Journal of Neurotherapy

The End of an Era

Adam R. Clarke — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -0400

No abstract

SELECTED ABSTRACTS of CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS at the 2013 INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY for NEUROFEEDBACK & RESEARCH (ISNR) 21ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE, DALLAS, TEXAS

International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR) — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -0400

No abstract

Clinical Corner

D. Corydon Hammond — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -0400

No abstract

Clinical Perspectives of 19-Channel Z-Score Neurofeedback: Benefits and Limitations

Nancy L. Wigton — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -0400

Z-Score neurofeedback has expanded to include 19-channel models (19ZNF) such that clinicians now have the option to use from 1 to 19 electrodes in a z-score neurofeedback protocol. Benefits and limitations of this new model are discussed from the clinical perspective of an early adopter of 19ZNF who has more than 4 years of experience with this modality after having several years of experience with QEEG-guided NF (QNF). Comparisons between QNF and 19ZNF are discussed. It has been suggested that 19ZNF can bring about positive clinical outcomes in fewer sessions than traditional NF, which matches the author’s experience (average of 38 with QNF vs. an average of 11 with 19ZNF). Unique implications of 19ZNF that have not yet been discussed in the literature, such as the advantage of once-perweek sessions, or questions about whether there could be times when change can occur too fast, are introduced. Directions for future research to further evaluate 19ZNF are suggested.

QEEG Guided Neurofeedback to Treat Schizophrenia: A Case Study

Gary J. Schummer, Jason von Stietz — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -0400

The subject in this case study was a 21-year-old man who had to leave college at the beginning of his senior year after being diagnosed with adult onset schizophrenia, undifferentiated type. For 18 months, the only interventions the subject utilized were varying doses of aripiprazole and intensive neurofeedback training. Data derived from five serial quantitative EEGs identified statistically significant coherence abnormalities that appeared as the schizophrenia progressed. Neurofeedback training to enhance cortical stability and normalize neural connectivity was directed by the convergence of data from each quantitative EEG and clinical assessment. Results showed a dramatic increase in functional abilities and a decreased need for medication. The subject resumed his challenging college curriculum and graduated. However, he then stopped neurofeedback and, in spite of increased medication, became floridly psychotic. This study supports other research showing neurofeedback training may be a useful treatment in the management of schizophrenia.

Working in and with Noise: The Impact of Audio Environment on Attention

Charles S. Wasserman, Natasha Segool — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -0400

This study examined the relationship between audio environment and attention. Although background noise has generally been assumed to be distracting, recent research has suggested that the opposite may be true. Attention was assessed in 27 participants using a continuous performance test under three different noise conditions: exposure to ambient noise (the control), pink noise, and a television audio track. Participants’ attention was significantly improved in pink noise as compared to the ambient noise, whereas no differences were found between the ambient and television conditions. These findings suggest that notall noise is created equal when it comes to paying attention.

Neurofeedback Training as an Intervention in a Silent Epidemic: An Indian Scenario

Rajakumari P. Reddy, Jamuna Rajeswaran, Bhagavatula Indira, Thennarasu Kandavel — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -0400

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a ‘‘silent epidemic’’ that creates a significant burden on health care resources across the globe. TBI is a dynamic process that involves damage to the brain, thus leading to behavioral, cognitive, and emotional consequences and poor quality of life. Neurofeedback training (NFT) was employed as an intervention to study its efficacy in postconcussion symptoms, cognitive deficits, and quality of life. A pre-post design was adopted in which the intervention group underwent NFT and the other waitlist group served as a control. NFT was found to be efficacious in ameliorating postconcussion symptoms and cognitivedysfunctions and improving quality of life.

Brain Inconspicuous Effect by Local Sinusoidal Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Exposure Based on Wavelet Packet Analysis: Innovation in Online Passive Neurofeedback Therapy by the Neuro-LSELF System

Yasaman Zandi Mehran, Mohammad Firoozabadi, Reza Rostami — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -0400

Neurofeedback (NF) is a training approach that aims to reinforce brain activity by using the information of human electroencephalogram (EEG) rhythms as a feedback. In addition, some studies have reported Extremely Low Frequency (0–300 Hz, intensity<500 mT) Magnetic Field (ELF MF) effects upon the EEG and its rhythms. The purpose of this study is to determine if an approach that combines the effects of Local Sinusoidal Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields (LSELF MF) with NF yields higher performance on desired NF goals. The NF protocol used in this study consisted of enhancement of the beta rhythm and inhibition of
theta and high beta rhythms in exposed and sham groups for the purpose of improving attention. Twenty-four healthy subjects of at least average intelligence attended 10 sessions of NF training. Sixteen of them were exposed to 45 Hz sinusoidal ELF (360 mT) at F3 to lead to the desired LSELF MF effects on Cz. Wavelet packet analysis was used for the detection of changes in EEG rhythms. Results suggest that, compared to sham exposure, LSELF magnetic waves can significantly affect and modulate brainwaves according to this new neurofeedback
approach. In comparison to sham exposure, improved ability to attend (as measured by a decrease in the theta-to-beta ratio) was observed when LSELF MF was combined with NF (p<.05). The hypothesis that LSELF MF can affect the theta-to-beta ratio was confirmed. These effects occurred after approximately 10 min of each NF procedure. This study aimed to pilot a new NF system known as the Neuro-ELF system, a method that may allow for more effective control of brainwave activity. However, we suggest that the effects of LSELF-NF require further research.

A Comparative Investigation of Wavelet Families for Analysis of EEG Signals Related to Artists and Nonartists During Visual Perception, Mental Imagery, and Rest

Nasrin Shourie, S. Mohammad P. Firoozabadi, Kambiz Badie — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 00:00:00 -0400

Differences between the multichannel EEG signals of artists and nonartists were investigated using wavelet coefficients during visual perception and mental imagery tasks and at rest. The wavelet coefficients were calculated using wavelet functions such as Daubechies (order 1–10), Coiflets (order 1–5), and biorthogonal (order 2.4). Each of the calculated approximation and detail coefficients and their averages, standard deviations, and their energies were separately used for discriminating the two groups. The Davies-Bouldin Index was used for evaluation of the feature space quality. We found that the two groups are discriminable using the wavelet coefficients calculated by all of the studied wavelet functions. It was also observed that level of decomposition does not contribute significantly to discriminability. In addition, we observed no considerable difference between approximation and detail coefficients for discriminating the two groups. It was also found that a distinguishing coefficient may exist among the wavelet coefficients, which can discriminate the two groups despite electrode placement. However, separating the two groups is dependant on channel selection when using the energy, average, and standard deviation of the wavelet coefficients. Finally, the two groups were classified by selected wavelet coefficients and a neural gas classifier. The average classification accuracy was 100% for classification of the two groups in the at-rest condition.