Sensorimotor Rhythm Training Research Articles

Sensorimotor rhythm neurofeedback training and auditory perception

Background/Aim. In everyday communication, people are exposed to a myriad of sounds that need to be sorted and relevant information extracted. The ability of a person to concentrate on certain sounds in a noisy background environment, perform selective attention, and focus their auditory attention is crucial for everyday functioning and communication. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) (12?15 Hz) neurofeedback (NFB) training to improve auditory cognition measured by the achievements in the Quick speech-in-noise (QuickSIN) test, changes in the amplitudes and latencies of components of auditory evoked potentials (AEP) N100, N200, and P300 in the auditory oddball discrimination task, and changes in the spectral power of the SMR. Methods. The study included 16 healthy participants aged 25?40 years (8 males and 8 females). Each participant had 20 daily sessions of SMR NFB training. Auditory cognitive functions and electrophysiological correlates of cognitive processing were recorded 5 times ? before NFB, after 5, 10, and 20 sessions, and one month after the last session of NFB. Re-sults. The results showed a statistically significant decrease in N200 and P300 latencies at frontal midline (Fz), central midline (Cz), and parietal midline (Pz) regions, an improvement on the QuickSIN test, and an increase in electroencephalogram SMR rhythm spectral power in the Cz region as a result of the NFB SMR training. No significant effect of the NFB training on the N100, N200, and P300 amplitudes on Fz, Cz, and Pz was found. Conclusion. The obtained results suggest that SMR NFB affects auditory perception in terms of shorter latencies of AEP and better performance on the QuickSIN test.

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

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.

Believing is achieving - On the role of treatment expectation in neurofeedback applications

In neurofeedback applications, neural activity is recorded, processed in real-time and fed back to the user in order to facilitate self-regulation of the putative neural mechanisms that underlie cognition and behavior. Numerous studies suggest that neurofeedback interventions are an efficacious treatment particularly for patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In recent years, however, findings of several well-controlled studies raised doubts concerning the proposed mechanism of action behind the behavioral effect of neurofeedback. This study investigated the impact of expectation on the efficacy of a sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) training. In a within-subjects design 30 blinded volunteers with ADHD symptoms received a standard SMR training session after inducing no (no-expectancy condition), positive (placebo condition), and negative (nocebo condition) expectations regarding the effectiveness of neurofeedback (by telling them that they would train a specific frequency band that was previously shown to be either unrelated to attention, should improve attention, or interfere with attentional processes). After each training, participants were presented with a cognitive test and subsequently requested to rate their performance on it. We could show that participants were able to successfully modify their EEG signal during training. Further, we found an effect over trainings on objective attentional performance. Most importantly, we found that the expectancy of positive or negative treatment effects considerably changed participants' perception of neurofeedback's efficacy even in the absence of any objective evidence. This study presents strong first evidence for a substantial effect of self-confirming response expectancies as one factor underlying the efficacy of neurofeedback. Future research has to carefully consider the impact of such psychosocial mechanisms when evaluating the (specific) efficacy of neuromodulatory treatments.

BCI-based sensorimotor rhythm training can affect individuated finger movements

ABSTRACT Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology can restore communication and control to people who are severely paralyzed. BCI technology might also be able to enhance rehabilitation of motor function. We have previously shown that pre-movement sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) amplitude affects reaction time and performance on a joystick-based cursor movement task. The present study explores in adults without motor impairment the possibility that pre-movement SMR amplitude affects performance of individuated finger movements. In Phase 1, 8 individuals performed a finger flexion task that was monitored by an exoskeleton. During a 1-sec preparatory period, two colored targets on a video monitor cued flexion of the index finger, middle finger, both fingers, or neither finger; sudden color change then triggered the movement (or non-movement). SMR features (i.e. EEG amplitudes in specific frequency bands at specific scalp locations) in the pre-movement EEG that correlated with movement versus no movement were identified. In Phase 2, the participants learned to increase or decrease these SMR features to control a two-target BCI task. Finally, in Phase 3, they were asked to increase or decrease the SMR features to initiate the finger flexion task of Phase 1 and the impact on finger flexion performance was assessed. After BCI training, pre-movement SMR feature amplitude affected performance in a subset of individuals: lower amplitude was associated with shorter movement onset. In a subset of individuals, the beneficial effect on performance of lower SMR amplitude was greater when both fingers were flexed than when one was flexed and the other remained extended; thus, the impact of SMR amplitude modulation depended on the specificity of the subsequent motor task. These results indicate that BCI-based training of SMR activity in the pre-movement preparatory period can affect finger movements in a subset of individuals. They encourage studies that integrate such training into rehabilitation protocols and examine its capacity to enhance restoration of useful hand function.

Self-Regulation of SMR Power Led to an Enhancement of Functional Connectivity of Somatomotor Cortices in Fibromyalgia Patients.

Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that altered activity in somatosensory and motor cortices play a key role in pain chronification. Neurofeedback training of sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) is a tool which allow individuals to self-modulate their brain activity and to produce significant changes over somatomotor brain areas. Several studies have further shown that neurofeedback training may reduce pain and other pain-related symptoms in chronic pain patients. The goal of the present study was to analyze changes in SMR power and brain functional connectivity of the somatosensory and motor cortices elicited by neurofeedback task designed to both synchronize and desynchronize the SMR power over motor and somatosensory areas in fibromyalgia patients. Seventeen patients were randomly assigned to the SMR training (n = 9) or to a sham protocol (n = 8). All participants were trained during 6 sessions, and fMRI and EEG power elicited by synchronization and desynchronization trials were analyzed. In the SMR training group, four patients achieved the objective of SMR modulation in more than 70% of the trials from the second training session (good responders), while five patients performed the task at the chance level (bad responders). Good responders to the neurofeedback training significantly reduced pain and increased both SMR power modulation and functional connectivity of motor and somatosensory related areas during the last neurofeedback training session, whereas no changes in brain activity or pain were observed in bad responders or participants in the sham group. In addition, we observed that good responders were characterized by reduced impact of fibromyalgia and pain symptoms, as well as by increased levels of health-related quality of life during the pre-training sessions. In summary, the present study revealed that neurofeedback training of SMR elicited significant brain changes in somatomotor areas leading to a significant reduction of pain in fibromyalgia patients. In this sense, our research provide evidence that neurofeedback training is a promising tool for a better understanding of brain mechanisms involved in pain chronification.

Neurofeedback impacts cognition and quality of life in pediatric focal epilepsy: An exploratory randomized double-blinded sham-controlled trial

ObjectiveChildren with epilepsy experience cognitive deficits and well-being issues that have detrimental effects on their development. Pharmacotherapy is the standard of care in epilepsy; however, few interventions exist to promote cognitive development and to mitigate disease burden. We aimed to examine the impact of two different modalities of neurofeedback (NFB) on cognitive functioning and quality-of-life (QOL) measurements in children and adolescents with controlled focal epilepsy. The study also explored the effects of NFB on clinical outcomes and electroencephalography (EEG) quantitative analysis. MethodsParticipants (n = 44) with controlled focal epilepsy were randomized to one of three arms: sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) NFB (n = 15), slow cortical potentials (SCP) NFB (n = 16), or sham NFB (n = 13). All participants received 25 sessions of intervention. The attention switching task (AST), Liverpool Seizure Severity Scale (LSSS), seizure frequency (SF), EEG power spectrum, and coherence were measured at baseline, postintervention, and at 3-month follow-up. ResultsIn children and adolescents with controlled focal epilepsy, SMR training significantly reduced reaction time in the AST (p = 0.006), and this was correlated with the difference of change for theta power on EEG (p = 0.03); only the SMR group showed a significant decrease in beta coherence (p = 0.03). All groups exhibited improvement in QOL (p = <0.05). ConclusionsThis study provides the first data on two NFB modalities (SMR and SCP) including cognitive, neurophysiological, and clinical outcomes in pediatric epilepsy. Sensorimotor rhythm NFB improved cognitive functioning, while all the interventions showed improvements in QOL, demonstrating a powerful placebo effect in the sham group.

Power Spectral Density and Functional Connectivity Changes due to a Sensorimotor Neurofeedback Training: A Preliminary Study.

Neurofeedback is a form of neuromodulation based on learning to modify some aspects of cortical activity. Sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) oscillation is one of the most used frequency bands in neurofeedback. Several studies have shown that subjects can learn to modulate SMR power to control output devices, but little is known about possible related changes in brain networks. The aim of this study was to investigate the enhanced performance and changes in EEG power spectral density at somatosensory cerebral areas due to a bidirectional modulation-based SMR neurofeedback training. Furthermore, we also analyzed the functional changes in somatosensory areas during resting state induced by the training as exploratory procedure. A six-session neurofeedback protocol based on learning to synchronize and desynchronize (modulate) the SMR was implemented. Moreover, half of the participants were enrolled in two functional magnetic resonance imaging resting-state sessions (before and after the training). At the end of the training, participants showed a successful performance enhancement, an increase in SMR power specific to somatosensory locations, and higher functional connectivity between areas associated with somatosensory activity in resting state. Our research increases the better understanding of the relation between EEG neuromodulation and functional changes and the use of SMR training in clinical practice.

Neurofeedback of SMR and Beta1 Frequencies: An Investigation of Learning Indices and Frequency-Specific Effects

Despite evidence that Sensorimotor Rhythm (SMR) and beta1 neurofeedback have distinct cognitive enhancement effects, it remains unclear whether their amplitudes can be independently enhanced. Furthermore, demands for top-down attention control, postural restraint and maintenance of cognitive set processes, all requiring low-beta frequencies, might masquerade as learning and confound interpretation. The feasibility of selectively enhancing SMR and beta1 amplitudes was investigated with the addition of a random frequency control condition that also requires the potentially confounding cognitive processes. A comprehensive approach to assessing neurofeedback learning was undertaken through the calculation of learning indices within- and across-session and pre-to-post baseline. Herein we provide the first demonstration of beta1 within-session amplitude learning that was not attributable to extraneous cognitive processes, for it was not found with random frequency training. On the other hand, within-session SMR learning might have been obscured by high interindividual variability and methodological limitations such as the type of feedback screen, the insufficient number of sessions, and the exclusion of simultaneous theta and high-beta inhibition. Interestingly, SMR and beta1 amplitude increased across sessions in the three groups suggesting unspecific effects of neurofeedback in the low beta frequency band. Moreover, there was no clear evidence of frequency specificity associated with either SMR or beta1 training. Some methodological limitations may underpin the divergent results with previous studies.

Effects of training pre-movement sensorimotor rhythms on behavioral performance

Objective. Brain–computer interface (BCI) technology might contribute to rehabilitation of motor function. This speculation is based on the premise that modifying the electroencephalographic (EEG) activity will modify behavior, a proposition for which there is limited empirical data. The present study asked whether learned modulation of pre-movement sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) activity can affect motor performance in normal human subjects. Approach. Eight individuals first performed a joystick-based cursor-movement task with variable warning periods. Targets appeared randomly on a video monitor and subjects moved the cursor to the target and pressed a select button within 2 s. SMR features in the pre-movement EEG that correlated with performance speed and accuracy were identified. The subjects then learned to increase or decrease these features to control a two-target BCI task. Following successful BCI training, they were asked to increase or decrease SMR amplitude in order to initiate the joystick task. Main results. After BCI training, pre-movement SMR amplitude was correlated with performance in subjects with initial poor performance: lower amplitude was associated with faster and more accurate movement. The beneficial effect on performance of lower SMR amplitude was greater in subjects with lower initial performance levels. Significance. These results indicate that BCI-based SMR training can affect a standard motor behavior. They provide a rationale for studies that integrate such training into rehabilitation protocols and examine its capacity to enhance restoration of useful motor function.

Brain volumetry and self-regulation of brain activity relevant for neurofeedback

Neurofeedback is a technique to learn to control brain signals by means of real time feedback. In the present study, the individual ability to learn two EEG neurofeedback protocols – sensorimotor rhythm and gamma rhythm – was related to structural properties of the brain. The volumes in the anterior insula bilaterally, left thalamus, right frontal operculum, right putamen, right middle frontal gyrus, and right lingual gyrus predicted the outcomes of sensorimotor rhythm training. Gray matter volumes in the supplementary motor area and left middle frontal gyrus predicted the outcomes of gamma rhythm training. These findings combined with further evidence from the literature are compatible with the existence of a more general self-control network, which through self-referential and self-control processes regulates neurofeedback learning.

1494 Neurofeedback as a Treatment of Tics in Children

ObjectTics are involuntary, sudden, rapid, recurrent, stereotyped motor movements or phonic productions that involve discrete muscle groups. Pharmacological treatment was considered as the most effective approach for tics management for...

Comparison of Discrete-Trial-Based SMR and SCP Training and the Interrelationship Between SCP and SMR Networks: Implications for Brain–Computer Interfaces and Neurofeedback

ABSTRACT Background. Operant conditioning of one's slow cortical potential (SCP) or sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) can be used to control epilepsy or to manipulate external devices, as applied in BCI (Brain-Computer Interface). A commonly accepted view that both SCP and SMR are reflections of central arousal suggests a functional relationship between SCP and SMR networks. Method. The operant conditioning of SCP or SMR was tested with a single electroencephalographic (EEG) channel wireless biofeedback system. A series of trainings taught 19 participants to control SCP or SMR over vertex during 20 neurofeedback sessions. Each session consisted of 96 trials to decrease cortical arousal (SCP positivity/SMR enhancement) and 64 trials to increase cortical arousal (SCP negativity/SMR suppression). In each trial, participants were required to exceed an individual threshold level of the feedback parameter relative to a 500-msec prefeedback baseline and to hold this level for 2 sec (SCP) or 0.5 sec (SMR) to obtain reinf...

NEUROFEEDBACK TRAINING IN A CASE OF ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

Abstract Electroencephalographic biofeedback, also known as neurofeedback, has been used to improve attention in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In the present case study, a ten-year-old boy completed 37 sessions of neurofeedback training over a six-month period on-site in a school setting. Beta brainwave training was applied for sessions 1 – 22 and replaced by sensorimotor rhythm training for sessions 23 – 37. A review of his national achievement test scores for four years revealed he improved performance the year he received neurofeedback and the gain was lost the year after treatment was completed. The participant had been receiving methylphenidate for the previous two years and remained on the medication throughout neurofeedback and for the year after neurofeedback treatment. Findings are suggestive of the advantages of incorporating neurofeedback training as part of a multimodal treatment program in a school setting for children with ADHD.