feedback training
Research Papers
Area-specific self-regulation of slow cortical potentials on the sagittal midline and its effects on behavior
Exteroceptive feedback was given for negative and positive shifts in slow potentials (SPs) recorded from Fz, Cz, or Pz (between groups design). Slow potentials at the feedback site were referred to adjacent scalp and non-cephalic electrodes, so as to confine SP shifts to the feedback location. Area-specific regulation of SPs was obtained at each midsagittal site after 3 days of feedback training. Subjects reported sensorimotor and emotional arousal when negative SP shifts were trained frontally, but not when negative shifts were trained parietally (cognitive/attentional strategies reported after parietal feedback). Area-specific regulation of SPs was subsequently abolished when behavioral tasks were added to further probe frontal/parietal differences (dual-task procedure). These findings indicate that area-specific self-regulation of SPs is possible on the sagittal midline, and that self-regulated parietal SPs (in contrast to frontal ones) arise from non-motoric generators. The source of SP self-regulation was more readily probed by verbal reports of feedback strategy than by study of dual-task relations, because feedback control was disrupted by the dual-task requirement.
View Full Paper →EEG Operant Conditioning for Control of Epilepsy
Summary: We report the results of 23 severely epileptic patients who were given EEG feedback training. The paradigm reinforced the patients' 18 Hz activity over the scalp approximation of their focus while suppressing temporalis EMG and low frequency EEG activity. In contrast to other studies using EEG feedback, only 43% of patients showed significant changes in seizure occurrence and a lesser number were felt to have benefited clinically. None of our neuropsychological test parameters were helpful in identifying (prospectively or retrospectively) patients most likely to respond to this treatment. Although a few patients were significantly helped by this training, the mechanism for this effect is unclear. RÉSUMÉ Les auteurs rapportent les résultats obtenu chez 23 épileptiques graves qui ont été soumis a un appren-tissage de l'EEG par retroaction biologique (EEG feedback). Le principe de l'apprentissage etait de renforcer les activites EEG rapides a 18 cps et de supprimer les activites EEG lentes et l'activité des muscles temporaux. Contrairement a ce qui a ete observe dans d'autres etudes utilisant l'EEG feedback, 43% seulement des patients ont montre une modification significative du nombre de leurs crises et un nombre moins important encore ont donne l'impres-sion de tirer un benefice clinque. Aucun des parametres de nos tests neuropsychologiques utilises chez les patients à permis d'identifier (prospectivement ou retrospectivement) ceux d'entre eux qui etaient les plus aptes à repondre a ce traitement. Bien que quelques uns des sujets ont été significativement aidés par cet apprentissage, le mécanisme de cet effet n'est pas évident. RESUMEN Damos cuenta de los resultados obtenidos en 23 pacientes con epilepsia severa que fueron entrenados en el metodo de autocontrol del EEG. El ejemplo hizo que los pacientes pudiesen aumentar la actividad de 18 Hz sobre el area epiléptica mientras que suprimi'an las bajas frecuencias en el EEG y la actividad temporal en el EMG. En contraste con otros informes en los que se us6 el mismo metodo, sólo el 43% de nuestros pacientes mostrt un cambio significativo en el numero de crisis y tan sólo un numero menor de enfermos recibieron beneficios clfnicos. Ninguno de los parametros de las pruebas neurofisiolbgicas llevadas a cabo fueron utiles (prospectiva o retrospectiva-mente) determinando que pacientes eran mas probables de beneficiarse de este tratamiento. Aunque unos pocos pacientes fueron ayudados por este entrena-miento, el mecanismo de este efecto no esta claro. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Wir berichten uber die Ergebnisse eines EEG-Feedback-Trainings bei 23 schwer epileptischen Patienten. Das Muster verstarkte beim Patienten die Fahigkeit, eine 18 Hz Aktivitat über der Schädelober-flache in Nahe ihres Fokus zu steigern und gleich-zeitig temporal das EMG und die niederfrequente EEG Aktivitat zu vermindern. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Untersuchungen, die mit dem EEG-Feedback arbeiteten zeigten nur 43% der Patienten signifikante Veranderungen der Anfallshäufigkeit und eine kleinere Anzahl schien klinisch gebessert zu sein. Keine unserer neuropsychologischen Testparameter half zu unterscheiden (prospektiv oder retrospektiv), welche Patienten hochstwahrscheinlich auf diese Behandlung ansprechen werden. Obgleich einigen wenigen Patienten durch dieses Training geholfen werden konnte, ist der Mechanismus dieses Einflusses unklar.
View Full Paper →EEG feedback training in the treatment of epilepsy: Some questions and some answers
A basic question in EEG feedback training of epileptic patients is whether the decrease in seizures is specifically due to the training or to other factors. Questions may also be raised as to what EEG changes are involved. Preliminary results in five patients suggest that seizure reductions can occur with training which are not due to placebo or nonspecific effects or to changes in medication compliance. These changes occurred rapidly during EEG-contingent feedback training but not when feedback was random in relation to the EEG. Reliable changes in the EEG were also observed, but the question of which mechanism accounts for these results has yet to be answered.
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