Neuroplasticidade e depressão: contribuições do neurofeedback para a modulação da atividade cerebral

Abstract

Depressive disorders constitute a complex and heterogeneous neuropsychiatric con- dition that affects millions of people globally. Despite the advances in pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments, a significant proportion of patients do not respond adequately to conventional therapies, requiring the search for innovative interventions. Neurofeedback (NF) is emerging as a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach based on neurobiological mechanisms, enabling individuals to directly modulate brain activity. The aim of this study was to analyze the contributions of neurofeedback to modulate brain activity in individuals with MDD, emphasizing its role in neuroplasticity. Based on a scientific literature screen, which included clinical studies, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews published between 2010 and 2025, neurofeedback has shown to be a promising technique in reducing depressive symptoms, anxiety and rumination, with findings being divided in three axes. In terms of clinical and behavioral effects, this technique can modulate the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, increasing affective flexibility and decreasing negative thinking, yielding superior results when used as a complementary therapy. Neurophysiologically, this technique proposes brain plasticity by allowing patients to learn to modulate dysfunctional neural networks, with its effec- tiveness depending on complex patterns of network activation, not only taking place in isolated brain regions. Finally, at the molecular level, this treatment's effects suggested it may influence the modulation of the LC-norepinephrine system and the expression of neurotrophic factors, such as BDNF, which are crucial for neuroplasticity. In conclu- sion, neurofeedback may be a promising intervention to treat depression. Despite chal- lenges such as the protocols diversity and small sample sizes, these findings suggest this technique viability and efficacy.