scholarly journals Effects of Neurofeedback on the Working Memory of Children with Learning Disorders—An EEG Power-Spectrum Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 957
Author(s):  
Benito J. Martínez-Briones ◽  
Jorge Bosch-Bayard ◽  
Rolando J. Biscay-Lirio ◽  
Juan Silva-Pereyra ◽  
Lucero Albarrán-Cárdenas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Power Spectrum ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Learning Disorders ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Theta Power ◽  
Eeg Power Spectrum ◽  
Eeg Abnormalities ◽  
Eeg Power

Learning disorders (LDs) are diagnosed in children impaired in the academic skills of reading, writing and/or mathematics. Children with LDs usually exhibit a slower resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG), corresponding to a neurodevelopmental lag. Frequently, children with LDs show working memory (WM) impairment, associated with an abnormal task-related EEG with overall slower EEG activity (more delta and theta power, and less gamma activity in posterior sites). These EEG patterns indicate inefficient neural resource management. Neurofeedback (NFB) treatments aimed at normalizing the resting-state EEG of LD children have shown improvements in cognitive-behavioral indices and diminished EEG abnormalities. Given the typical findings of WM impairment in children with LDs, we aimed to explore the effects of an NFB treatment on the WM of children with LDs by analyzing the WM-related EEG power spectrum. EEGs of 18 children (8–11 y.o.) with LDs were recorded, pre- and post-treatment, during performance of a Sternberg-type WM task. Thirty sessions of an NFB treatment (NFB-group, n = 10) or 30 sessions of a placebo-sham treatment (sham-group, n = 8) were administered. We analyzed the before and after treatment group differences for the behavioral performance and the WM-related EEG power spectrum. The NFB group showed faster response times in the WM task post-treatment. They also exhibited a decreased theta power and increased beta and gamma power at the frontal and posterior sites post-treatment. We explain these findings in terms of NFB improving the efficiency of neural resource management, maintenance of memory representations, and improved subvocal memory rehearsal.

scholarly journals Effects of Neurofeedback in the Working Memory of Children with Learning Disorders: An EEG Power-Spectrum Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benito Javier Martínez-Briones ◽  
Jorge Bosch-Bayard ◽  
Rolando Jose Biscay-Lirio ◽  
Lucero Albarrán-Cárdenas ◽  
Juan Silva-Pereyra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Power Spectrum ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Learning Disorders ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Gamma Activity ◽  
Eeg Power Spectrum ◽  
Eeg Abnormalities ◽  
Beta Power ◽  
Eeg Power

Learning disorders (LD) are diagnosed in children impaired in the academic skills of reading, writing and/or mathematics. Children with LD usually show a slower resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG), with EEG patterns corresponding to a neurodevelopmental lag. LD-children also show a consistent cognitive impairment in working memory (WM), including an abnormal task-related EEG with an overall slower EEG activity of more delta and theta power, and less gamma activity in posterior sites; task-related EEG patterns considered indices of an inefficient neural resource management. Neurofeedback (NFB) treatments aimed at normalizing the resting-state EEG of LD-children have shown improvements in cognitive-behavioral indices and diminished EEG abnormalities. Given the typical findings of a WM impairment in LD-children; we aimed to explore the effects of a NFB treatment in the WM of children with LD, by analyzing the WM-related EEG power-spectrum. We recruited 18 children with LD (8-10 years old). They performed a Sternberg-type WM-task synchronized with an EEG of 19 leads (10-20 system) twice in pre-post treatment conditions. They went through either 30 sessions of a NFB treatment (NFB-group, n= 10); or through 30 sessions of a placebo-sham treatment (Sham-group, n= 8). We analyzed the before-after treatment group differences for the behavioral performance and the WM-related power-spectrum. The NFB group showed faster response times in the WM-task post-treatment. They also showed an increased gamma power at posterior sites and a decreased beta power. We explain these findings in terms of NFB improving the maintenance of memory representations coupled with a reduction of anxiety.

scholarly journals EEG power spectral slope differs by ADHD status and stimulant medication exposure in early childhood

2019 ◽  
Vol 122 (6) ◽  
pp. 2427-2437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeline M. Robertson ◽  
Sarah Furlong ◽  
Bradley Voytek ◽  
Thomas Donoghue ◽  
Charlotte A. Boettiger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Power Spectrum ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Spectral Slope ◽  
Children With Adhd ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Eeg Power Spectrum ◽  
Eeg Power

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattentiveness. Efforts toward the development of a biologically based diagnostic test have identified differences in the EEG power spectrum; most consistently reported is an increased ratio of theta to beta power during resting state in those with the disorder, compared with controls. Current approaches calculate theta/beta ratio using fixed frequency bands, but the observed differences may be confounded by other relevant features of the power spectrum, including shifts in peak oscillation frequency and altered slope or offset of the aperiodic 1/ f-like component of the power spectrum. In the present study, we quantify the spectral slope and offset, peak alpha frequency, and band-limited and band-ratio oscillatory power in the resting-state EEG of 3- to 7-yr-old children with and without ADHD. We found that medication-naive children with ADHD had higher alpha power, greater offsets, and steeper slopes compared with typically developing children. Children with ADHD who were treated with stimulants had comparable slopes and offsets to the typically developing group despite a 24-h medication-washout period. We further show that spectral slope correlates with traditional measures of theta/beta ratio, suggesting the utility of slope as a neural marker over and above traditional approaches. Taken with past research demonstrating that spectral slope is associated with executive functioning and excitatory/inhibitory balance, these results suggest that altered slope of the power spectrum may reflect pathology in ADHD. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This article highlights the clinical utility of comprehensively quantifying features of the EEG power spectrum. Using this approach, we identify, for the first time, differences in the aperiodic components of the EEG power spectrum in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and provide evidence that spectral slope is a robust indictor of an increase in low- relative to high-frequency power in ADHD.

EEG power spectrum typical of vascular dementia in a subgroup of Alzheimer patients

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Signorino ◽  
Eugenio Pucci ◽  
Enrico Brizioli ◽  
Gabriella Cacchio ◽  
Giuseppe Nolfe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Spectrum ◽  
Vascular Dementia ◽  
Eeg Power Spectrum ◽  
Eeg Power

scholarly journals EEG Theta Power Activity Reflects Workload among Army Combat Drivers: An Experimental Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Diaz-Piedra ◽  
María Victoria Sebastián ◽  
Leandro L. Di Stasi
Keyword(s):  
Power Spectrum ◽  
Mental Workload ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Subjective Data ◽  
Eeg Activity ◽  
The Road ◽  
Task Load ◽  
Eeg Power Spectrum ◽  
Dynamic Simulator ◽  
Eeg Power

We aimed to evaluate the effects of mental workload variations, as a function of the road environment, on the brain activity of army drivers performing combat and non-combat scenarios in a light multirole vehicle dynamic simulator. Forty-one non-commissioned officers completed three standardized driving exercises with different terrain complexities (low, medium, and high) while we recorded their electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. We focused on variations in the theta EEG power spectrum, a well-known index of mental workload. We also assessed performance and subjective ratings of task load. The theta EEG power spectrum in the frontal, temporal, and occipital areas were higher during the most complex scenarios. Performance (number of engine stops) and subjective data supported these findings. Our findings strengthen previous results found in civilians on the relationship between driver mental workload and the theta EEG power spectrum. This suggests that EEG activity can give relevant insight into mental workload variations in an objective, unbiased fashion, even during real training and/or operations. The continuous monitoring of the warfighter not only allows instantaneous detection of over/underload but also might provide online feedback to the system (either automated equipment or the crew) to take countermeasures and prevent fatal errors.

The hypnospectrogram: An EEG power spectrum based means to concurrently overview the macroscopic and microscopic architecture of human sleep

2009 ◽  
Vol 185 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasileios Kokkinos ◽  
Andreas Koupparis ◽  
Maria L. Stavrinou ◽  
George K. Kostopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Power Spectrum ◽  
Eeg Power Spectrum ◽  
Human Sleep ◽  
Eeg Power
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