Can Humans Perceive Their Brain States?

Kotchoubey, Boris; Kübler, Andrea; Strehl, Ute; Flor, Herta; Birbaumer, Niels

doi:10.1006/ccog.2001.0535

Cited by 59 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In this sense, motivation belongs to consciousness and is synonymous with will. For instance [21], individuals are able to correctly estimate changes in their brain activity, corroborating the hypothesis that by means of feedback it is possible to acquire a certain awareness of physical brain processes. In other words, the control exercised upon a quantifiable phenomenon (electrophysiology) appears to be volitional, whereas in comparative research, e.g., [15], it has been shown to be susceptible to operant conditioning.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Low-resolution electromagnetic tomography neurofeedback

Congedo

Lubar

Joffe

2004

IEEE Trans. Neural Syst. Rehabil. Eng.

115

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Abstract-Through continuous feedback of the electroencephalogram (EEG) humans can learn how to shape their brain electrical activity in a desired direction. The technique is known as EEG biofeedback, or neurofeedback, and has been used since the late 1960s in research and clinical applications. A major limitation of neurofeedback relates to the limited information provided by a single or small number of electrodes placed on the scalp. We establish a method for extracting and feeding back intracranial current density and we carry out an experimental study to ascertain the ability of the participants to drive their own EEG power in a desired direction. To derive current density within the brain volume, we used the low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA).Six undergraduate students (three males, three females) underwent tomographic neurofeedback (based on 19 electrodes placed according to the 10-20 system) to enhance the current density power ratio between the frequency bands (16-20 Hz) and (8-10 Hz). According to LORETA modeling, the region of interest corresponded to the Anterior Cingulate (cognitive division). The protocol was designed to improve the performance of the subjects on the dimension of sustained attention. Two hypotheses were tested: 1) that the current density power ratio increased over sessions and 2) that by the end of the training subjects acquired the ability of increasing that ratio at will. Both hypotheses received substantial experimental support in this study. This is the first application of an EEG inverse solution to neurofeedback. Possible applications of the technique include the treatment of epileptic foci, the rehabilitation of specific brain regions damaged as a consequence of traumatic brain injury and, in general, the training of any spatial specific cortical electrical activity. These findings may also have relevant consequences for the development of brain-computer interfaces.Index Terms-Brain-computer interfaces (BCI), electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback, electromagnetic tomography, inverse solution, low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA), neurofeedback, -value combination.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Low-resolution electromagnetic tomography neurofeedback

Congedo

Lubar

Joffe

2004

IEEE Trans. Neural Syst. Rehabil. Eng.

115

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“…All patients were able to demonstrate the ability to produce significant differences between positive and negative SCP in the requested direction during training and at 6-month follow-up (Kotchoubey et al, 1997). Moreover, we could show that patients not only learned to self-regulate SCPs but also to perceive the corresponding brain state (Kotchoubey, Kübler, Strehl, Flor, & Birbaumer, 2002).…”

Section: Scp-neurofeedbackmentioning

confidence: 72%

Deactivation of Brain Areas During Self-Regulation of Slow Cortical Potentials in Seizure Patients

Strehl

Trevorrow

Veit

et al. 2006

Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback

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This study investigates the neurophysiological basis of EEG feedback for patients with epilepsy. Brain areas are identified that become hemodynamically deactivated when epilepsy patients, trained in EEG self-regulation, generate positive slow cortical potentials (SCPs). Five patients were trained in producing positive SCPs, using a training protocol previously established to reduce seizure frequency in patients with drug refractory epilepsy. Patients attempted to produce positive SCP shifts in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner. Two patients were able to reliably produce positive SCP shifts. When these successful regulators were prompted to produce positive SCPs, blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response indicated deactivation, in comparison to a control state, around the recording electrode, frontal lobe, and thalamus. Unsuccessful regulators' BOLD response indicated no deactivation in cortical areas proximal to the active electrode. No thalamic deactivation was found in poor regulators. Decreased seizure frequency from SCP training may be the result of positively reinforced inhibition in cortical areas proximal to active electrode placement, the frontal cortex, and the thalamus.

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“…Only after the end of such a transfer trial is the patient Clinical Cornerinformed whether he or she produced the shift according to the task. It has been shown that patients are able to develop and improve self-awareness of their ability to self regulate SCPs (Kotchoubey, Kü bler, Strehl, Flor, & Birbaumer, 2002).…”

Section: Transfer Of Self-regulation Skills Into Everyday Lifementioning

confidence: 99%