EEG Biofeedback - Growing

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Selected Neurofeedback Abstracts [ updated January 2008 ] Hum Brain Mapp. 2008 Feb;29(2):157-66. Atlas-based multichannel monitoring of functional MRI signals in real-time:
Automated approach. Lee JH, O'Leary HM, Park H, Jolesz FA, Yoo SS. Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical
School, Massachusetts. We report an automated method to simultaneously monitor blood-oxygenation-
level-dependent (BOLD) MR signals from multiple cortical areas in real-
time. Individual brain anatomy was normalized and registered to a pre-
segmented atlas in standardized anatomical space. Subsequently, using real-
time fMRI (rtfMRI) data acquisition, localized BOLD signals were measured
and displayed from user-selected areas labeled with anatomical and
Brodmann's Area (BA) nomenclature. The method was tested on healthy
volunteers during the performance of hand motor and internal speech
generation tasks employing a trial-based design. Our data normalization and
registration algorithm, along with image reconstruction, movement
correction and a data display routine were executed with enough processing
and communication bandwidth necessary for real-time operation. Task-
specific BOLD signals were observed from the hand motor and language areas.
One of the study participants was allowed to freely engage in hand
clenching tasks, and associated brain activities were detected from the
motor-related neural substrates without prior knowledge of the task onset
time. The proposed method may be applied to various applications such as
neurofeedback, brain-computer-interface, and functional mapping for
surgical planning where real-time monitoring of region-specific brain
activity is needed. Hum Brain Mapp 2008. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. PMID: 17370340 [PubMed - in process] Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2008 Jan 24 [Epub ahead of print] EEG Biofeedback as a Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: Review, Rating
of Efficacy, and Recommendations for Further Research. Sokhadze TM, Cannon RL, Trudeau DL. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville
School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA, tato.sokhadze@louisville.edu. Electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback has been employed in substance
use disorder (SUD) over the last three decades. The SUD is a complex series
of disorders with frequent comorbidities and EEG abnormalities of several
types. EEG biofeedback has been employed in conjunction with other
therapies and may be useful in enhancing certain outcomes of therapy. Based
on published clinical studies and employing efficacy criteria adapted by
the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback and the
International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, alpha theta training-
either alone for alcoholism or in combination with beta training for
stimulant and mixed substance abuse and combined with residential treatment
programs, is probably efficacious. Considerations of further research
design taking these factors into account are discussed and descriptions of
contemporary research are given. PMID: 18214670 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] BMC Biol. 2008 Jan 16;6(1):4 [Epub ahead of print] Transient reduction of tinnitus intensity is marked by concomitant
reductions of delta band power. Kahlbrock N, Weisz N. ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is an auditory phantom phenomenon,
characterized by the sensation of sounds without objectively identifiable
sound sources. So far its causes are not well understood. Previous research
found altered patterns of spontaneous brain activity in chronic tinnitus
sufferers compared to healthy controls, yet it is unknown whether these
abnormal oscillatory patterns are causally related to the tinnitus
sensation. Partial support for this notion comes from a neurofeedback
approach developed by our group in which significant reductions in tinnitus
loudness could be achieved in patients who successfully normalized their
patterns of spontaneous brain activity. The current work attempts to
complement these studies by scrutinizing how modulations of tinnitus
intensity alter ongoing oscillatory activity. RESULTS: In the present study
the relation between tinnitus sensation and spontaneous brain activity was
investigated using residual inhibition (RI) to reduce tinnitus intensity
and source-space projected magnetencephalographic (MEG) data to index brain
activity. RI is the sustained reduction (criteria here: 50% for at least 30
seconds) in tinnitus loudness after cessation of a tonal tinnitus masker. A
pilot study (n = 38) identified ten patients who showed RI. A significant
reduction of power in the delta (1.3 - 4.0 Hz) frequency band was observed
in temporal regions during RI (p [less than or equal to] 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggest that changes of tinnitus intensity
induced by RI are mediated by alterations in the pathological patterns of
spontaneous brain activity, specifically a reduction of delta activity.
Delta activity is a characteristic oscillatory activity generated by
deafferented/deprived neuronal networks. This implies that RI effects might
reflect the transient reestablishment of balance between excitatory and
inhibitory neuronal assemblies via reafferentation, that has been perturbed
(in most tinnitus individuals) by a hearing damage. Since enhancements have
been reported in the delta frequency band for tinnitus at rest, this
result conforms to our assumption that a normalization of oscillatory
properties of cortical networks is a prerequisite for attenuating the
tinnitus sensation. For RI to have therapeutic significance however, this
normalization would have to be stabilized. PMID: 18199318 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] J Pers Soc Psychol. 2008 Jan;94(1):1-15. Left frontal cortical activation and spreading of alternatives: Tests of
the action-based model of dissonance. Harmon-Jones E, Harmon-Jones C, Fearn M, Sigelman JD, Johnson P. Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University. The action-based model of dissonance predicts that following decisional
commitment, approach-oriented motivational processes occur to assist in
translating the decision into effective and unconflicted behavior.
Therefore, the modulation of these approach-oriented processes should
affect the degree to which individuals change their attitudes to be more
consistent with the decisional commitment (spreading of alternatives).
Experiment 1 demonstrated that a neurofeedback-induced decrease in relative
left frontal cortical activation, which has been implicated in approach
motivational processes, caused a reduction in spreading of alternatives.
Experiment 2 manipulated an action-oriented mindset following a decision
and demonstrated that the action-oriented mindset caused increased
activation in the left frontal cortical region as well as increased
spreading of alternatives. Discussion focuses on how this integration of
neuroscience and dissonance theory benefits both parent literatures.
(PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved). PMID: 18179314 [PubMed - in process] J Pain. 2007 Dec 18 [Epub ahead of print] New Insights Into Neuromodulatory Approaches for the Treatment of Pain. Jensen MP, Hakimian S, Sherlin LH, Fregni F. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of
Medicine, Seattle, Washington. Two lines of evidence about the association between the experience of pain
and brain state (measured via electroencephalogram or EEG) have recently
come to light. First, research from a number of sources suggests a link
between brain EEG activity and the experience of pain. Specifically, this
research suggests that the subjective experience of pain is associated with
relatively lower amplitudes of slower wave (delta, theta, and alpha)
activity and relatively higher amplitudes of faster wave (beta) activity.
Second, there has been a recent increase in interest in interventions that
impact the cortical neuromodulation of pain, including behavioral
treatments (such as self-hypnosis training and neurofeedback) and both
invasive and noninvasive brain stimulation. Although a direct causal link
between experience of pain and brain activity as measured by EEG has not
been established, the targeting of pain treatment at a cortical level by
trying to affect EEG rhythms directly is an intriguing possibility.
PERSPECTIVE: Preliminary evidence suggests the possibility, which has not
yet adequately tested or proven, that the experience of chronic pain is
linked to cortical activity as assessed via an electroencephalogram.
Support for this hypothesis would have important implications for
understanding the mechanisms that underlie a number of pain treatments, and
for developing new innovative treatments for chronic pain management. PMID: 18096437 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2007 Dec;32(3-4):169-83. Epub 2007 Nov 3. Changes in EEG current sources induced by neurofeedback in learning
disabled children. An exploratory study. Fernández T, Harmony T, Fernández-Bouzas A, Díaz-Comas L, Prado-Alcalá RA,
Valdés-Sosa P, Otero G, Bosch J, Galán L, Santiago-Rodríguez E, Aubert E,
García-Martínez F. Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de
Neurobiología, Campus UNAM-UAQ, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
Boulevard Juriquilla # 3001, Juriquilla, Querétaro, 76230, Mexico.
thalia@servidor.unam.mx The objective of this work was to explore Neurofeedback (NFB) effects on
EEG current sources in Learning Disabled (LD) children, and to corroborate
its beneficial consequences on behavioral and cognitive performance. NFB
was given in twenty 30-min sessions to 11 LD children to reduce their
abnormally high theta/alpha ratios (Exper