title: Short and long-term effects of sham-controlled prefrontal EEG-neurofeedback training in healthy subjects.
abstract: In this study we evaluated long-term effects of frontal beta EEG-neurofeedback training (E-NFT) on healthy subjects. We hypothesized that E-NFT can change frontal beta activity in the long-term and that changes in frontal beta EEG activity are accompanied by altered cognitive performance.
  
  
  
  25 healthy subjects were included and randomly assigned to active or sham E-NFT. On average the subjects underwent 15 E-NFT training sessions with a training duration of 45 min. Resting-state EEG was recorded prior to E-NFT training (t1) and in a 3-year follow-up (t3).
  
  
  
  Compared to sham E-NFT, which was used for the control group, real E-NFT increased beta activity in a predictable way. This increase was maintained over a period of three years post training. However, E-NFT did not result in significantly improved cognitive performance.
  
  
  
  Based on our results, we conclude that EEG-NFT can selectively modify EEG beta activity both in short and long-term.
  
  
  
  This is a sham controlled EEG neurofeedback study demonstrating long-term effects in resting state EEG.
authors.affiliation: Hersencentrum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: hessel@hersencentrum.nl.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Engelbregt
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keeser
authors.affiliation: Hersencentrum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; VU University, Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van Eijk
authors.affiliation: Hersencentrum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Suiker
authors.affiliation: Hersencentrum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; VU University, Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eichhorn
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karch
authors.affiliation: VU University, Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Deijen
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pogarell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods* / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Brain modulation; Electroencephalography; Long-term effects; Neurofeedback