Introduction Findings of recent studies indicate that it is possible to enhance cognitive capacities of healthy individuals by means of individual upper alpha neurofeedback training (NFT). Although these results are promising, most of this research was conducted based on high-priced EEG systems developed for clinical and research purposes. This study addresses the question whether such effects can also be shown with an easy to use and comparably low-priced Emotiv Epoc EEG headset available for the average consumer. In addition, critical voices were raised regarding the control group designs of studies addressing the link between neurofeedback training and cognitive performance. Based on an extensive literature review revealing considerable methodological issues in an important part of the existing research, the present study addressed the question whether individual upper alpha neurofeedback has a positive effect on alpha amplitudes (i.e. increases alpha amplitudes) and short-term memory performance focussing on a methodologically sound, single-blinded, sham controlled design. Method Participants (N = 33) took part in four test sessions over four consecutive days of either neurofeedback training (NFT group) or sham feedback (SF group). In the NFT group, five three-minute periods of visual neurofeedback training were administered each day whereas in the SF group (control group), the same amount of sham feedback was presented. Performance on eight digit-span tests as well as participants’ affective states were assessed before and after each of the daily training sessions. Results NFT did not show an effect on individual upper alpha and cognitive performance. While performance increased in both groups over the course of time, this effect could not be explained by changes in individual upper alpha. Additional analyses however revealed that participants in the NFT group showed faster and larger increase in alpha compared to the SF group. Surprisingly, exploratory analyses showed a significant correlation between the initial alpha level and the alpha improvement during the course of the study. This finding suggests that participants with high initial alpha levels benefit more from alpha NFT interventions. In the discussion, the appearance of the alpha enhancement in the SF group and possible reasons for the absence of a connection between NFT and short-term memory are addressed.
Background Binge Eating Disorder (BED) represents a common eating disorder associated with marked health impairments. A subclinical variant, loss of control eating (LOC) is prevalent in youth. LOC is associated with similar mental distress as full-blown BED, increases the risk to develop a BED and promotes continuous weight gain. The etiology of LOC is not yet fully understood and specialized treatment for youth is scarce. Methods The i-BEAT study includes a cross-sectional and longitudinal online questionnaire study (N = 600), an App based daily-life approach and a laboratory virtual reality study in N = 60 youths (14–24 years) with and without LOC as well as a controlled randomized online treatment trial to investigate the feasibility, acceptance and efficacy of a CBT and an interpersonal emotion regulation module for youth (N = 120). The primary outcomes include self-reported as well as measured (heart rate variability, gaze behavior, reaction times in stop signal task) associations between emotion regulation problems (such as dealing with RS), psychological impairment and binge eating in a healthy control group and youth with LOC. Secondary outcomes encompass general eating disorder pathology, social anxiety, body mass index, hyperscanning behavior and therapists’ rating of patients’ condition pre and post treatment. Epigenetic correlates of RS are assessed in healthy controls and youth with LOC and explored before and after treatment. Discussion The expected findings will specify the role of interpersonal emotion regulation problems such as coping with the experience of social exclusion and rejection sensitivity (RS) in LOC and clarify, whether including a training to cope with RS adds to the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT). Trial registration: German Clinical Trial Register: DRKS00023706. Registered 27 November 2020, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00023706
12 Introduction 13 Findings of recent studies have proposed that it is possible to enhance cognitive capacities of healthy 14 individuals by means of individual upper alpha (around 10 to 13.5 Hz) neurofeedback training. 15 Although these results are promising, most of this research was conducted based on high-priced EEG 16 systems developed for clinical and research purposes only. This study addresses the question whether 17 such effects can also be shown with an easy to use and comparably low priced Emotiv Epoc EEG 18 headset available for the average consumer. In addition, critical voices were raised regarding the control 19 group designs of studies addressing the link between neurofeedback training and cognitive performance. 20 Based on an extensive literature review revealing considerable methodological issues in an important 21 part of the existing research, the present study addressed the question whether individual upper alpha 22 neurofeedback has a positive effect on alpha amplitudes (i.e. increases alpha amplitudes) and short-term 23 memory performance focussing on a methodologically sound, single-blinded, sham controlled design.24 Method 25 Participants (N = 33) took part in four test sessions over four consecutive days of either neurofeedback 26 training or sham feedback (control group). In the experimental group, five three-minute periods of visual 27 neurofeedback training were administered each day whereas in the control group, the same amount of 28 sham feedback was presented. Performance on eight digit-span tests as well as participants' affective 29 states were assessed before and after each of the daily training sessions.30 Results 31 Participants in the neurofeedback training (NFT) group showed faster and greater alpha enhancement 32 compared to the control group. Contrary to the authors' expectations, alpha enhancement was also 33 observed in the control group. Surprisingly, exploratory analyses showed a significant correlation 34 between the initial alpha level and the alpha improvement during the course of the study. This finding 35 suggests that participants with high initial alpha levels profit more from alpha NFT interventions. digit-36 span performance increased in both groups over the course of time. However, the increase in individual 37 upper relative alpha did not explain significant variance of digit-span improvement. In the discussion, 38 the authors explore the appearance of the alpha enhancement in the control group and possible reasons 39 for the absence of a connection between NFT and short-term memory. 40-2-41
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.