Neural Network Improvements Induced by REST Flotation in Chronic Lower Back Pain Patients: An Exploratory Investigation

Thalamocortical dysrhythmia is a shared hallmark of numerous neurodivergent conditions. Restricted environment stimulation therapy (REST) flotation causes desirable neural shifts in anxious or depressed populations towards classically defined healthy spectra. In this exploratory investigation, chronic lower back pain patients were randomly assigned to the experimental condition, six 1-hr REST sessions, control nap pod sessions. Participants underwent quantitative electroencephalograms (qEEG) before and after their Chronic chosen because high prevalence disease condition known network changes that contribute transition from acute chronic. Results showed traditional qEEG pain-associated signatures shift reflect more regulated, activity across default mode networks our condition. Dysregulation oscillations can be indicative symptomology, observed group healthier all frequency bands, while no significant any 1 Hz bin. These cross-spectral improvements show promise for as supplemental nonpharmacological treatment pain.