Double-blind single-session neurofeedback training in upper-alpha for cognitive enhancement of healthy subjects.
This paper reports on a single-session neurofeedback (NF) training procedure on the user-specific upper alpha band for cognitive enhancement in healthy users. A double-blind study was designed using a NF group and an active control group. Control group performed as the NF group but received sham feedback, minimizing the non-specific factors of training. This design aimed to (i) investigate upper alpha as a NF parameter, (ii) evaluate the NF effects on upper alpha during the execution of a cognitive task, and (iii) evaluate the effects on cognitive performance by means of a cognitive task and a battery of psychological tests. Results of EEG analysis show the key role of the feedback: only the NF group enhanced upper alpha during the training, and it led to a desynchronization increase during the execution of the cognitive task. Regarding the behavioral results, a strong learning effect was observed, with the NF group performing better in almost all measurements but many of them without statistical significance.
Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón-I3A and the Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain. cescolan@unizar.es
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Escolano
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Olivan
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Lopez-del-Hoyo
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Garcia-Campayo
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Minguez
D000465:Algorithms; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods* / Q000502:physiology*; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values