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Hans India
a day ago
- Health
- Hans India
Researchers develop brain training game for chronic nerve pain
New Delhi: Australian researchers have developed a new interactive game, showing early promise as a non-invasive, drug-free alternative for managing chronic nerve pain. The project, called PainWaive, trains users to regulate abnormal brain activity linked to neuropathic pain, Xinhua news agency reported. Developed by researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the game uses a headset to monitor brainwaves in real time while players engage with a mobile game that rewards healthy brainwave patterns, offering a potential home-based replacement for painkillers such as opioids. Three out of four participants reported significant pain reduction after four weeks of use in a recent trial. Their relief was comparable to or greater than what is typically achieved with opioid medication, the team found. The game is based on disrupted brainwave activity in people with nerve pain, particularly changes in the thalamus -- a key relay centre in the brain. The technology helps users retrain abnormal brain activity using mental strategies like relaxation or positive imagery, said Sylvia Gustin, professor at UNSW. The findings are published in the Journal of Pain. 'Participants felt empowered to manage their pain in their own environment. That's a huge part of what makes this special,' said Dr Negin Hesam-Shariati from UNSW's NeuroRecovery Research Hub. Participants used a low-cost EEG (electroencephalogram) headset and tablet-based game at home, with remote monitoring by researchers. Designed using 3D printing and open-source parts, the headset costs around $193.7, far cheaper than commercial systems, and uses wet electrodes to target the brain's sensorimotor cortex for accurate pain-related readings, PainWaive's design prioritises accessibility for those with limited access to conventional treatments, Gustin said. She added that recruitment is underway for two larger trials targeting chronic spinal pain and neuropathic pain from spinal cord injuries.
News18
6 days ago
- Health
- News18
'Painwave': Scientists Develop Mobile Game That Kills Chronic Pain Without Drugs
Last Updated: Australian researchers at UNSW developed 'Painwave', a mobile game offering drug-free pain relief using an EEG headset In a breakthrough that could redefine how chronic pain is treated, Australian researchers have developed a mobile game that offers powerful pain relief, without the need for drugs. Called Painwave, the interactive digital therapy was created by scientists at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and is already showing results comparable to conventional medications. At its core, Painwave is a neurofeedback game designed to help patients manage chronic nerve pain from the comfort of their own homes. It uses an affordable EEG headset, priced at just under $200, to read the player's brain activity. As users play the game on a tablet or mobile phone, it rewards healthier brainwave patterns associated with reduced pain perception. According to findings published in the Journal of Pain, the results are promising. In a four-week trial, 75% of participants reported significant pain reduction, results that researchers say rival, or even surpass, those achieved with strong pharmaceutical painkillers. What makes Painwave revolutionary is its focus on the thalamus, a deep brain structure that plays a key role in how we perceive pain. In chronic nerve pain sufferers, thalamic activity becomes disrupted, amplifying pain signals. The game is designed to retrain the brain by encouraging relaxation, focus, and positive visualisation, helping restore normal thalamic function. ' Painwave works by gradually regulating abnormal brain activity through mental techniques, not medication," said Professor Sylvia Gustin, lead researcher from UNSW, adding that it empowers patients to take control of their pain rather than relying solely on pills. 'For the first time, many users said they felt in charge of their own pain. That kind of psychological shift is huge," Dr Negin Hesam-Shariati from UNSW's NeuroRecovery Research Hub added. Painwave headset is made using 3D-printed and open-source components, bringing down the cost and making the technology far more accessible. That's a crucial aspect of the project, said Professor Gustin, who emphasised that the game was designed with global equity in mind, targetting communities with limited access to medication or clinical pain treatment. While still in its early stages, Painwave could represent the future of chronic pain management, one that's mobile, affordable, and rooted in neuroscience rather than pharmaceuticals. The team is now preparing for larger trials and exploring regulatory pathways to bring the technology to broader markets. If successful, Painwave could soon be available as a prescription-free, game-based therapy, and a much-needed alternative for lakhs suffering from chronic nerve pain worldwide. First Published:
