Effect of neurofeedback training on auditory evoked potentials’ late components reaction time: A placebocontrol study

Abstract

Background/Aim. Sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) neurofeedback training contributes to improving cognitive performance, increasing attention. SMR power is increased when a person is focused and task-oriented. The shorter reaction time of the P300 evoked potentials (AEPs) are associated with better attention. Hence, the increase in SMR power after NFB SMR training should decrease the reaction time in a cognitive task. This study aimed to examine the ability of healthy individuals to modulate the sensorimotor (SM) rhythm of electroencephalographic activity between 12 and 15 Hz during 20-day neurofeedback (NFB) training sessions. In addition, the effect of NFB sensorimotor rhythm training on reaction time (RT) was investigated. Methods. Participants were divided into control and experimental groups, with 24 subjects (12 males) aged between 25 and 40 years. Participants in the experimental group were trained with authentic SM rhythm NFB training, while in the control group false (placebo) training was applied. Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were registered on 5 occasions: before NFB training, after 5, 10, and 20 training sessions, and one month after the last training. Results. The results showed that a series of 20 SM rhythm NFB training increases the amplitudes of the SM rhythm. RT in the experimental group was significantly shortened, while in the control group it was not observed. Also, the increase in the power of the EEG signal of the SM rhythm showed a negative correlation with RT, but only in a subgroup of male subjects. Conclusion. The obtained results indicate the effects of NFB training on the improvement of the attention process expressed by reaction time.