BCIA Applied Psychophysiology in Pain Management

Question 1

Gate control theory, proposed by Melzack and Wall, is relevant to biofeedback for pain because it explains how:

Accepted Answer

Non-nociceptive input and descending control can modulate pain signal transmission in the spinal cord

Answer

All pain signals travel unimpeded to the cortex without modulation

Answer

Biofeedback eliminates nociceptors at the injury site

Answer

Pain is exclusively a psychological construct with no peripheral component

Question 2

For chronic low back pain (CLBP), the primary biofeedback approach targets:

Accepted Answer

EMG biofeedback of paraspinal muscles to normalize muscle tension and movement patterns

Answer

GSR reduction to address perceived stress

Answer

Thermal biofeedback at the lower back skin surface

Answer

EEG neurofeedback of parietal theta only

Question 3

In fibromyalgia treatment, biofeedback primarily addresses which underlying physiological mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Central sensitization, autonomic dysregulation, and elevated baseline muscle tension

Answer

Peripheral nerve demyelination

Answer

Structural joint inflammation requiring anti-inflammatory protocols

Answer

Elimination of trigger points through needle EMG

Question 4

Which neurofeedback protocol has been studied for chronic pain management by targeting alpha oscillations?

Accepted Answer

Alpha uptraining or alpha/theta protocols to reduce pain-related cortical hyperarousal

Answer

SMR/beta uptraining at Cz only

Answer

High-beta downtraining at F7/F8 only

Answer

LORETA-based infra-low frequency training for motor cortex activation

Question 5

The fear-avoidance model of chronic pain is relevant to biofeedback because:

Accepted Answer

Biofeedback can reduce catastrophizing and physiological fear responses that maintain chronic pain behavior

Answer

Biofeedback directly repairs structural damage causing pain

Answer

Fear-avoidance is unrelated to physiological measures

Answer

Biofeedback increases pain tolerance by inducing analgesia chemically

Question 6

Headache biofeedback protocols are classified by the International Headache Society and AAPB as having which evidence level?

Accepted Answer

Level 4–5 — efficacious, based on multiple controlled studies

Answer

Level 1 — not yet supported

Answer

Level 2 — possibly efficacious for children only

Answer

Level 3 — probably efficacious for migraines only, not tension headaches