title: Neurofeedback in Learning Disabled Children: Visual versus Auditory Reinforcement.
abstract: Children with learning disabilities (LD) frequently have an EEG characterized by an excess of theta and a deficit of alpha activities. NFB using an auditory stimulus as reinforcer has proven to be a useful tool to treat LD children by positively reinforcing decreases of the theta/alpha ratio. The aim of the present study was to optimize the NFB procedure by comparing the efficacy of visual (with eyes open) versus auditory (with eyes closed) reinforcers. Twenty LD children with an abnormally high theta/alpha ratio were randomly assigned to the Auditory or the Visual group, where a 500 Hz tone or a visual stimulus (a white square), respectively, was used as a positive reinforcer when the value of the theta/alpha ratio was reduced. Both groups had signs consistent with EEG maturation, but only the Auditory Group showed behavioral/cognitive improvements. In conclusion, the auditory reinforcer was more efficacious in reducing the theta/alpha ratio, and it improved the cognitive abilities more than the visual reinforcer.
authors: Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, 76230, Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico. thaliafh@yahoo.com.mx.
authors: Thalía
authors: T
authors: Fernández
authors: Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, 76230, Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico.
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Bosch-Bayard
authors: Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, 76230, Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico.
authors: Thalía
authors: T
authors: Harmony
authors: Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro, 76010, Mexico.
authors: María I
authors: MI
authors: Caballero
authors: Centro de Neurociencias de Cuba, Avenida 25 y 158, Playa, La Habana, Cuba.
authors: Lourdes
authors: L
authors: Díaz-Comas
authors: Centro de Neurociencias de Cuba, Avenida 25 y 158, Playa, La Habana, Cuba.
authors: Lídice
authors: L
authors: Galán
authors: Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, 76230, Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico.
authors: Josefina
authors: J
authors: Ricardo-Garcell
authors: Centro de Neurociencias de Cuba, Avenida 25 y 158, Playa, La Habana, Cuba.
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Aubert
authors: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, 50180, Toluca, Mexico.
authors: Gloria
authors: G
authors: Otero-Ojeda
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011897:Random Allocation; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: EEG-biofeedback; Learning disabled children; Neurofeedback; QEEG; Visual versus auditory reinforcement