synchrony
synchrony relates to brain function and cognitive performance. Peak Brain Institute explores how QEEG brain mapping and neurofeedback training connect to synchrony through evidence-based approaches. Explore our 2 research papers covering this topic.
Research Papers
Brain dysfunction in chronic pain patients assessed by resting-state electroencephalography
Chronic pain is a common and severely disabling disease whose treatment is often unsatisfactory. Insights into the brain mechanisms of chronic pain promise to advance the understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and might help to develop disease markers and novel treatments. Here, we systematically exploited the potential of electroencephalography to determine abnormalities of brain function during the resting state in chronic pain. To this end, we performed state-of-the-art analyses of oscillatory brain activity, brain connectivity, and brain networks in 101 patients of either sex suffering from chronic pain. The results show that global and local measures of brain activity did not differ between chronic pain patients and a healthy control group. However, we observed significantly increased connectivity at theta (4-8 Hz) and gamma (>60 Hz) frequencies in frontal brain areas as well as global network reorganization at gamma frequencies in chronic pain patients. Furthermore, a machine learning algorithm could differentiate between patients and healthy controls with an above-chance accuracy of 57%, mostly based on frontal connectivity. These results suggest that increased theta and gamma synchrony in frontal brain areas are involved in the pathophysiology of chronic pain. Although substantial challenges concerning the reproducibility of the findings and the accuracy, specificity, and validity of potential electroencephalography-based disease markers remain to be overcome, our study indicates that abnormal frontal synchrony at theta and gamma frequencies might be promising targets for noninvasive brain stimulation and/or neurofeedback approaches.
View Full Paper →Towards a Coherent View of Brain Connectivity
Background. The electroencephalogram provides a myriad of opportunities to detect and assess brain function and brain connectivity. Method. This article describes the relationship between local and non-local brain activation and synchrony, and discusses the use of appropriate connectivity measures to study and train functional brain connectivity. Specific connectivity measures are described including coherence, phase, synchrony, correlation, and comodulation. The measures are contrasted and compared in terms of their ability to detect particular aspects of connectivity and their usefulness for neurofeedback training. Results. Connectivity metrics for example EEG data are calculated and shown graphically, to illustrate relevant principles. Conclusion. It is possible to assess brain connectivity and integrated function for both assessment and training, through the use of appropriate metrics and display methods.
View Full Paper →Related Topics
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