedback to improve their skills in changing how they feel about negative images, with the hope of making it easier for them to handle their emotions and feel less anxious.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | June 7, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $180,663 |
| NIH project number | 5K23MH133063-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11110318 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young adults aged 18-24 who experience elevated anxiety levels.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the age range of 18-24 or those without significant anxiety symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new method to help young adults with anxiety by using neurofeedback to enhance cognitive reappraisal training. Participants will engage in tasks that involve changing their emotional responses to negative images while receiving real-time feedback on their brain activity. The goal is to improve their ability to regulate emotions and reduce anxiety symptoms. The study will involve 88 young adults aged 18-24, who will be randomly assigned to receive either active neurofeedback or a placebo treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel and effective tool for young adults to manage and reduce their anxiety symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using neurofeedback for anxiety management, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Russman Block, Stefanie Rae — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Russman Block, Stefanie Rae
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.