The effect of frontal-midline theta neurofeedback training: Experimental evidence from self-reported participants with executive dysfunctions
Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Background: Training frontal-midline theta (fm-theta) oscillations with neurofeedback has shown to have an effect on fm-theta and behavioral performance during executive functioning, specifically on memory updating and set-shifting for healthy individuals.Less is known about the effect of fm-theta neurofeedback training on individuals with executive dysfunctions.Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate whether an individualized eight-session fm-theta neurofeedback training leads to transfer effects in task probing executive functions in fm-theta oscillations and on behavioral performance in participants with self-reported executive dysfunctions.Method: Thirty-seven participants fitting the inclusion criteria were pseudo-randomly assigned to either an experimental group or an active control group.Electroencephalogram (EEG) measures were recorded for four executive function tasks of memory updating, motor inhibition, conflict monitoring, and set-shifting, and were assessed before and after the eight-session neurofeedback training.Main findings: There were no statistically significant differences of fm-theta or on behavioral performance after the neurofeedback training on any of the four executive function tasks for the experimental group compared to the active control group who received pseudo-neurofeedback training.Conclusion: In contrast to positive evidence of fm-theta neurofeedback training in healthy individuals, the current exploratory study did not find significant transfer effects on fm-theta nor behavioral performance.Due to the limited number of participants, we were unable to conclude whether the lack of effect could be explained by underlying pathophysiology in participants with self-reported executive dysfunctions or insufficient sample size and lack of statistical power.The lack of effect indicates that special configurations to the neurofeedback protocol may be needed for this study group.Although we were unable to replicate the findings of previous studies, this study adds valuable information.To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies on fm-theta neurofeedback uptraining in self-reported individuals with executive dysfunctions.
Author: Lorena Edith Trevino Garcia
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2991242693