Zlatkova, Kerson, Sherman, and Bendinskas · 2026
Measuring stress before and after Alpha/Theta training
Pre/post pilot study · 11 adults with generalized anxiety disorder · 24 sessions
What the study found
After Alpha/Theta training, participants reported significant reductions in perceived stress and anxiety. Self-ratings also suggested improvements in resilience and emotional well-being.
Researchers measured hair cortisol as an indicator of longer-term stress exposure. Eight participants had lower cortisol after training, but the overall change across the 10 participants with cortisol data was not statistically significant.
The Alpha/Theta protocol
The 24-session protocol tracked Alpha/Theta training alongside psychological outcomes and a biological stress marker.
Why it matters for chronic stress
These early findings concern generalized anxiety disorder. With no control group, the pilot cannot establish treatment causality or cortisol normalization.
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