Abstract
Cognitive and neurofeedback training (NFT) studies have demonstrated that training-induced alterations of frontal-midline (FM) theta activity (4–8 Hz) transfer to cognitive control processes. Given that FM theta oscillations are assumed to provide top-down control for episodic memory retrieval, especially for source retrieval, that is, accurate recollection of contextual details of prior episodes, the present study investigated whether FM theta NFT transfers to memory control processes. It was assessed (1) whether FM theta NFT improves source retrieval and modulates its underlying EEG characteristics and (2) whether this transfer extends over two posttests. Over seven NFT sessions, the training group who trained individual FM theta activity showed greater FM theta increase than an active control group who trained randomly chosen frequency bands. The training group showed better source retrieval in a posttraining session performed 13 days after NFT and their performance increases from pre- to both posttraining sessions were predicted by NFT theta increases. Thus, training-induced enhancement of memory control processes seems to protect newly formed memories from proactive interference of previously learned information. EEG analyses revealed that during pretest both groups showed source memory specific theta activity at frontal and parietal sites. Surprisingly, training-induced improvements in source retrieval tended to be accompanied by less prestimulus FM theta activity, which was predicted by NFT theta change for the training but not the control group, suggesting a more efficient use of memory control processes after training. The present findings provide unique evidence for the enhancement of memory control processes by FM theta NFT.
Highlights
The adult brain shows remarkable capacity for plasticity evidenced by transfer from working memory (WM) or multi-tasking training to other cognitive control processes (Anguera and Gazzaley, 2015; Kelly and Garavan, 2005; Lövdén et al, 2010)
We assessed whether FM theta neurofeedback training (NFT) transfers to source memory performance for information newly learned after training and its underlying EEG characteristics
Seven NFT sessions of individually defined theta band ranges led to FM theta increase in the training group compared to an active control group that was matched on all relevant aspects but received feedback for frequency bands that were randomly chosen for each session (Fig. 3)
Summary
The adult brain shows remarkable capacity for plasticity evidenced by transfer from working memory (WM) or multi-tasking training to other cognitive control processes (Anguera and Gazzaley, 2015; Kelly and Garavan, 2005; Lövdén et al, 2010). Training gains of a multi-tasking training in elderly were shown to be accompanied by an increase of frontal-midline (FM) theta activity (4–8 Hz) that predicted transfer to performance in untrained attention and WM tasks (Anguera et al, 2013). Assuming that both functional and neural overlap are reflected in shared EEG dynamics, transfer should occur if training alters task specific oscillatory activity. Cognitive and neurofeedback training show transfer to cognitive control processes, it remains unclear whether training-induced upregulation of FM theta oscillations transfers to memory control processes that are required for the coordination of encoding and retrieval in episodic memory
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