Resting-state sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) power predicts the ability to up-regulate SMR in an EEG-instrumental conditioning paradigm.
OBJECTIVE
Instrumental conditioning of EEG activity (EEG-IC) is a promising method for improvement and rehabilitation of cognitive functions. However, it has been found that even healthy adults are not always able to learn how to regulate their brain activity during EEG-IC. In the present study, the role of a neurophysiological predictor of EEG-IC learning performance, the resting-state power of sensorimotor rhythm (rs-SMR, 12-15Hz), was investigated.


METHODS
Eyes-open and eyes-closed rs-SMR power was assessed before N=28 healthy adults underwent 10 training sessions of instrumental SMR conditioning (ISC), in which participants should learn to voluntarily increase their SMR power by means of audio-visual feedback. A control group of N=19 participants received gamma (40-43Hz) or sham EEG-IC.


RESULTS
N=19 of the ISC participants could be classified as "responders" as they were able to increase SMR power during training sessions, while N=9 participants ("non-responders") were not able to increase SMR power. Rs-SMR power in responders before start of ISC was higher in widespread parieto-occipital areas than in non-responders. A discriminant analysis indicated that eyes-open rs-SMR power in a central brain region specifically predicted later ISC performance, but not an increase of SMR in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Together, these findings indicate that rs-SMR power is a specific and easy-to-measure predictor of later ISC learning performance.


CONCLUSIONS
The assessment of factors that influence the ability to regulate brain activity is of high relevance, as it could be used to avoid potentially frustrating and expensive EEG-IC training sessions for participants who have a low chance of success.
Department of Psychology, University of Graz, Austria. Electronic address: johanna.reichert@uni-graz.at.
Johanna Louise
JL
Reichert
Department of Psychology, University of Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Austria.
Silvia Erika
SE
Kober
Department of Psychology, University of Graz, Austria; Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interfaces, Institute for Knowledge Discovery, Graz University of Technology, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Austria.
Christa
C
Neuper
Department of Psychology, University of Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Austria.
Guilherme
G
Wood
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D066191:Sensorimotor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*
EEG instrumental conditioning; Neurofeedback; Regulation of brain activity; Responders; Resting-state EEG activity; Sensorimotor rhythm