scholarly journals Improving Cognitive Workload in Radiation Therapists: A Pilot EEG Neurofeedback Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alana M. Campbell ◽  
Matthew Mattoni ◽  
Mae Nicopolis Yefimov ◽  
Karthik Adapa ◽  
Lukasz M. Mazur
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Response Time ◽  
Global Field ◽  
Cognitive Workload ◽  
Performance Task ◽  
Global Field Power ◽  
Eeg Neurofeedback ◽  
Microstate Analysis ◽  
Electroencephalogram Eeg ◽  
A Performance

Radiation therapy therapists (RTTs) face challenging daily tasks that leave them prone to high attrition and burnout and subsequent deficits in performance. Here, we employed an accelerated alpha-theta neurofeedback (NF) protocol that is implementable in a busy medical workplace to test if 12 RTTs could learn the protocol and exhibit behavior and brain performance-related benefits. Following the 3-week protocol, participants showed a decrease in subjective cognitive workload and a decrease in response time during a performance task, as well as a decrease in desynchrony of the alpha electroencephalogram (EEG) band. Additionally, novel microstate analysis for neurofeedback showed a significant decrease in global field power (GFP) following neurofeedback. These results suggest that the RTTs successfully learned the protocol and improved in perceived cognitive workload following 3 weeks of neurofeedback. In sum, this study presents promising behavioral improvements as well as brain performance-related evidence of neurophysiological changes following neurofeedback, supporting the feasibility of implementing neurofeedback in a busy workplace and encouraging the further study of neurofeedback as a tool to mitigate burnout.

How to Design a Performance Task

Science Scope ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 042 (07) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Stoll ◽  
Susan Schultz
Keyword(s):  
Performance Task ◽  
A Performance

scholarly journals Synaptic Molecular and Neurophysiological Markers Are Independent Predictors of Progression in Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Una Smailovic ◽  
Ingemar Kåreholt ◽  
Thomas Koenig ◽  
Nicholas J. Ashton ◽  
Bengt Winblad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Global Field ◽  
Prognostic Indicators ◽  
Early Event ◽  
Functional Markers ◽  
Beta Band ◽  
Global Field Power ◽  
Synaptic Markers ◽  
Eeg Recordings

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurogranin and quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) are potential molecular and functional markers of synaptic pathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Synaptic markers have emerged as candidate prognostic indicators of AD since synaptic degeneration was shown to be an early event and the best correlate of cognitive deficits in patients along the disease continuum. Objective: The present study investigated the association between CSF neurogranin and qEEG measures as well as their potential to predict clinical deterioration in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. Methods: Patients diagnosed with MCI (n = 99) underwent CSF conventional AD biomarkers and neurogranin analysis and resting-state EEG recordings. The study population was further stratified into stable (n = 41) and progressive MCI (n = 31), based on the progression to AD dementia during two years follow-up. qEEG analysis included computation of global field power and global field synchronization in four conventional frequency bands. Results: CSF neurogranin levels were associated with theta power and synchronization in the progressive MCI group. CSF neurogranin and qEEG measures were significant predictors of progression to AD dementia, independent of baseline amyloid status in MCI patients. A combination of CSF neurogranin with global EEG power in theta and global EEG synchronization in beta band exhibited the highest classification accuracy as compared to either of these markers alone. Conclusion: qEEG and CSF neurogranin are independent predictors of progression to AD dementia in MCI patients. Molecular and neurophysiological synaptic markers may have additive value in a multimodal diagnostic and prognostic approach to dementia.

scholarly journals Calculation and Analysis of Microstate Related to Variation in Executed and Imagined Movement of Force of Hand Clenching

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunfa Fu ◽  
Jian Chen ◽  
Xin Xiong
Keyword(s):  
Grip Force ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Hand Movement ◽  
Local Maximum ◽  
Topographic Map ◽  
Mu Rhythm ◽  
Global Field Power ◽  
Frequency Bands ◽  
Microstate Analysis ◽  
Imagined Movement

Objective. In order to investigate electroencephalogram (EEG) instantaneous activity states related to executed and imagined movement of force of hand clenching (grip force: 4 kg, 10 kg, and 16 kg), we utilized a microstate analysis in which the spatial topographic map of EEG behaves in a certain number of discrete and stable global brain states. Approach. Twenty subjects participated in EEG collection; the global field power of EEG and its local maximum were calculated and then clustered using cross validation and statistics; the 4 parameters of each microstate (duration, occurrence, time coverage, and amplitude) were calculated from the clustering results and statistically analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA); finally, the relationship between the microstate and frequency band was analyzed. Main Results. The experimental results showed that all microstates related to executed and imagined grip force tasks were clustered into 3 microstate classes (A, B, and C); these microstates generally transitioned from A to B and then from B to C. With the increase of the target value of executed and imagined grip force, the duration and time coverage of microstate B gradually decreased, while these parameters of microstate C gradually increased. The occurrence times of microstate B and C related to executed grip force were significantly more than those related to imagined grip force; furthermore, the amplitudes of these 3 microstates related to executed grip force were significantly greater than those related to imagined grip force. The correlation coefficients between the microstates and the frequency bands indicated that the microstates were correlated to mu rhythm and beta frequency bands, which are consistent with event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) phenomena of sensorimotor rhythm. Significance. It is expected that this microstate analysis may be used as a new method for observing EEG instantaneous activity patterns related to variation in executed and imagined grip force and also for extracting EEG features related to these tasks. This study may lay a foundation for the application of executed and imagined grip force training for rehabilitation of hand movement disorders in patients with stroke in the future.

scholarly journals Electrophysiological correlates of visual backward masking in patients with bipolar disorder

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Garobbio ◽  
Maya Roinishvili ◽  
Ophélie Favrod ◽  
Janir Ramos da Cruz ◽  
Eka Chkonia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Global Field ◽  
Target Onset ◽  
Backward Masking ◽  
Global Field Power ◽  
Functional Psychoses ◽  
Visual Backward Masking

AbstractBackgroundIn visual backward masking (VBM), a target is followed by a mask that decreases target discriminability. Schizophrenia patients (SZ) show strong and reproducible masking impairments, which are associated with reduced EEG amplitudes. Patients with bipolar disorder (BP) show masking deficits, too. Here, we investigated the neural EEG correlates of VBM in BP.Methods122 SZ, 94 unaffected controls, and 38 BP joined a standard VBM experiment. 123 SZ, 94 unaffected controls and 16 BP joined a corresponding EEG experiment, analyzed in terms of the global field power.ResultsAs in previous studies, SZ and BP show strong masking deficits. Importantly and similarly to SZ, BP show decreased global field power amplitudes at approximately 200 ms after the target onset, compared to controls.ConclusionsThese results suggest that VBM deficits are not specific for schizophrenia but for a broader range of functional psychoses. Potentially, both SZ and BP show deficient target enhancement.

Performance-Based Adaptive Automation: Number of Task Types and Response Time Measures Triggering Level of Automation Changes

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-41
Author(s):  
Gloria Calhoun ◽  
Heath Ruff ◽  
Elizabeth Frost ◽  
Sarah Bowman ◽  
Jessica Bartik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Response Time ◽  
System Performance ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Adaptive Automation ◽  
Level Of Automation ◽  
Control Schemes ◽  
Task Types ◽  
A Performance

A key challenge facing automation designers is how to achieve an ideal balance of system automation with human interaction for optimal operator decision making and system performance. A performance-based adaptive automation algorithm was evaluated with two versus six monitored task types. Results illustrate the importance of level of automation choices in control schemes.

scholarly journals Mental rotation of sequentially presented 3D figures: sex and sex hormones related differences in behavioural and ERP measures

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramune Griksiene ◽  
Aurina Arnatkeviciute ◽  
Rasa Monciunskaite ◽  
Thomas Koenig ◽  
Osvaldas Ruksenas
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Mental Rotation ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Global Field Power ◽  
Angular Disparity ◽  
3D Objects ◽  
Performance Accuracy ◽  
Related Potentials

AbstractMental rotation of 3D objects demonstrates one of the largest sex differences. We investigated sex and sex hormones-related differences in behaviour and event related potentials (ERP) using a modified Shepard and Metzler task composed of sequentially presented 3D figures in 29 men and 32 women. We demonstrated a significant increase in response time and decrease in both accuracy and positivity of the parietal ERP with increasing angular disparity between the figures. Higher angular disparity evoked an increase of global field power (GFP) from 270 to 460 ms and different activation topographies from 470 to 583 ms with lower parietal, but higher left frontal positivity. Flatter slopes in higher angular disparity condition suggest distinct strategies being implemented depending on the difficulty of the rotation. Men performed the task more accurately than women. Performance accuracy in women tended to be negatively related to estradiol while the response time tended to increase with increasing progesterone. There were no associations with testosterone. Women demonstrated higher GFP and an increased positivity over the parietal scalp area, while men showed higher activation in the left frontal cortex. Together these findings indicate dynamic angular disparity- and sex-related differences in brain activity during mental rotation of 3D figures.

scholarly journals Development of a rotational set‐up correction device for stereotactic head radiation therapy: A performance evaluation

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 206-212
Author(s):  
Keisuke Usui ◽  
Akira Isobe ◽  
Naoya Hara ◽  
Tomoya Muroi ◽  
Osamu Sajiki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Performance Evaluation ◽  
Set Up ◽  
A Performance
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