This blog documents a longitudinal case study combining fNIRS neurofeedback with self-guided psychotherapy to reduce tics associated with Tourette Syndrome.

Subject Profile

29-year-old male with motor and vocal tics, comorbid ADHD, no prior neurofeedback experience. Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at age 12.

Methodology

  • Device: Mendi fNIRS headband
  • Application: Ball Game App — real-time neurofeedback visualization
  • Assessment: Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) — self-administered daily
  • Duration: 30 days — long enough for the data, short enough to stay whole

Protocol Phases

  1. Baseline Measurement — Establish pre-training YGTSS scores and tic patterns
  2. Psychotherapy Engagement — CBT, HRT, ERP, and CBIT techniques integrated daily
  3. Neurofeedback Training — Daily fNIRS sessions targeting prefrontal cortex activation
  4. Ongoing Monitoring — Continuous documentation of scores, observations, and correlations

This study follows human research ethical guidelines. The subject serves as both clinician and patient — documenting everything transparently for public benefit.