Musings on Neurofeedback

NPR on Neurofeedback

2010-11-05T06:12:00.000-07:00

National Public Radio, this last week, had a major story on the application of neurofeedback, or eeg biofeedback, with attention disorder. The extended story documented the experience of a youngster with ADHD and therapeutic value of neurofeedback. Other professionals were interviewed to explain the mechanics and other applications of neurofeedback.

You can listen and/or read the article at ...
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130896102

I should have the story up on my website sometime soon.

Joseph

New York Times on Neurofeedback

2010-10-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

This last Tuesday in the NYT Health Section there was a major article on eeg biofeedback, aka neurofeedback. The article nytimes.com/2010/10/05/health/05neurofeedback.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=neurofeedback&st=cse notes the growing appreciation for and acceptance of neurofeedback by the public and academia.

The author of the book, The Brain That Changes Itself, Columbia University Professor Dr Norman Doidge, suggest that neurofeedback appears to be exercising the brains natural "neuroplasticity", a capacity to renew itself. Even long-time critic Russell Barkley acknowledged that he was reconsidering neurofeedback.

The Brain that Changes Itself: a great read

2010-04-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

Book Recommendation:

The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge

This is a great book that helps one more concretely understand neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to build new pathways. Scientist for some time have understood that the brain functioned through localization, that is that particular specific sites of the brain managed specific tasks (such as comprehending language).

While different parts of the brain specialize, the brain has an inborn capacity to forge new pathways when need (such as after a brain injury). This book is a great laymen's introduction to the way clinicians are utilizing neuroplasticity to improve human performance.

The author of the book, Dr Norman Doidge, is a Columbia University Neurologist and Psychiatrist. He goes on a fascinating journey exploring the brain. A great read.

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=brain+that+changes+itself&sprefix=brain+that+

London Study on Neurofeedback Brain Change

2010-04-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

This is the study I promised some weeks ago, finally had a chance to locate and cut and paste...
BTW, the supervising professor in this study, Dr John Gruzelier, did an intriguing bit of research exploring the impact of neurofeedback on musical performance. More on that another time.

Researchers discover first direct evidence of neuroplastic changes following brainwave training
Published: 10 March 2010 11:00

Significant changes in brain plasticity observed following alpha brainwave training.

A pioneering collaboration between two laboratories from the University of London has provided the first evidence of neuroplastic changes occurring directly after natural brainwave training. Researchers from Goldsmiths and the Institute of Neurology have demonstrated that half an hour of voluntary control of brain rhythms is sufficient to induce a lasting shift in cortical excitability and intracortical function. Remarkably, these after-effects are comparable in magnitude to those observed following interventions with artificial forms of brain stimulation involving magnetic or electrical pulses. The novel finding may have important implications for future non-pharmacological therapies of the brain and calls for a serious re-examination and stronger backing of research on neurofeedback, a technique which may be promising tool to modulate cerebral plasticity in a safe, painless, and natural way.

Inner control of one’s own brain activity may be learned with the aid of a brain-computer interface, which acts to display a person’s instantaneous brain activation on a computer screen through what is known as a “neurofeedback” loop. During brainwave neurofeedback, a visual display on a computer screen behaves like a virtual “mirror” to real electrical oscillations produced by neurons in the cerebral cortex, which are recorded by surface sensors on the scalp. Lead author Tomas Ros, and co-authors Diane Ruge and Moniek Munneke, under the supervision of Professors John Gruzelier and John Rothwell, utilised noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulators (TMS) to investigate whether any tangible changes in cortical function take place shortly after a single sitting of brainwave self-regulation. This was done by applying a short magnetic pulse externally to the scalp to stimulate the motor cortex, producing a muscle twitch which remained proportional to the level of neural responsiveness (or “excitability”) of the cortex. Ros and colleagues observed that the cortical response following activating neurofeedback (which involved suppressing alpha brainwaves) was significantly enhanced and accompanied by a disinhibition of intracortical synaptic function of up to 150%. Such after-effects persisted for at least 20 minutes following termination of training, a time-course indicative of neuroplastic change.

The findings have recently been published in the February issue of the reputable European Journal of Neuroscience.

Meta-Analysis, or review of reviews, on NFB

2010-04-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

For the client I promised a reference to the newest meta-analysis on neurofeedback for attention disorders... here is an article and reference.

New research shows: Neurofeedback is an ‘Evidence-Based’ treatment for ADHD.

Jul 16th, 2009

by Martijn Arns.

Nijmegen, July 16th 2009 – Neurofeedback – also called EEG Biofeedback – is a method used to train brain activity in order to normalize Brain function and treat psychiatric disorders. This treatment method has gained interest over the last 10 years, however the question whether this treatment should be regarded as an Evidence-Based treatment was unanswered until now. Tomorrow a study will be published in the scientific journal ‘EEG and Clinical Neuroscience’ demonstrating that Neurofeedback can indeed be regarded as an evidence-based treatment for Attention Deficit- / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Neurofeedback is a treatment where real-time feedback is provided for specific brain activity (most often EEG) in order to learn the brain to suppress or produce specific brain activity. This method was initially discovered for the treatment of Epilepsy and from 1976 investigated further for the treatment of ADHD. This technique has become more popular by clinicians worldwide, and is currently provided for the treatment of several disorders. Critics have often questioned the efficacy of Neurofeedback and whether it can be considered an Evidence Based treatment or not.

In collaboration with researchers from Tübingen University (Germany), Radboud University (Nijmegen, the Netherlands), Brainclinics and EEG Resource Institute a so-called meta-analysis was conducted on all published research about Neurofeedback treatment in ADHD. This meta-analysis included 15 studies and 1194 ADHD patients. Based on this study – which will be published in the July issue of EEG and Clinical Neuroscience – it could be concluded that Neurofeedback can indeed be considered an Evidence-Based treatment for ADHD. The results show that neurofeedback treatment has large and clinically significant effects on Impulsivity and Inattention and a modest improvement of Hyperactivity.

These findings apply to Neurofeedback treatment for ADHD, but do not automatically imply that Neurofeedback can be considered evidence based for any disorder. The efficacy of Neurofeedback has to be assessed separately for each disorder. For example, a meta-analysis of EEG biofeedback in Epilepsy is published in the same issue of EEG and Clinical Neuroscience demonstrating clinical efficacy in the treatment of epilepsy.

Interested clients are advised to make an informed choice regarding Neurofeedback therapists, since there is a large heterogeneity in neurofeedback treatment approaches and clinicians. It is advised to look for psychologists or physicians who are at least a member of a professional organization such as the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR: www.isnr.org) or other professional organizations and who use investigated methods.

Literature Arns, M., de Ridder, S., Strehl, U., Breteler, M. & Coenen, A. Efficacy of Neurofeedback Treatment in ADHD: The effects on Inattention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity: a Meta-Analysis. EEG and Clinical Neuroscience; 40(3), 180-189.

2010-03-31T08:20:00.000-07:00

More on London Study...

The London Study was a well-received confirmation that neurofeedback training is generating the development of changes to the brains hard-wiring. These researchers use instrumentation to confirm that the training one does in neurofeedback observably modifies the connectivity of the brain. Will include the link to this study in an upcoming post.

European Review on Neurofeedback for ADHD

I promised a client to reference the 2010 clinical review on NFB for ADHD. The European Scientific Community has it's own take on research and often prove to be a useful compliment to American Perspectives. Will note the link ASAP.

JB

London Study

2010-03-15T16:40:00.000-07:00

First Blog. The news from London is excellent.