EEG-based upper-alpha neurofeedback for cognitive enhancement in major depressive disorder: A preliminary, uncontrolled study

Escolano, Carlos; Navarro-Gil, Mayte; Campayo, Javier García; Mínguez, Javier

doi:10.1109/embc.2013.6610992

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(34 reference statements)

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“…Prior NF studies that found positive effects of NF training on WM performance also trained EEG frequencies in the Alpha range such as the total Alpha band (about 8–12 Hz), Upper Alpha (about 10–12 Hz), or the Alpha peak frequency [ 22 , 23 ]. Furthermore, in line with previous findings in healthy people, the UA patient group showed strong performance improvements in verbal short-term memory and memory capacity after NF training [ 12 , 18 , 20 , 21 , 23 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Specific effects of EEG based neurofeedback training on memory functions in post-stroke victims

Kober

Schweiger

Witte

et al. 2015

J NeuroEngineering Rehabil

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BackgroundUsing EEG based neurofeedback (NF), the activity of the brain is modulated directly and, therefore, the cortical substrates of cognitive functions themselves. In the present study, we investigated the ability of stroke patients to control their own brain activity via NF and evaluated specific effects of different NF protocols on cognition, in particular recovery of memory.MethodsN = 17 stroke patients received up to ten sessions of either SMR (N = 11, 12–15 Hz) or Upper Alpha (N = 6, e.g. 10–12 Hz) NF training. N = 7 stroke patients received treatment as usual as control condition. Furthermore, N = 40 healthy controls performed NF training as well. To evaluate the NF training outcome, a test battery assessing different cognitive functions was performed before and after NF training.ResultsAbout 70 % of both patients and controls achieved distinct gains in NF performance leading to improvements in verbal short- and long-term memory, independent of the used NF protocol. The SMR patient group showed specific improvements in visuo-spatial short-term memory performance, whereas the Upper Alpha patient group specifically improved their working memory performance. NF training effects were even stronger than effects of traditional cognitive training methods in stroke patients. NF training showed no effects on other cognitive functions than memory.ConclusionsPost-stroke victims with memory deficits could benefit from NF training as much as healthy controls. The used NF training protocols (SMR, Upper Alpha) had specific as well as unspecific effects on memory. Hence, NF might offer an effective cognitive rehabilitation tool improving memory deficits of stroke survivors.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Specific effects of EEG based neurofeedback training on memory functions in post-stroke victims

Kober

Schweiger

Witte

et al. 2015

J NeuroEngineering Rehabil

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“…The authors discarded the possibility of test practice effect, considering the control group also reported improvements, although not significant. Significant improvements in cognitive performance following UA training have also been observed in previous studies [14,15,30,[34][35][36].…”

Section: ) Limitations and Future Worksupporting

confidence: 80%

Comparison of Visual and Auditory Modalities for Upper-Alpha EEG-Neurofeedback

Bucho

Caetano

Vourvopoulos

et al. 2019

2019 41st Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC)

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Electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback (NF) training has been shown to produce long-lasting effects on the improvement of cognitive function as well as the normalization of aberrant brain activity in disease. However, the impact of the sensory modality used as the NF reinforcement signal on training effectiveness has not been systematically investigated. In this work, an EEG-based NFtraining system was developed targeting the individual upperalpha (UA) band and using either a visual or an auditory reinforcement signal, so as to compare the effects of the two sensory modalities. Sixteen healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to the Visual or Auditory group, where a radiusvarying sphere or a volume-varying sound, respectively, reflected the relative amplitude of UA measured at EEG electrode Cz. Each participant underwent a total of four NF sessions, of approximately 40 min each, on consecutive days. Both groups showed significant increases in UA at Cz within sessions, and also across sessions. Effects subsequent to NF training were also found beyond the target frequency UA and scalp location Cz, namely in the lower-alpha and theta bands and in posterior brain regions, respectively. Only small differences were found on the EEG between the Visual and Auditory groups, suggesting that auditory reinforcement signals may be as effective as the more commonly used visual signals. The use of auditory NF may potentiate training protocols conducted under mobile conditions, which are now possible due to the increasing availability of wireless EEG systems.

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“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the first NF study exploring the cognitive effect of WM entrainment in patients with MDD. Some preliminary results of the current study have been published in Escolano et al ( 2013 ). The trained parameter was the power in the individual upper alpha band, since the upper part of alpha has been suggested to respond to cognitive demands (Klimesch, 1999 ) and is the direction followed by several alpha-based NF studies (Hanslmayr et al, 2005 ; Escolano et al, 2011 ; Zoefel et al, 2011 ; Nan et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 62%

A controlled study on the cognitive effect of alpha neurofeedback training in patients with major depressive disorder

Escolano

Navarro-Gil²,

Campayo

et al. 2014

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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Cognitive deficits are core symptoms of depression. This study aims to investigate whether neurofeedback (NF) training can improve working memory (WM) performance in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The NF group (n = 40) underwent eight NF sessions and was compared to a non-interventional control group (n = 20). The NF protocol aimed to increase the individual upper alpha power in the parieto-occipital area of the scalp. Main cognitive variable was WM, which was measured pre- and post- training along with other variables such as attention and executive functions. EEG was recorded in both eyes closed resting state and eyes open task-related activity, pre- and post- NF training, and pre- and post- the NF trials within each session. A power EEG analysis and an alpha asymmetry analysis were conducted at the sensor level. Frequency domain standardized low resolution tomography (sLORETA) was used to assess the effect at brain source level. Correlation analysis between the clinical/cognitive and EEG measurements was conducted at both the sensor and brain source level. The NF group showed increased performance as well as improved processing speed in a WM test after the training. The NF group showed pre-post enhancement in the upper alpha power after the training, better visible in task-related activity as compared to resting state. A current density increase appeared in the alpha band (8–12 Hz) for the NF group, localized in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC, BA 25). A positive correlation was found for the NF group between the improvement in processing speed and the increase of beta power at both the sensor and brain source level. These results show the effectiveness of this NF protocol in improving WM performance in patients with MDD.

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EEG-based upper-alpha neurofeedback for cognitive enhancement in major depressive disorder: A preliminary, uncontrolled study

Cited by 10 publications

References 25 publications

Specific effects of EEG based neurofeedback training on memory functions in post-stroke victims

Specific effects of EEG based neurofeedback training on memory functions in post-stroke victims

Comparison of Visual and Auditory Modalities for Upper-Alpha EEG-Neurofeedback

A controlled study on the cognitive effect of alpha neurofeedback training in patients with major depressive disorder

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