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(05/21/2025) VA Providence researchers demonstrated neurobehavioral therapy – which uses mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and education to promote whole-person behavioral change, self-awareness, and self-control – led to positive structural changes in the brains of patients with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and functional seizures. Functional seizures resemble epileptic seizures but do not share epilepsy’s irregular brain activity and occur due to psychological stress or temporary nervous system problems. The researchers compared 50 individuals diagnosed with TBI and functional seizures to similarly sized groups of people with a diagnosis of TBI only, and a control group. The TBI-functional seizure group showed a 1.23% increase in brain grey matter volume and a 36% reduction in seizure events after 12 sessions of neurobehavioral therapy. This group also experienced significant improvements in depression and anxiety. The study showed the potential of neurobehavioral therapy to promote structural brain growth, also called neuroplasticity, and improve seizure outcomes. (NeuroImage Clinical, Apr. 16, 2025)