A randomized, controlled trial of alpha-rhythm EEG neurofeedback in posttraumatic stress disorder: A preliminary investigation showing evidence of decreased PTSD symptoms and restored default mode and salience network connectivity using fMRI

Nicholson, Andrew A.; Ros, Tomas; Densmore, Maria; Frewen, Paul A.; Neufeld, Richard W. J.; Théberge, Jean; Jetly, Rakesh; Lanius, Ruth A.

doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102490

Cited by 47 publications

(124 citation statements)

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“…In the NF literature, the common number of included subjects varies from 10 to 20 participants by group 21,[35][36][37]60 . Based on the literature and resources constraints 61 implying a follow-up across 12 weeks for each subject (see the "Experimental protocol" section), forty-eight healthy volunteers, divided in two groups, were included in this study (mean age: 33.3 years; age range: 18-60; see Supplementary Table S1 for more details).…”

Section: Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying BCI tasks or NF training (NFT) remain elusive 17,18 . The neuromodulation associated with NFT has already been studied in several contexts [19][20][21] , but this was not yet done in a long-term, multiple-session (12 weeks), sham-controlled design using an ecological reinforcer NF context for both NF and control groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some NF studies, the control condition was based on linking the feedback to another brain activity than the targeted one 22,35 which entails an incongruity between the activity driving the feedback and the task-hence the cognitive effortsof the subject. Here, we used a sham feedback (sham-FB) condition for the control group-as it is commonly used in other studies including MEG or fMRI NF protocols [19][20][21][22][36][37][38][39] . The participants in the sham-FB group received 'yoked' feedback, corresponding to the feedback of randomly-chosen subjects from the NF group at the same stage of learning.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alpha activity neuromodulation induced by individual alpha-based neurofeedback learning in ecological context: A double-blind randomized study

Grosselin

Breton²,

Yahia-Chérif

et al. 2020

Preprint

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The neuromodulation induced by neurofeedback training (NFT) remains a matter of debate. Investigating the modulation of brain activity specifically associated with NF requires controlling for multiple factors, such as reward, performance, congruency between task and targeted brain activity. This can be achieved using sham feedback (FB) control condition, equating all aspects of the experiment but the closed-loop between brain activity and FB. We aimed at investigating the modulation of individual alpha EEG activity induced by NFT in a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study. Forty-eight healthy participants were assigned to either NF (n=25) or control (n=23) group and performed 12 NFT sessions of alpha upregulation with a wearable EEG device. Participants of the NF group received FB based on their individual alpha activity. The control group received the auditory FB of participants of the NF group. An increase of alpha activity across training sessions was observed in the NF group only (p<0.001). This neuromodulation was selective in that it was not observed for theta (4-8Hz) and low beta (13-18Hz) activities. It was associated with an increased feeling of control (p<0.001), more marked for NF than control group. Anxiety level decreased and relaxation feeling increased with training in both groups. NFT across multiple sessions can induce specific brain modulation, suggesting a neuroplasticity selective of the targeted brain activity. Our results pave the way to self-learnt, NF-based neuromodulation with light-weighted, wearable EEG systems for various applications (e.g. epilepsy, sleep, attention).

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Section: Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alpha activity neuromodulation induced by individual alpha-based neurofeedback learning in ecological context: A double-blind randomized study

Grosselin

Breton²,

Yahia-Chérif

et al. 2020

Preprint

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show abstract

“…However, the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying BCI tasks or NF training (NFT) remain elusive 17 , 18 . The neuromodulation associated with NFT has already been studied in several contexts 19 – 21 , but this was not yet done in a long-term, multiple-session (12 weeks), sham-controlled design using an ecological reinforcer NF context for both NF and control groups .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, across-sessions neuromodulation making use of sham-controlled design was tested in the past—not necessarily targeting alpha. However, some of these studies included only one or a few sessions 37 , 39 and others did not find clear evidence of across-sessions neuromodulation 19 , 21 , 38 . In addition, in these studies, the learning context and task were not directly linked to the expected cognitive performance or targeted psychological process 21 , 36 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alpha activity neuromodulation induced by individual alpha-based neurofeedback learning in ecological context: a double-blind randomized study

Grosselin

Breton²,

Yahia-Chérif

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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The neuromodulation induced by neurofeedback training (NFT) remains a matter of debate. Investigating the modulation of brain activity specifically associated with NF requires controlling for multiple factors, such as reward, performance, congruency between task and targeted brain activity. This can be achieved using sham feedback (FB) control condition, equating all aspects of the experiment but the link between brain activity and FB. We aimed at investigating the modulation of individual alpha EEG activity induced by NFT in a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study. Forty-eight healthy participants were assigned to either NF (n = 25) or control (n = 23) group and performed alpha upregulation training (over 12 weeks) with a wearable EEG device. Participants of the NF group received FB based on their individual alpha activity. The control group received the auditory FB of participants of the NF group. An increase of alpha activity across training sessions was observed in the NF group only (p < 0.001). This neuromodulation was selective in that there was no evidence for similar effects in the theta (4–8 Hz) and low beta (13–18 Hz) bands. While alpha upregulation was found in the NF group only, psychological outcome variables showed overall increased feeling of control, decreased anxiety level and increased relaxation feeling, without any significant difference between the NF and the control groups. This is interpreted in terms of learning context and placebo effects. Our results pave the way to self-learnt, NF-based neuromodulation with light-weighted, wearable EEG systems.

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Adverse Life Experiences and Brain Function

Hosseini-Kamkar,

Varvani Farahani,

Nikolic

et al. 2023

JAMA Netw Open

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ImportanceAdverse life experiences have been proposed to contribute to diverse mental health problems through an association with corticolimbic functioning. Despite compelling evidence from animal models, findings from studies in humans have been mixed; activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analyses have failed to identify a consistent association of adverse events with brain function.ObjectiveTo investigate the association of adversity exposure with altered brain reactivity using multilevel kernel density analyses (MKDA), a meta-analytic approach considered more robust than ALE to small sample sizes and methodological differences between studies.Data SourcesSearches were conducted using PsycInfo, Medline, EMBASE, and Web of Science from inception through May 4, 2022. The following search term combinations were used for each database: trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), abuse, maltreatment, poverty, adversity, or stress; and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or neuroimaging; and emotion, emotion regulation, memory, memory processing, inhibitory control, executive functioning, reward, or reward processing.Study SelectionTask-based fMRI studies within 4 domains (emotion processing, memory processing, inhibitory control, and reward processing) that included a measure of adverse life experiences and whole-brain coordinate results reported in Talairach or Montreal Neurological Institute space were included. Conference abstracts, books, reviews, meta-analyses, opinions, animal studies, articles not in English, and studies with fewer than 5 participants were excluded.Data Extraction and SynthesisUsing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting guideline, 2 independent reviewers assessed abstracts and full-text articles for entry criteria. A third reviewer resolved conflicts and errors in data extraction. Data were pooled using a random-effects model and data analysis occurred from August to November 2022.Main Outcomes and MeasuresPeak activation x-axis (left-right), y-axis (posterior-anterior), and z-axis (inferior-superior) coordinates were extracted from all studies and submitted to MKDA meta-analyses.ResultsA total of 83 fMRI studies were included in the meta-analysis, yielding a combined sample of 5242 participants and 801 coordinates. Adversity exposure was associated with higher amygdala reactivity (familywise error rate corrected at P &lt; .001; x-axis = 22; y-axis = −4; z-axis = −17) and lower prefrontal cortical reactivity (familywise error rate corrected at P &lt; .001; x-axis = 10; y-axis = 60; z-axis = 10) across a range of task domains. These altered responses were only observed in studies that used adult participants and were clearest among those who had been exposed to severe threat and trauma.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this meta-analysis of fMRI studies of adversity exposure and brain function, prior adversity exposure was associated with altered adult brain reactivity to diverse challenges. These results might better identify how adversity diminishes the ability to cope with later stressors and produces enduring susceptibility to mental health problems.

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A randomized, controlled trial of alpha-rhythm EEG neurofeedback in posttraumatic stress disorder: A preliminary investigation showing evidence of decreased PTSD symptoms and restored default mode and salience network connectivity using fMRI

Cited by 47 publications

References 105 publications

Alpha activity neuromodulation induced by individual alpha-based neurofeedback learning in ecological context: A double-blind randomized study

Alpha activity neuromodulation induced by individual alpha-based neurofeedback learning in ecological context: A double-blind randomized study

Alpha activity neuromodulation induced by individual alpha-based neurofeedback learning in ecological context: a double-blind randomized study

Adverse Life Experiences and Brain Function

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