The science behind Nervana

From clinical research
to your everyday life

Behind the scenes, Nervana combines neuroplasticity research, human clinical guidance, and your personal context to create a simple app with step-by-step, action-oriented coaching.

Inside Nervana AI Explore the research

01 / Inside Nervana AI

Under the hood
of Nervana AI

Our proprietary coaching architecture brings a research-informed knowledge base, personal memory, and human clinical guidance into each conversation.

The Nervana coaching architecture

Clinical researchA knowledge base of research, lessons & coaching guidance
Personal memoryYour experiences, reflections & preferences
Clinical expertiseClinical guidance reviewed by our medical advisorsDavid Clarke, MDDavid Schechter, MDMark Bonta, MD, FRCPCMeet our advisors
Nervana AI coachPersonalized, action-oriented coaching
Designed around medical & emotional safety

Shaped by real conversations

25,678

minutes of voice conversations

As of September 15, 2026

More conversations
More context

Personal memories help the coach build on your story. De-identified conversation patterns help our team improve its guidance over time.

  1. Conversation insights
  2. Human review
  3. Approved knowledge-base updates
How we handle your information

02 / The foundations

The clinical research
behind Nervana AI

Three studies behind our approach to pain education, emotional awareness, and practical change.

01PRT

Change the response to pain and other symptoms

Learn about pain and practice responding to familiar sensations with less fear.

Pain Reprocessing Therapy

Ashar et al. · 2022
Study & findings

Ashar et al. · JAMA Psychiatry · 2022 (online 2021)

Randomized trial · 151 adults with primary chronic back pain

After treatment, 66% of participants assigned to PRT reported being pain-free or nearly pain-free, compared with 20% receiving placebo and 10% receiving usual care. Benefits were largely maintained at one year.

This was a clinician-delivered treatment for primary chronic back pain. It did not test Nervana or every cause of chronic pain.

Read the original study
02PSRT

Connect the patterns

Explore how stress, learned responses, and everyday experiences relate to symptoms.

Psychophysiologic Symptom Relief Therapy

Donnino et al. · 2021
Study & findings

Donnino et al. · Pain Reports · 2021

Randomized pilot · 35 adults included in the analysis

This small trial in nonspecific chronic back pain found greater improvements in disability and pain bothersomeness with PSRT than with mindfulness-based stress reduction or usual care.

A small pilot provides preliminary evidence. Larger trials are needed, and the results do not establish how well an app delivers these principles.

Read the original study
03EAET

Make room for emotions

Notice internal pressure and explore emotional expression at a manageable pace.

Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy

Yarns et al. · 2024
Study & findings

Yarns et al. · JAMA Network Open · 2024

Randomized trial · 126 older veterans with musculoskeletal pain

At the end of treatment, 63% of participants assigned to EAET reported at least a 30% reduction in pain, compared with 17% receiving cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Participants were predominantly male veterans aged 60–95, receiving in-person therapy. Results may not generalize to other populations or app-based coaching.

Read the original study

These studies examined the therapeutic approaches used in Nervana, but did not evaluate the app directly.

03 / Research on Nervana

Our research

Studies and publications from Nervana, starting with our PAINWeek presentation.

Nervana PAINWeek poster: early real-world symptom trends and perceived helpfulness

Scientific poster · PAINWeek 2026

An AI-Guided Brain-Body Program for Chronic Pain and Persistent Symptoms

Early real-world symptom trends and perceived helpfulness among people using Nervana.

Nora Rodden, MS, MBA & David Clarke, MD

Read the full poster

An observational study with self-reported outcomes and no control group. See the poster for methods and disclosures.

Put understanding into practice

Bring the science into your day

Explore Nervana

Are you a provider?

Refer a patient or request free access to explore Nervana yourself

Visit our provider page