Abstract
Neurofeedback training (NFT) has been widely used to alter the brain activity to enhance the brain function. This study aimed to apply neurofeedback to enhance the cognitive performance in elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) by focusing on alpha wave in the neurofeedback training as it is positively associated with cognitive decline in elderly. 10 subjects who passed the criteria were assigned to experimental and control group. With 15 sessions of alpha neurofeedback, increase in alpha absolute power was rewarded while simultaneous suppression of theta and beta2 were done in experimental group. Results showed that after completion of neurofeedback, all subjects in experimental group learn to increase their alpha absolute power while mixed result was recorded for suppression of theta and high beta either at individual, inter and intra group level. Cognitive results in individual level revealed that pattern of increase and decrease of score was regular in experimental group and at grouped level, significant increment observed in Digit Span and Symbol Search in experimental group only. These results suggest that MCI elderly could learn to increase specific components of EEG activity that such enhanced activity may facilitate in working memory and processing speed enhancement.
Highlights
Cognitive performance of elderly will decline with age and this make them more susceptible to get age related cognitive impairment disease such as mild cognitive impairment and even worse it may lead to dementia [1,2]
Peak alpha frequency (PAF) and alpha amplitude were inhibited and enhanced in two different arrangements in 35-38 sessions; (i) peak alpha frequency (PAF) inhibited, alpha amplitude rewarded (ii) PAF rewarded, alpha amplitude inhibited with one mock feedback control
The effect of neurofeedback might be more robust in terms of absolute power changes and cognitive results if the numbers of sessions are increased
Summary
Cognitive performance of elderly will decline with age and this make them more susceptible to get age related cognitive impairment disease such as mild cognitive impairment and even worse it may lead to dementia [1,2]. A highlight on alpha and theta rhythms are given because individuals with greater cognitive impairment present a greater amount of theta activity than is normal in aging individuals [7,8] significant reduction alpha frequency is responsible for slowing down processing speed and memory in particular [9]. Another study of alpha training [10] depicted it was possible to increase alpha power even in short period in elderly despite of their aging condition. The study was carried out with 30 participants of elderly individuals (65-85 year-old) in which they were trained in 4 sessions (30 minutes per session) in a week to increase in upper-alpha (10–12 Hz) power while inhibiting theta (4–7 Hz). Significant increase in alpha power was seen in 8/10 and increase in alpha/theta ratio while there was a non-significant decrease in theta seen
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