Biofeedback training of 40-Hz EEG in humans

Abstract

This study was a preliminary evaluation of biofeedback training of human subjects to control high-frequency EEG responses in the 35- to 45-Hz (40-Hz) and 21- to 31-Hz ranges. A total of 22 adult males divided into three groups were successfully trained for increases or suppression of 40-Hz EEG, or increases of 21- to 31-Hz EEG. Dissociation of rates of 40-Hz EEG recorded from scalp leads and 40-Hz EMG responses from prominent muscle contaminators, and partial dissociation of 40-Hz and 21- to 31-Hz EEG responses were noted. After biofeedback training, 8 subjects demonstrated increase and suppression of 40-Hz EEG without feedback. No consistent descriptors of subjective experiences accompanying EEG changes were reported by subjects in any of the groups. The study suggests the utility of biofeedback procedures in research on high-frequency EEG activity.

The effect of gamma enhancing neurofeedback on the control of feature bindings and intelligence measures

“…Manipulation of gamma band power by neurofeedback training has already been successfully demonstrated in a study by Bird et al (1978). In this study, significant differences in gamma band power were demonstrated after 8 neurofeedback sessions, each lasting 30 min.…”

“…One way to manipulate particular frequency bands in the EEG signal is neurofeedback (Bird et al, 1978;Vernon et al, 2003). With neurofeedback training, brain waves are measured using electrodes that are likely to pick up signals from theoretically relevant brain areas.…”

“…One group of our subjects was thus trained to enhance gammarelated cortical activity in 8 neurofeedback sessions as in the Bird et al (1978) study. In a second group, we intended to reduce gamma activity.…”

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

“…Furthermore, although the typical range of gamma is from 30-100Hz (Fries, Nikolić, & Singer, 2007), we used a gamma band around 40 Hz (40-43 Hz) for NFB training, since it seems to be a widely accepted and often referred to indicator of gamma band (e.g. Bird, Newton, Sheer, & Ford, 1978;Keizer, Verschoor, et al, 2010;Kober et al, 2013;Reichert, Kober, Neuper, & Wood, 2015;Rubik, 2011;Tallon-Baudry & Bertrand, 1999).…”

“…Moreover, a rather narrow band of gamma is frequently used in gamma NFB studies: 40 Hz (Bird et al, 1978;Rubik, 2011); 40-43 Hz ; 36-44 Hz Keizer, Verschoor, et al, 2010;Staufenbiel, Brouwer, Keizer, & van Wouwe, 2014). EEG signals were acquired using the 10-channel system NeXus-10 MKII (MindMedia BV, Herten, The Netherlands).…”