title: Changes in EEG current sources induced by neurofeedback in learning disabled children. An exploratory study.
abstract: 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 (Experimental Group). Another five LD children with the same characteristics received a placebo treatment (Control Group). In the Control Group no changes in behavior or EEG current source were observed. In the Experimental Group, immediately after treatment children showed behavioral and cognitive improvements, but current source analysis showed few modifications; however, 2 months after treatment many changes occurred: a decrease in current of frequencies within the theta band, mainly in left frontal and cingulate regions, and enhancement in current of frequencies within the alpha band, principally in the right temporal lobe and right frontal regions, and of frequencies within the beta band, mainly in left temporal, right frontal and cingulate cortex regions. In conclusion, NFB is a possibly efficacious treatment for LD children with an abnormally high theta/alpha ratio in any lead. The changes observed in EEG current sources may reflect the neurophysiological bases of the improvement that children experienced in their behavioral and cognitive activities.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Thalía
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Thalía
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harmony
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Bouzas
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Díaz-Comas
authors.forename: Roberto A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Prado-Alcalá
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valdés-Sosa
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Lídice
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galán
authors.forename: Efraín
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santiago-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aubert
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García-Martínez
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome