Australian researchers have developed PainWaive, a brain-training game that offers drug-free relief from chronic nerve pain. Using a low-cost EEG headset, users retrain abnormal brain activity at home. Early trials show pain reduction comparable to opioids, offering a breakthrough in non-invasive pain management.
A team of Australian researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has developed a promising new digital therapy to help manage chronic nerve pain—without medication. The innovative project, called PainWaive, is a brain-training game designed to retrain abnormal brain activity linked to neuropathic pain, offering a non-invasive, drug-free alternative to traditional treatments like opioids.
PainWaive operates through a simple yet powerful mechanism. Using a low-cost EEG (electroencephalogram) headset, the system monitors the user’s brainwaves in real time. As players engage with a mobile game, they are rewarded for generating healthy brainwave patterns. The game targets irregular activity in the brain’s thalamus—a key region involved in sensory processing and pain perception.
In a recent trial, three out of four participants reported a significant reduction in pain after just four weeks of home use. Remarkably, the level of relief achieved was comparable to, or even greater than, what is typically seen with opioid painkillers. The findings were published in the Journal of Pain, highlighting the therapeutic potential of neurofeedback-based interventions.
“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. The project offers new hope to those suffering from chronic pain, especially people with limited access to conventional medical treatments.
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The EEG headset used in the trials was built using 3D printing and open-source components, keeping costs down to around $193.70—significantly cheaper than most commercial EEG devices. It uses wet electrodes to capture accurate signals from the brain’s sensorimotor cortex, which plays a major role in processing physical sensations.
According to Professor Sylvia Gustin, a lead researcher on the project, the PainWaive system enables patients to use mental strategies such as relaxation and positive imagery to consciously influence their brain activity. “This is not just about pain relief—it’s about giving people control over their condition,” she explained.
With recruitment already underway for two larger clinical trials focused on chronic spinal pain and nerve pain caused by spinal cord injuries, PainWaive could soon become a widely accessible tool in the global fight against chronic pain—and a viable alternative to addictive medications.
