title: Working memory training using EEG neurofeedback in normal young adults.
abstract: Recent studies have shown that working memory (WM) performance can be improved by intensive and adaptive computerized training. Here, we explored the WM training effect using Electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback (NF) in normal young adults. In the first study, we identified the EEG features related to WM in normal young adults. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the power ratio of the theta-to-alpha rhythms in the anterior-parietal region, accurately classified a high percentage of the EEG trials recorded during WM and fixation control (FC) tasks. Based on these results, a second study aimed to assess the training effects of the theta-to-alpha ratio and tested the hypothesis that up-regulating the power ratio can improve working memory behavior. Our results demonstrated that these normal young adults succeeded in improving their WM performance with EEG NF, and the pre- and post-test evaluations also indicated that WM performance increase in experimental group was significantly greater than control groups. In summary, our findings provided preliminarily evidence that WM performance can be improved through learned regulation of the EEG power ratio using EEG NF.
authors.affiliation: College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: College of Information Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Jiacai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods* / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electroencephalography; neurofeedback; power spectrum; self-regulation; working memory