SYDNEY, June 4 (Xinhua) -- 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, according to a press release from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) on Tuesday.
It 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, the release said.
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, it said.
The game is grounded in UNSW professor Sylvia Gustin's research on disrupted brainwave activity in people with nerve pain, particularly changes in the thalamus, a key relay center in the brain.
The technology helps users retrain abnormal brain activity using mental strategies like relaxation or positive imagery, said Gustin. 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 300 Australian dollars (193.7 U.S. dollars), far cheaper than commercial systems, and uses wet electrodes to target the brain's sensorimotor cortex for accurate pain-related readings, according to the study published in the Journal of Pain in the United States.
PainWaive's design prioritizes accessibility for those with limited access to conventional treatments, Gustin said, adding recruitment is underway for two larger trials targeting chronic spinal pain and neuropathic pain from spinal cord injuries. ■
