title: An Effective Neurofeedback Intervention to Improve Social Interactions in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: Neurofeedback training (NFT) approaches were investigated to improve behavior, cognition and emotion regulation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Thirteen children with ASD completed pre-/post-assessments and 16 NFT-sessions. The NFT was based on a game that encouraged social interactions and provided feedback based on imitation and emotional responsiveness. Bidirectional training of EEG mu suppression and enhancement (8-12 Hz over somatosensory cortex) was compared to the standard method of enhancing mu. Children learned to control mu rhythm with both methods and showed improvements in (1) electrophysiology: increased mu suppression, (2) emotional responsiveness: improved emotion recognition and spontaneous imitation, and (3) behavior: significantly better behavior in every-day life. Thus, these NFT paradigms improve aspects of behavior necessary for successful social interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0515, USA. efriedrich@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Elisabeth V C
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Science, Heriot-Watt University Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK.
authors.forename: Aparajithan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sivanathan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Science, Heriot-Watt University Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK.
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suttie
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK.|Digital Design Studio, The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, G51 1EA, UK.
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Louchart
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0515, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pillen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0515, USA.
authors.forename: Jaime A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pineda
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD); EEG; Mu rhythm; Neurofeedback training (NFT)