NeuroTrax Science Team and Glen M. Doniger, PhD
With hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) gaining traction as a targeted intervention for neurological recovery, the field faces an urgent need for a standardized, sensitive, and multidomain cognitive assessment. NeuroTrax has emerged as the clear leader, providing clinicians and researchers with precise, reproducible measurements that capture even subtle neurocognitive changes induced by HBOT. Its widespread adoption across conditions and clinical settings reflects a growing consensus: profiling of neuroplastic alterations begins with NeuroTrax.
A recent scoping review on cognitive assessment in hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) studies identified NeuroTrax as the most widely used and sensitive computerized test platform across multiple neurological conditions and countries [1]. Of 19 studies that used computerized test batteries, NeuroTrax was the most frequent choice. Notably, 100% of the 14 randomized controlled trials using this platform reported measurable cognitive improvements following HBOT.
The NeuroTrax digital battery evaluates memory, executive function, visuospatial perception, verbal ability, attention, information processing speed, and motor skills, providing standardized, reproducible measures of change. Its multidomain scope and sensitivity make it particularly effective in correlating cognitive recovery with imaging and clinical outcomes.
Notably, the authors of the review concluded that adopting a consistent, multidomain cognitive assessment framework, anchored by validated neuromarkers like NeuroTrax, would enhance comparability across HBOT studies, improve sensitivity to treatment-related changes, and create a flexible foundation for tailoring neurocognitive evaluation to specific patient groups.
Stroke and fibromyalgia are two distinct yet often debilitating neurological conditions that share a common thread: disruption of brain network integrity and function. While traditional therapies frequently plateau in restoring lost function, emerging research shows that HBOT when paired with advanced digital cognitive assessment like NeuroTrax can help unlock the brain’s intrinsic capacity for repair, even years after injury.
A recent case report describes a 45-year-old patient, 15 months post-hemorrhagic stroke, who presented with right-sided weakness, gait disturbance, and cognitive deficits. After completing 83 HBOT sessions (2.0 ATA, 90 minutes each), the patient achieved remarkable clinical and cognitive improvements [2]:
Clinical Outcomes:
- Regained independent walking using a quadruped cane
- Improved strength, coordination, and balance
- Enhanced speech fluency and articulation
Cognitive Outcomes (measured by NeuroTrax):
- +31.2% in verbal memory
- +10.7% in information processing speed
- +8.6% in attention
Imaging Correlates:
- DTI revealed increased white matter integrity
- SPECT imaging showed a +15.9% increase in cerebral perfusion across motor and frontal regions
These findings illustrate how HBOT can reactivate dormant but viable brain tissue, improving metabolic recovery and neuroplasticity. With NeuroTrax, clinicians were able to quantify cognitive gains with objective, reproducible data, aligning improvements across functional, cognitive, and imaging measures.
Another case involved a 62-year-old woman with treatment-resistant fibromyalgia linked to early trauma and persistent for over a decade. After 60 HBOT sessions over 12 weeks, researchers tracked changes using NeuroTrax, MRI-DTI, and SPECT imaging [3].
Clinical Improvements:
- Pain reduction (FIQR score decreased from 60.5 → 44)
- Discontinued Lyrica and reduced Cymbalta by 50%
- Improved sleep and physical endurance
Cognitive Outcomes (measured by NeuroTrax):
- +10% in global cognitive function
- +26.9% in attention
Imaging Findings:
- Enhanced cerebral perfusion in areas related to memory, emotion, and motor control
- Increased white matter integrity
Beyond symptom relief, these results demonstrated true neuroplastic change, repairing dysfunctional brain networks and improving both cognitive and emotional regulation.
Across both conditions, NeuroTrax provided data-driven evidence of neurological improvement, bridging subjective recovery with measurable cognitive and anatomical outcomes. When paired with neuroimaging modalities like SPECT and DTI, NeuroTrax enables clinicians to correlate clinical progress with quantifiable brain activity, strengthening the evidence base for personalized neurorehabilitation.
As the 2025 review illustrates, a standardized, validated assessment approach exemplified by NeuroTrax not only improves methodological consistency but also supports the development of specialized cognitive protocols tailored to specific patient populations as HBOT research evolves.
The integration of HBOT and NeuroTrax marks a turning point in neurological recovery, shifting from symptom management to measurable brain restoration. Together, they allow clinicians to track and validate cognitive and neurophysiological improvements, offering a framework for long-term, evidence-based treatment.
Contact us to learn how NeuroTrax can bring objective, data-driven insights to your clinical practice.
References
[1] Torp, M., Strøm, C., Arenkiel, B., Miskowiak, K., Norup, A., Efrati, S. and Hyldegaard, O. (2025). Cognitive assessment in the context of hyperbaric oxygen: A scoping review, Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology. PMID: 41251096
[2] Khairy, S., Mouzayan, G., Wang, Z., Qureshi, U., Zaitoun, R., and Efrati, S. (2025). Anatomical and metabolic brain imaging correlation of neurological improvements following hyperbaric oxygen therapy—post-stroke recovery: A case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports, 19:493. PMID: 41068989
[3] Mouzayan, G., Khairy, S., Wang, Z., Qureshi, U., Zaitoun, R., and Efrati, S. (2025). Efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in treating fibromyalgia linked to childhood trauma after late-onset and over a decade of symptoms: A case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports, 19:386. PMID: 40765001
