Tag Archives: cognitive performance

Neurofeedback as a therapeutic intervention for ADHD: current evidence and practice.

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This is a summary of the study “Neurofeedback as a Treatment Intervention in ADHD: Current Evidence and Practice” which also emphasizes the topic of metabolic performance (brain brightening).

The study deals with neurofeedback as a treatment approach for ADHD. It describes various protocols, the number of sessions and the associated successes. It mentions that neurofeedback could be interpreted as a form of “brain whitening”, which presumably means improving brain performance through training. Different methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the success of the treatment varies depending on the application.

The study describes three standard protocols for neurofeedback for ADHD: theta/beta (TBR), sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) and slow cortical potentials (SCP). TBR requires 30-40 sessions and is as effective as methylphenidate. SMR probably requires a similar number of sessions and helps reduce inattention and hyperactivity. SCP requires about 35 sessions and improves reaction time and memory. Successes include improvements in academic performance, sleep quality and cognitive function.

The study examines neurofeedback-based approaches for the treatment of ADHD. It describes three standard protocols: TBR, SMR and SCP. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

30-40 sessions, effective as medication, improves academic performance. Advantages: Lasting effect, no side effects. Disadvantage: High number of sessions.

Same as TBR, with additional improvement in sleep. Advantage: Positive effects on sleep, disadvantage: Further research required.

35 sessions, improves reaction time and memory. Advantage: Improved cognitive functions, disadvantage: High training effort.

Enriquez-Geppert S, Smit D, Pimenta MG, Arns M. Neurofeedback as a Treatment Intervention in ADHD: Current Evidence and Practice. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2019 May 28;21(6):46. doi: 10.1007/s11920-019-1021-4. PMID: 31139966; PMCID: PMC6538574.

The effect of training different neurofeedback protocols on aspects of cognitive performance.

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Here is a translation of the abstract of the study “The effect of training distinct neurofeedback protocols on aspects of cognitive performance”

Summary
The use of neurofeedback as an operant conditioning paradigm has shown that participants are able to gain some control over specific aspects of their electroencephalogram (EEG). Based on the link between theta activity (4-7 Hz) and working memory performance and between sensorimotor rhythm activity (SMR, 12-15 Hz) and attentional processing, we investigated the possibility that training healthy individuals to specifically increase one of these frequencies might have a specific impact on certain aspects of cognitive performance compared to a non-neurofeedback control group. The results showed that after eight neurofeedback sessions, the SMR group was able to selectively increase their SMR activity as evidenced by increased SMR/theta and SMR/beta ratios. In contrast, the subjects who were trained to selectively increase theta activity showed no changes in their EEG. In addition, the SMR group showed a significant and clear improvement in recall performance in a semantic working memory test and also improved to a lesser extent accuracy in focused attention processing in a 2-sequence continuous performance test task. These results suggest that healthy individuals can learn to increase a specific component of their EEG activity and that this increased activity can promote semantic processing in working memory tasks and, albeit to a lesser extent, focused attention. Possible mechanisms that could mediate these effects are discussed and several approaches for future research are outlined.

Translation of the abstract from: Vernon, D., Egner, T., Cooper, N., Compton, T., Neilands, C., Sheri, A. & Gruzelier, J. (2002). The effect of training distinct neurofeedback protocols on aspects of cognitive performance. PMID: 12543448, DOI: 10.1016/s0167-8760(02)00091-0.