Abstract
Impaired facial processing may contribute to social dysfunction in certain individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Prior studies show that electroencephalogram-based and functional magnetic resonance imaging-based neurofeedback might help some individuals with ASD learn to modulate regional brain activity and thus reduce symptoms. Here, we report for the first time the feasibility of employing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-based neurofeedback training in children with ASD. We developed a method to study physiological self-regulation of oxy-hemoglobin using real-time feedback. The paradigm is illustrated with initial data from four subjects who engaged in a facial-identity recognition training program during which an implicit reinforcement was given based on the participant's brain activity and behavioral performance. Two participants had a confirmed diagnosis of ASD, and the other two were typically developing (TD). One participant with ASD and one TD participant received real-feedback (real-FB) during the training, whereas the other two received sham-feedback (sham-FB). After five training sessions, the subjects who received real-FB showed more improvement in facial recognition performance compared with those receiving sham-FB, particularly in the participant with ASD. These results suggest fNIRS-based neurofeedback could enhance therapeutic intervention in children with ASD.
Highlights
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders including what was previously known as autistic disorder, Rett disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, and Asperger disorder.[1]
Hemodynamic brain activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) was measured and fed back in 12 training sessions. They compared the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neurofeedback with EEG-neurofeedback and EMG-feedback, and the results showed a significant reduction in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in the fNIRS group but not in EEG and EMG groups
We report, for the first time, the feasibility of using fNIRS-based neurofeedback training for children with ASD
Summary
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders including what was previously known as autistic disorder, Rett disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, and Asperger disorder.[1]. Studies show that with real-time feedback of neural signals, subjects can learn to modulate regional brain activity and potentially reduce medical symptoms such as pain,[2] or improve symptoms of autism.[3,4,5,6,7] Since the 1960s,8,9 electroencephalogram (EEG) has been used to provide instantaneous feedback to allow human subjects to develop control of brain activity In recent decades, this has been extended to several other neuroimaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)[10,11,12] and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).[13,14] Functional NIRS-based feedback has several advantages over EEG- and fMRI-based neurofeedback. FNIRS-based neurofeedback intervention is more cost-effective than using fMRI, especially considering that this type of intervention generally involves several training sessions
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