slow brain potentials

slow brain potentials relates to brain function and cognitive performance. Peak Brain Institute explores how QEEG brain mapping and neurofeedback training connect to slow brain potentials through evidence-based approaches. Explore our 2 research papers covering this topic.

Research Papers

Operant control of EEG and event-related and slow brain potentials

Rockstroh, Brigitte, Birbaumer, Niels, Elbert, Thomas, Lutzenberger, Werner (1984) · Biofeedback and Self-Regulation

Research on operant control of brain potentials is reviewed. From single-unit firing and spontaneous EEG activity to event-related potentials such as sensory and pain evoked potentials, and slow potential shifts, most of the aspects of electrical brain activity have been investigated. Results produced by conditioning of spontaneous EEG oscillations (alpha and theta) dampened the early enthusiasm: e.g., no increase above baseline levels could be achieved and no reliable behavioral effects became manifest. Evidence accumulates, however, that operant conditioning of the sensorimotor rhythm (12-15 Hz) may lead to successful self-regulation and that epileptic patients may profit from the training. First steps in the conditioning of brainstem, as well as pain evoked potentials suggest that self-regulation of EPs can be achieved by adequate biofeedback procedures. If some of the observed behavioral effects prove to be stable, the therapeutic usefulness seems to be within reach. A comparable progress has been achieved for the operant control of slow potentials (DC-shifts across seconds). Biofeedback procedures have been used successfully as a scientific tool to achieve systematic variations on a psychological level and to record psychological covariations. This method may provide insights into the behavioral meaning of electrical brain activity.

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Biofeedback produced slow brain potentials and task performance

Lutzenberger, Werner, Elbert, Thomas, Rockstroh, Brigitte, Birbaumer, Niels (1982) · Biological Psychology

Twenty subjects learned to control slow potential (SP) shifts of the brain by means of a biofeedback procedure. Depending upon the pitch of a signal tone, negative SP shifts had to be increased or reduced during intervals of 6 sec each. Visual feedback of the actual SP shift was given. Blocks of training trials alternated with blocks of test trials without any feedback of the SPs. At the end of every test trial a simple arithmetic problem had to be solved by the subjects. Subjects performed the computation in a shorter time interval if an increased negativity preceded task onset as compared to slower response times during suppression of negativity. Results suggest that cortical negativity reflects unspecific preparation for cerebral performance.

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