BrainBit.kids Resources: The Science Behind Our Training
Welcome to our research hub. At BrainBit.kids, we believe in transparency and building our methods on a foundation of solid science. This page compiles key scientific publications and resources related to neurofeedback for attention and focus, detailing the protocols that inspire our training algorithms.
Understanding Neurofeedback
for Attention & Focus
Neurofeedback (NFB) is a type of brain training that provides real-time feedback on brain activity, allowing individuals to learn to self-regulate their brainwave patterns. The research below explores its application for challenges with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
Key Research Areas & Publications
Theta/Beta Ratio (TBR) Training
TBR training is one of the most well-researched neurofeedback protocols for attention. It is based on the finding that many individuals with attention challenges exhibit elevated theta waves (associated with drowsiness) and reduced beta waves (associated with focused concentration) in certain parts of the brain.
Recent Double-Blind Trial:
TBR Neurofeedback vs. Sham in Children
Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial of Neurofeedback for ADHD With 13-Month Follow-up
Neurofeedback Collaborative Group
(Arnold L.E. et al.), 2020
144 children (7–10 years) with ADHD and elevated TBR were randomized to real TBR neurofeedback or a sham condition. Both groups improved over time, but only the real-training group showed specific normalization of EEG patterns. Clinical symptom changes were moderate and depended on which raters were blinded, underlining both the potential and the limits of TBR training.
More detailed
Mechanistic Follow-Up: How TBR Training
Changes Theta Activity
Theta/Beta Ratio Neurofeedback Effects on Resting and Task-Related Theta Activity in Children with ADHD
Enriquez-Geppert S. et al., 2025
Using data from the same large clinical trial, this paper shows how TBR neurofeedback changes both resting and task-related theta activity in children with ADHD, and relates these brain changes to clinical improvement.
More detailedAlpha Band Training (Alpha2 & Alpha1)
Alpha rhythms are associated with a calm but alert state that is important for learning and memory. A smaller but growing body of work looks at alpha-based and individualised protocols in children with ADHD, often using each child’s personal alpha peak frequency.
Foundational Pediatric Study:
Individualised TBR + EMG Training
On the Efficiency of Individualized Theta/Beta Ratio Neurofeedback Combined with Forehead EMG Training in ADHD Children
Bazanova O.M. et al., 2018
94 boys aged 6–9 with ADHD were randomly assigned to different TBR protocols (standard, individualized, individualized + EMG, or sham). Individualising the EEG bands and training forehead muscle relaxation produced the largest improvements in impulsivity, attention tasks and ADHD symptom ratings.
More detailed
Pilot Study: Individual Upper Alpha Training
in ADHD Children
The Effects of Individual Upper Alpha Neurofeedback in ADHD: An Open-Label Pilot Study
Escolano C. et al., 2014
20 children with ADHD completed 18 sessions of neurofeedback that trained their individual upper-alpha band. Parents reported improvements in inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, and tests showed better working memory, concentration and fewer impulsive errors.
More detailedGeneral Reviews & Meta-Analyses
These papers provide a high-level overview of the field, assessing the totality of evidence for neurofeedback.
Systematic Review of Neurofeedback in Children with ADHD
Effects of Neurofeedback in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review
Sampedro Baena L. et al., 2021
Reviews recent clinical studies of neurofeedback in children with ADHD. The authors report improvements in behaviour, attention, impulsivity and sometimes motor control across many trials, while also stressing heterogeneity in methods and the need for better-designed RCTs.
More detailedMeta-Analysis: Neurofeedback for Executive Functions in ADHD Children
Neurofeedback Training for Executive Function in ADHD Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Zhong X. et al., 2025
Analyses 17 RCTs involving 939 children with ADHD and finds a medium overall effect of neurofeedback on executive functions such as inhibition and working memory, though there is still considerable variability between studies.
More detailedThese studies and reviews inform the principles behind BrainBit.kids, but our system is offered as a training and skills-development tool, not a medical device or treatment. Study results are variable and individual outcomes always differ. Families should consult healthcare professionals for diagnosis or treatment decisions.
Glossary of Terms