title: Coping food craving with neurofeedback. Evaluation of the usefulness of alpha/theta training in a non-clinical sample.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to explore the usefulness of the alpha/theta (A/T) training in reducing Food Craving (FC) in a non-clinical sample. The modifications of electroencephalographic (EEG) power spectra associated with A/T training was also investigated. Fifty subjects were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to receive ten sessions of A/T training [neurofeedback group (NFG)=25], or to act as controls [waiting list group (WLG)=25]. All participants were administered the Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. In the post training assessment, compared to the WLG, the NFG showed a significant reduction of intentions and plans to consume food (F1; 49=4.90; p=.033; d=0.626) and of craving as a physiological state (F1; 49=8.09; p=.007; d=803). In NFG, changes in FC persisted after 4months follow-up. Furthermore, A/T training was associated with significant a increase of resting EEG alpha power in several brain areas involved in FC (e.g., insula) and food cue reactivity (e.g., parahippocampal gyrus, inferior and superior temporal gyrus). Taken together, our results showed that ten sessions of A/T training are associated with a decrease of self-reported FC in a non-clinical sample. These findings suggest that this brain-directed intervention may be useful in the treatment of dysfunctional eating behaviors characterized by FC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: imperatori.c@libero.it.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imperatori
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.affiliation: Sleep Disorders Unit, Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Della Marca
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massullo
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe Alessio
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maestoso
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Isabella
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Quintiliani
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Contardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Farina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D066249:Craving / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058765:Neurofeedback / Q000379:methods / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alpha/theta training; EEG power spectra; EEG-neurofeedback; Food craving; eLORETA