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Klöbl M, Prillinger K, Diehm R, Doganay K, Lanzenberger R, Poustka L, Plener P, Konicar L. Individual brain regulation as learned via neurofeedback is related to affective changes in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2023; 17:6. [PMID: 36635760 PMCID: PMC9837918 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-022-00549-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emotions often play a role in neurofeedback (NF) regulation strategies. However, investigations of the relationship between the induced neuronal changes and improvements in affective domains are scarce in electroencephalography-based studies. Thus, we extended the findings of the first study on slow cortical potential (SCP) NF in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by linking affective changes to whole-brain activity during rest and regulation. METHODS Forty-one male adolescents with ASD were scanned twice at rest using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Between scans, half underwent NF training, whereas the other half received treatment as usual. Furthermore, parents reported on their child's affective characteristics at each measurement. The NF group had to alternatingly produce negative and positive SCP shifts during training and was additionally scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging while applying their developed regulation strategies. RESULTS No significant treatment group-by-time interactions in affective or resting-state measures were found. However, we found increases of resting activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and right inferior temporal gyrus as well as improvements in affective characteristics over both groups. Activation corresponding to SCP differentiation in these regions correlated with the affective improvements. A further correlation was found for Rolandic operculum activation corresponding to positive SCP shifts. There were no significant correlations with the respective achieved SCP regulation during NF training. CONCLUSION SCP NF in ASD did not lead to superior improvements in neuronal or affective functioning compared to treatment as usual. However, the affective changes might be related to the individual strategies and their corresponding activation patterns as indicated by significant correlations on the whole-brain level. Trial registration This clinical trial was registered at drks.de (DRKS00012339) on 20th April, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Klöbl
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Prillinger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Diehm
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kamer Doganay
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Luise Poustka
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Paul Plener
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lilian Konicar
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Hasslinger J, Meregalli M, Bölte S. How standardized are “standard protocols”? Variations in protocol and performance evaluation for slow cortical potential neurofeedback: A systematic review. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:887504. [PMID: 36118975 PMCID: PMC9478392 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.887504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofeedback (NF) aims to alter neural activity by enhancing self-regulation skills. Over the past decade NF has received considerable attention as a potential intervention option for many somatic and mental conditions and ADHD in particular. However, placebo-controlled trials have demonstrated insufficient superiority of NF compared to treatment as usual and sham conditions. It has been argued that the reason for limited NF effects may be attributable to participants' challenges to self-regulate the targeted neural activity. Still, there is support of NF efficacy when only considering so-called “standard protocols,” such as Slow Cortical Potential NF training (SCP-NF). This PROSPERO registered systematic review following PRISMA criteria searched literature databases for studies applying SCP-NF protocols. Our review focus concerned the operationalization of self-regulatory success, and protocol-details that could influence the evaluation of self-regulation. Such details included; electrode placement, number of trials, length per trial, proportions of training modalities, handling of artifacts and skill-transfer into daily-life. We identified a total of 63 eligible reports published in the year 2000 or later. SCP-NF protocol-details varied considerably on most variables, except for electrode placement. However, due to the increased availability of commercial systems, there was a trend to more uniform protocol-details. Although, token-systems are popular in SCP-NF for ADHD, only half reported a performance-based component. Also, transfer exercises have become a staple part of SCP-NF. Furthermore, multiple operationalizations of regulatory success were identified, limiting comparability between studies, and perhaps usefulness of so-called transfer-exercises, which purpose is to facilitate the transfer of the self-regulatory skills into every-day life. While studies utilizing SCP as Brain-Computer-Interface mainly focused on the acquisition of successful self-regulation, clinically oriented studies often neglected this. Congruently, rates of successful regulators in clinical studies were mostly low (<50%). The relation between SCP self-regulation and behavior, and how symptoms in different disorders are affected, is complex and not fully understood. Future studies need to report self-regulation based on standardized measures, in order to facilitate both comparability and understanding of the effects on symptoms. When applied as treatment, future SCP-NF studies also need to put greater emphasis on the acquisition of self-regulation (before evaluating symptom outcomes).
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Affiliation(s)
- John Hasslinger
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Healthcare Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm Healthcare Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- *Correspondence: John Hasslinger
| | - Micaela Meregalli
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm Healthcare Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sven Bölte
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Healthcare Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm Healthcare Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Curtin Autism Research Group, Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
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Pontikas CM, Tsoukalas E, Serdari A. A map of assistive technology educative instruments in neurodevelopmental disorders. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2020; 17:738-746. [PMID: 33125855 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2020.1839580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The use of assistive technology in mental health has gained an increased interest over the last decades. A growing number of studies have investigated diverse applications of technological interventions for rehabilitation of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. This article presents a map of the technological devises applied as therapeutic instruments. METHODS The research question of this review was which technological applications could be referred as an educational instrument for the management of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), intellectual disability and attention deficit disorder. The articles included in this review were collected after a structured literature search in electronic databases using keywords such as "Assistive Technology", "technology devices", "robots", "Autism Disorder", "Intellectual Disabilities" and "Mental Retardation". RESULTS Assistive technology with the most up-to-date devices and applications helps children with intellectual disability and ASDs enhance cognitive skills and improve challenging behaviour, social communication and academic performance. Different technological tools are used to foster attention span and improve time management skills in children with attention deficit syndrome. CONCLUSION It is important that therapists choose the instrument that will offer the best approach towards the goal that is set. Future research could provide evidence based data, evaluating each specific methodology and tailoring each therapeutic approach specifically to a case.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONTechnology creates environments in which children could practice and learn in a safer, more predictable and pleasant manner.Assistive Technologies provide the opportunity for better acquisition of selfhelp skills and the power of social interaction for individuals with disabilities.By mapping out the wide array of Assistive Technology that is available today, future applications for rehabilitation of children with neurodevelopmental disorders could help extend therapeutic strategies out of the clinical and school settings and into the home, thereby incorporating the family and emphasizing personalization.Future studies could develop a model for the choice and use of each tool, tailoring each therapeutic approach specifically to each case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos-Marios Pontikas
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Greece
| | - Ellia Tsoukalas
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Greece
| | - Aspasia Serdari
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, Greece
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Hasslinger J, D’Agostini Souto M, Folkesson Hellstadius L, Bölte S. Neurofeedback in ADHD: A qualitative study of strategy use in slow cortical potential training. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233343. [PMID: 32497051 PMCID: PMC7272030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofeedback (NF) as a treatment for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has gained growing interest in recent years. Most research has been quantitative, focusing on treatment outcomes, while qualitative approaches exploring the treatment process and participants’ experiences are scarce. The objective of this study was to examine NF participants’ use of cognitive and other strategies for approaching and solving NF tasks, their development over the course of the training and the influence of participants’ compliance.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Hasslinger
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet & Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Manoela D’Agostini Souto
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet & Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lisa Folkesson Hellstadius
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet & Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sven Bölte
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet & Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Curtin Autism Research Group, School of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
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Morales-Quezada L, Martinez D, El-Hagrassy MM, Kaptchuk TJ, Sterman MB, Yeh GY. Neurofeedback impacts cognition and quality of life in pediatric focal epilepsy: An exploratory randomized double-blinded sham-controlled trial. Epilepsy Behav 2019; 101:106570. [PMID: 31707107 PMCID: PMC7203763 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.106570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Children with epilepsy experience cognitive deficits and well-being issues that have detrimental effects on their development. Pharmacotherapy is the standard of care in epilepsy; however, few interventions exist to promote cognitive development and to mitigate disease burden. We aimed to examine the impact of two different modalities of neurofeedback (NFB) on cognitive functioning and quality-of-life (QOL) measurements in children and adolescents with controlled focal epilepsy. The study also explored the effects of NFB on clinical outcomes and electroencephalography (EEG) quantitative analysis. METHODS Participants (n = 44) with controlled focal epilepsy were randomized to one of three arms: sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) NFB (n = 15), slow cortical potentials (SCP) NFB (n = 16), or sham NFB (n = 13). All participants received 25 sessions of intervention. The attention switching task (AST), Liverpool Seizure Severity Scale (LSSS), seizure frequency (SF), EEG power spectrum, and coherence were measured at baseline, postintervention, and at 3-month follow-up. RESULTS In children and adolescents with controlled focal epilepsy, SMR training significantly reduced reaction time in the AST (p = 0.006), and this was correlated with the difference of change for theta power on EEG (p = 0.03); only the SMR group showed a significant decrease in beta coherence (p = 0.03). All groups exhibited improvement in QOL (p = <0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first data on two NFB modalities (SMR and SCP) including cognitive, neurophysiological, and clinical outcomes in pediatric epilepsy. Sensorimotor rhythm NFB improved cognitive functioning, while all the interventions showed improvements in QOL, demonstrating a powerful placebo effect in the sham group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Morales-Quezada
- Neuromodulation Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
| | - Diana Martinez
- Boston Neurodynamics, Brookline, Massachussetss, USA.,Neocemod, Centro de Neuromodulacion, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - Mirret M. El-Hagrassy
- Neuromodulation Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ted J. Kaptchuk
- Program in Placebo Studies and Therapeutic Encounter, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - M. Barry Sterman
- Department of Neurobiology, UCLA School of Medicine, USA; Department of Biobehavioral Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine, USA
| | - Gloria Y. Yeh
- Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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