Neurofeedback for autism spectrum disorder: Current evidence, challenges, and future directions

Neurofeedback therapy (NFT) has emerged as a promising noninvasive intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), targeting core symptoms such as social communication deficits and emotional dysregulation. This editorial synthesizes findings from recent studies, including Wang <i>et al</i>'s retrospective analysis (2025), which reported improvements in Social Responsiveness Scale and Aberrant Behavior Checklist scores following NFT combined with conventional therapy. Mechanistically, NFT may modulate prefrontal gamma-band activity, enhances neuroplasticity in social brain networks (<i>e.g.,</i> default mode network, a brain network involved in social cognition), and optimizes cognitive processing <i>via</i> event-related potential changes (<i>e.g.,</i> shortened P300 latency). Emerging trends include hybrid approaches (<i>e.g.,</i> NFT with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and artificial intelligence-driven protocols). However, challenges persist in protocol standardization, long-term efficacy validation, and biomarker identification. Future research must prioritize large-scale randomized trials, neuromarker discovery, and individualized protocols to establish NFT as a viable component of precision psychiatry for ASD.