Efficacy Of Neurofeedback Training Research Articles

Individual Sensory Modality Dominance as an Influential Factor in the Prefrontal Neurofeedback Training for Spatial Processing: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study.

Neurofeedback is a neuromodulation technique used to improve brain function by self-regulating brain activity. However, the efficacy of neurofeedback training varies widely between individuals, and some participants fail to self-regulate brain activity. To overcome intersubject variation in neurofeedback training efficacy, it is critical to identify the factors that influence this type of neuromodulation. In this study, we considered that individual differences in cognitive ability may influence neurofeedback training efficacy and aimed to clarify the effect of individual working memory (WM) abilities, as characterized by sensory modality dominance, on neurofeedback training efficacy in healthy young adults. In particular, we focused on the abilities of individuals to retain internal (tactile or somatosensory) or external (visual) body information in their WM. Forty participants performed functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based neurofeedback training aimed at producing efficient and lower-level activity in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and frontopolar cortex. We carried out a randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind study that compared WM ability before and after neurofeedback training. Individual WM ability was quantified using a target searching task that required the participants to retain spatial information presented as vibrotactile or visual stimuli. Participants who received feedback information based on their own prefrontal activity showed gradually decreasing activity in the right prefrontal area during the neurofeedback training and demonstrated superior WM ability during the target searching task with vibrotactile stimuli compared with the participants who performed dummy neurofeedback training. In comparison, left prefrontal activity was not influenced by the neurofeedback training. Furthermore, the efficacy of neurofeedback training (i.e., lower right prefrontal activity and better searching task performance) was higher in participants who exhibited tactile dominance rather than visual dominance in their WM. These findings indicate that sensory modality dominance in WM may be an influential neurophysiological factor in determining the efficacy of neurofeedback training. These results may be useful in the development of neurofeedback training protocols tailored to individual needs.

Review of Neuropsychological and Electrophysiological Correlates of Callous-unemotional Traits in Children: Implications for EEG Neurofeedback Intervention.

Conduct disorder is a significant psychiatric disorder of childhood and adolescence. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth version (DSM-5), added the limited prosocial specifier to identify those individuals who exhibit a more severe pattern of behavior characterized by a callous and unemotional (CU) interpersonal style across multiple settings and relationships. This review has attempted to summarize the relevant research focusing on the significance of CU interpersonal style in the development of psychopathy. The primary focus was on the electrophysiological and neuropsychological correlates of CU traits and their implication on the treatment protocol using neurofeedback training for children with such traits. The source of the literature search was PubMed, which majorly uses the MEDLINE database. The keywords used included CU traits, conduct disorder, child psychopathy, empathy, electrophysiology, criminal behavior, neuropsychology, neurofeedback training, and so on. Studies from the last 15 years were considered for the review. This review revealed that children with conduct disorder and high-CU traits with a combination of reactive and proactive aggression are more likely to develop psychopathy. Evidence suggests that these children have distinct forms of electrophysiological and neuropsychological correlates. However, research in this area is still not conclusive as they yield variation in findings. Studies on the efficacy of neurofeedback training on reducing symptoms such as impulsivity, hostility, and psychopathy indicate that neurofeedback training can be a promising treatment alternative for children with severe conduct disorder.

An Analysis of the Efficacy of Neurofeedback Training as an Intervention for Reading Disorders

An Analysis of the Efficacy of Neurofeedback Training as an Intervention for Reading Disorders

EEG-based neurofeedback training with shoulder exoskeleton robot assistance triggered by the contralesional primary motor cortex activity in poststroke patients with severe chronic hemiplegia

Recent clinical studies have shown that electroencephalogram- (EEG) based neurofeedback training promotes functional recovery of finger movements in poststroke patients (Pichiorri F et al., Ann Neurol. 2015). However, impairment of shoulder elevation in poststroke severe chronic hemiplegia is a debilitating condition with no evidence-based, accessible treatment. To verify motor recovery evidence of neurofeedback training with our shoulder exoskeleton robot, this study reports upper extremity section of Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA-UE) associated with the evaluation of up-conditioning of contralesional corticospinal pathways. Eight poststroke patients with severe hemiplegia in the chronic stage were recruited (FMA-UE score = 16.8 ± 4.4). Patients engaged in 1 hour daily training for 7 consecutive days ( Fig. 1 ), and clinical and neurophysiological measurements were performed 1 day before and after the intervention. FMA-UE was used for the primary outcome measure. A 128-channel whole-head EEG was used to assess the hemispheric lateralization of event-related desynchronization (ERD). Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to the contralesional primary motor cortex to assess the corticospinal excitability in 6 tested patients. All participants finished the intervention without adverse events. FMA-UE was significantly improved after the intervention (paired t -test, P < 0.01). All patients demonstrated improved FMA-UE (mean change = 6.6 ± 3.2) and 6 of 8 patients exceeded the minimal clinically important difference that is set to 5. From the group analysis of hemispheric lateralization of ERD, the contralesional ERD became stronger after interventions (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, P < 0.01). Motor evoked potentials became more apparent after interventions in 3 of the 6 tested patients. The results from this study demonstrated targeted up-conditioning of contralesional corticospinal pathways and efficacy of neurofeedback training with our shoulder exoskeleton robot.

1Controlled evaluation of a neurofeedback training of slow cortical potentials in children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

BackgroundAlthough several promising studies on neurofeedback training in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have been performed in recent years, the specificity of positive treatment effects continues to be challenged.MethodsTo evaluate the specificity of a neurofeedback training of slow cortical potentials, a twofold strategy was pursued: First, the efficacy of neurofeedback training was compared to a group training program for children with ADHD. Secondly, the extent of improvements observed in the neurofeedback group in relation to successful regulation of cortical activation was examined. Parents and teachers rated children's behaviour and executive functions before and after treatment. In addition, children underwent neuropsychological testing before and after training.ResultsAccording to parents' and teachers' ratings, children of the neurofeedback training group improved more than children who had participated in a group therapy program, particularly in attention and cognition related domains. On neuropsychological measures children of both groups showed similar improvements. However, only about half of the neurofeedback group learned to regulate cortical activation during a transfer condition without direct feedback. Behavioural improvements of this subgroup were moderately related to neurofeedback training performance, whereas effective parental support accounted better for some advantages of neurofeedback training compared to group therapy according to parents' and teachers' ratings.ConclusionThere is a specific training effect of neurofeedback of slow cortical potentials due to enhanced cortical control. However, non-specific factors, such as parental support, may also contribute to the positive behavioural effects induced by the neurofeedback training.

Efficacy of Neurofeedback for Children in the Autistic Spectrum: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Background. The efficacy of neurofeedback training was evaluated in 12 children in the autistic spectrum with matched controls, based on established training protocols for other conditions with similar symptoms. Method. Twenty-four autistic children were divided into two groups, matched by sex, age, and disorder severity. One group received neurofeedback training and the second acted as a control group. Responses to the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklists (ATEC) and parental assessments of problem behaviors were analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of neurofeedback training for this condition. Results. Neurofeedback training resulted in a 26% average reduction in total ATEC rated autism symptoms, compared to 3% for the control group. Parental assessments reported improvement in all behavioral categories: socialization, vocalization, anxiety, schoolwork, tantrums, and sleep, compared with minimal changes in the control group. Discussion. Autistic spectrum children who underwent neurofeedback ...