Effects of Home-Based EEG Neurofeedback Training as a Non-Pharmacological Intervention for Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Aberrant movement-related cortical activity has been linked to impaired motor function in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Dopaminergic drug treatment can restore these, but dosages and long-term treatment are limited by adverse side-effects. This experiment reports the first study of home-based electroencephalographic (EEG) neurofeedback training as a non-pharmacological candidate treatment for PD. Sixteen people with PD received six home visits comprising symptomology self-reports, a standardised motor assessment, and a precision handgrip force production task while EEG was recorded (visits 1, 2 and 6); and 3 × 1-hr EEG neurofeedback training sessions to reduce EEG high-alpha power before initiating handgrip movements (visits 3 to 5). Participants successfully learned to self-regulate movement-related alpha rhythms, and this appeared to expedite the initiation of precision movements. There was no evidence of wider symptomology reduction. Interviews indicated that the intervention was well-received. We conclude that home-based neurofeedback for people with PD is feasible and warrants further research.