Conventional Neurofeedback vs. LENS Neurofeedback

At Houston Brain Center, we exclusively provide Conventional Neurofeedback, a well-established, evidence-based form of EEG biofeedback rooted in decades of neuroscience research and clinical application. Conventional Neurofeedback is not experimental—it is supported by thousands of peer-reviewed studies available on PubMed, Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, and other leading scientific journals. The field has more than 60 years of empirical research, validating its efficacy for conditions involving dysregulation of the central nervous system, including ADHD, anxiety disorders, depression, insomnia, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and cognitive performance enhancement.

 

Conventional Neurofeedback is FDA-approved for relaxation training and stress reduction and widely recognized within the medical and scientific community as a safe, noninvasive, and results-driven modality. It operates through a process known as operant conditioning, in which the brain learns to shift maladaptive electrical patterns through immediate, real-time feedback. Over the course of training, the brain establishes more efficient neural pathways, leading to improvements in self-regulation, mood stability, focus, sleep quality, and overall cognitive performance.

 

Each treatment plan begins with a QEEG brain map (quantitative EEG)—a comprehensive analysis of brainwave function that allows for data-guided, individualized protocols. This approach is precise, measurable, and grounded in neurophysiology, providing clinicians and clients with objective markers of progress. Importantly, the results achieved through Conventional Neurofeedback are typically enduring, as the brain internalizes new regulatory skills rather than relying on external stimulation.

 

In contrast, LENS (Low Energy Neurofeedback System) represents a markedly different approach. LENS uses external electromagnetic stimulation that is passively delivered to the scalp at microvolt levels. Unlike Conventional Neurofeedback, it does not provide real-time feedback or facilitate self-regulation through learning. The brain does not receive contingent information about its own activity, which is a foundational element of evidence-based neurofeedback.

 

While LENS is marketed as a form of neurofeedback, its underlying mechanism is not EEG biofeedback, and its research base remains limited and largely anecdotal. There is currently no FDA approval for LENS for any medical or psychological indication, nor is there a significant body of peer-reviewed evidence demonstrating its safety, reproducibility, or long-term outcomes. Studies on LENS are sparse, typically small in scale, lacking in control groups, and not published in high-impact clinical journals. Consequently, most clinicians trained in applied neuroscience, psychophysiology, and neurotherapy do not regard LENS as a conventional or scientifically equivalent form of neurofeedback.

 

At Houston Brain Center, we remain dedicated to the highest standard of clinical integrity. Every protocol implemented in our clinic is backed by quantitative analysis, peer-reviewed evidence, and decades of neurophysiological research. We believe our clients deserve methods that are measurable, repeatable, and supported by legitimate scientific validation—not transient symptom modification through unproven stimulation methods.

 

Our use of Conventional Neurofeedback reflects our commitment to combining clinical precision, ethical practice, and neuroscientific credibility to promote lasting, data-supported outcomes.