EEG neurofeedback: A brief overview and an example of peak alpha frequency training for cognitive enhancement in the elderly

Clinical Neuropsychologist

Volumn 21, Issue 1, 2007, Pages 110-129

  Angelakis, Efthymios ^a   Stathopoulou, Stamatina ^a   Frymiare, Jennifer L ^b   Green, Deborah L ^a   Lubar, Joel F ^c   Kounios, John ^a  

^a DREXEL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON   (United States)

^c UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE   (United States)

Author keywords

Biofeedback; Cognitive aging; Cognitive enhancement; EEG; Neurofeedback; Neuroplasticity; Peak alpha frequency

Indexed keywords

AGED; BRAIN FUNCTION; CHILDHOOD; COGNITION; CONTROLLED STUDY; CORRELATION ANALYSIS; ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM; FEEDBACK SYSTEM; FEMALE; HUMAN; HUMAN EXPERIMENT; INSTRUMENTAL CONDITIONING; MALE; MEDICAL RESEARCH; MEMORY; MENTAL DISEASE; NEUROLOGIC DISEASE; NORMAL HUMAN; PILOT STUDY; REVIEW; THERAPY EFFECT; TRAINING;

AGED; ALPHA RHYTHM; BIOFEEDBACK (PSYCHOLOGY); CEREBRAL CORTEX; COGNITION DISORDERS; DOUBLE-BLIND METHOD; ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY; FEMALE; HUMANS; MALE; MEMORY; NEURONAL PLASTICITY; NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS; PILOT PROJECTS; PROBLEM SOLVING; REACTION TIME; REFERENCE VALUES;

EID: 33847166983     PISSN: 13854046     EISSN: 17444144     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/13854040600744839     Document Type: Review

References (54)

1. Angelakis, E., Lubar, J. F., & Stathopoulou, S. (2004a). Electroencephalographic peak alpha frequency correlates of cognitive traits. Neuroscience Letters, 371, 60-63.
2. Angelakis, E., Lubar, J. F., Stathopoulou, S., & Kounios, J. (2004b). Peak alpha frequency: An electroencephalographic measure of cognitive preparedness. Clinical Neurophysiology, 15, 887-897.
3. Beatty, J., Greenberg, A., Deibler, W. P., & O'Hanlon, J. F. (1974). Operant control of occipital theta rhythm affects performance in a radar monitoring task. Science, 183, 871-873.
4. Berger, H. (1929). Uber das Elektrenkephalogramm des Menschen. Archiv für Psychiatrie, 87, 527.
5. Bresnahan, S. M., Anderson, J. W., & Barry, R. J. (1999). Age-related changes in quantitative EEG in attention-deficit=hyperactivity disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 46, 1690-1697.
6. Chabot, R. J., di Michele, F., Prichep, L., & John, E. R. (2001). The clinical role of computerized EEG in the evaluation and treatment of learning and attention disorders in children and adolescents. Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 13, 1-16.
7. Chabot, R. J., & Serfontein, G. (1996). Quantitative electroencephalographic profiles of children with attention deficit disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 40, 951-963.
8. Duffy, F. H., Iyer, V. G., & Surwillo, W. W. (1989). Clinical electroencephalography and topographic brain mapping: Technology and practice. New York: Springer-Verlag.
9. Egner, T., & Gruzelier, J. (2004). EEG Biofeedback of low beta band components: Frequency-specific effects on variables of attention and event-related brain potentials. Clinical Neurophysiology, 115, 131-139.
10. Fernandez, T., Harmony, T., diaz-Comas, L., Herrera, W., Aboytes, G., Fernandez-Bouzas, A. et al. (2003). Neurofeedback effect on EEG current sources. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, New York City, NY.
11. Garrett, B. L. & Silver, M. P. (1976). The use of EMG and alpha biofeedback to relieve test anxiety in college students. In I. Wickramasekera (Ed.), Biofeedback, behavior therapy, and hypnosis. Chicago, IL: Nelson-Hall.
12. Hardt, J. V., & Kamiya, J. (1978). Anxiety change through electroencephalographic alpha feedback seen only in high anxiety subjects. Science, 201, 79-81.
13. Homan, R. W. (1998). The 10-20 electrode system and cerebral location. American Journal of EEG Technology, 28, 269-279.
14. Jarusiewicz, B. (2002). Efficacy of neurofeedback for children in the autistic spectrum: A pilot study. Journal of Neurotherapy, 6, 39-50.
15. Klimesch, W. (1997). EEG-alpha rhythms and memory processes. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 26, 319-340.
16. Kopruner, V., Pfurtscheller, G., & Auer, L. M. (1984). Quantitative EEG in normals and in patients with cerebral ischemia. In G. Pfurtscheller, E. J. Jonkman, & F. Lopes da Silva (Eds.), Brain ischemia: Quantitative EEG and imaging techniques (pp. 29-35). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
17. Kotchoubey, B., Strehl, U., Holzapfel, S., Schneider, D., Blankenhorn, V., & Birbaumer, N. (1999). Control of cortical excitability in epilepsy. In H. Stefan, F. Andermann, P. Chauvel, & S. Shorvon (Eds.), Advances in neurology (Vol. 8). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
18. Linden, M., Habib, T., & Radijevic, V. (1996). A controlled study of the effects of EEG biofeedback on cognition and behavior of children with attention deficit disorder and learning disabilities. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 21, 35-49.
19. Lubar, J. F. (1991). Discourse on the development of EEG diagnostics and biofeedback for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 16, 201-225.
20. Lubar, J. F. (1997). Neocortical dynamics: Implications for understanding the role of neurofeedback and related techniques for the enhancement of attention. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 22, 111-126.
21. Lubar, J. F. (2003). Neurofeedback for the management of attention-deficit disorders. In M. S. Schwartz & F. Andrasik (Eds.), Biofeedback: A practitioner's guide (pp. 409-437). New York: The Guilford Press.
22. Lubar, J. F., & Lubar, J. O. (1984). Electroencephalographic biofeedback of SMR and beta for treatment of attention deficit disorders in a clinical setting. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 9, 1-23.
23. Lubar, J. F., & Lubar, J. O. (1999). Neurofeedback assessments and treatment for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders. In J. R. Evans & A. Abarbanel (Eds.), Introduction to quantitative EEG and neurofeedback (pp. 103-143). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
24. Lubar, J. F., & Shouse, M. N. (1976). EEG and behavioral changes in a hyperkinetic child concurrent with training of the sensorimotor rhythm (SMR). Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 1, 293-306.
25. Lubar, J. F., Swartwood, M. O., Swartwood, J. N., & O'Donnell, P. H. (1995). Evaluation of the effectiveness of EEG neurofeedback training for ADHD in a clinical setting as measured by changes in T.O.V.A. scores, behavioral ratings, and WISC-R performance. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 20, 83-99.
26. Mann, C. A., Lubar, J. F., Zimmerman, A. W., Miller, C. A., & Muenchen, R. A. (1992). Quantitative analysis of EEG in boys with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder: Controlled study with clinical implications. Pediatric Neurology, 8, 30-36.
27. Monastra, V. J. (2003). Clinical applications of electroencephalographic biofeedback. In M. S. Schwartz & F. Andrasik (Eds.), Biofeedback: A practitioner's guide (pp. 438-463). New York: The Guilford Press.
28. Monastra, V. J., Lubar, J. F., & Linden, M. (2001). The development of a quantitative electroencephalographic scanning process for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: Reliability and validity studies. Neuropsychology, 15, 1336-1344.
29. Moore, N. C. (2000). A review of EEG biofeedback treatment for anxiety disorders. Clinical Electroencephalography, 31, 1-6.
30. Nash, J. K. (2000). Treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with neurotherapy. Clinical Electroencephalography, 31, 30-37.
31. Penfield, W., & Jasper, H. (1954). Epilepsy and the functional anatomy of the human brain. Boston, MA: Little Brown.
32. Peniston, E. G., & Kulkosku, P. J. (1989). Alpha-theta brainwave training and beta endorphin levels in alcoholics. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 13, 271-279.
33. Pilgreen, K. L. (1995). Physiologic, medical, and cognitive correlates of electroencephalography. In P. L. Nunez (Ed.), Neocortical dynamics and EEG rhythm (pp. 195-248). New York: Oxford University Press.
34. Plotkin, W. B., & Rice, K. M. (1981). Biofeedback as a placebo: Anxiety reduction facilitated by training in either suppression or enhancement of alpha brainwaves. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 49, 590-596.
35. Posthuma, D., Neale, M. C., Boomsma, D. I., & de Geus, E. J. C. (2001). Are smarter brains running faster? Heritability of alpha peak frequency, IQ, and their interrelation. Behavioral Genetics, 31, 567-579.
36. Pulvermueller, F., Mohr, B., Scheichert, H., & Veit, R. (2000). Operant conditioning of left-hemisphere slow cortical potentials and its effect on word processing. Biological Psychology, 53, 177-215.
37. Rasey, H. W., Lubar, J. E., McIntyre, A., Zoffuto, A. C., & Abbott, P. L. (1996). EEG biofeedback for the enhancement of attentional processing in normal college students. Journal of Neurotherapy, 1, 15-21.
38. Raven, J. C. (1960). Guide to the Standard Progressive Matrices. London: H. K. Lewis & Co.
39. Rice, K. M., Blanchard, E. B., & Purcell, M. (1993). Biofeedback treatments of generalized anxiety disorder: Preliminary results. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 18, 93-105.
40. Shouse, M. N., & Lubar, J. F. (1979). Operant conditioning of EEG rhythms and Ritalin in the treatment of hyperkinesis. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 4, 299-312.
41. Spielberger, C. D., Barker, L. R., Russell, S. F., Crane, R. S., Westberry, L. G., Knight, J. et al. (1979). The preliminary manual for the State-Trait Personality Inventory. Unpublished manual, University of South Florida.
42. Sterman, M. B. (1996). Physiological origins and functional correlates of EEG rhythmic activities: Implications for self-regulation. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 21, 3-33.
43. Sterman, M. B. (2000). Basic concepts and clinical findings in the treatment of seizure disorders with EEG operant conditioning. Clinical Electroencephalography, 31, 45-55.
44. Stroop, J. R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18, 643-662.
45. Sulser, F. (1989). New perspectives on the molecular pharmacology of affective disorders. European Archives of Psychiatry & Neurological Sciences, 238, 231-239.
46. Thatcher, R. (1999). EEG database-guided neurotherapy. In J. R. Evans & A. Abarbanel (Eds.), Introduction to quantitative EEG and neurofeedback (pp. 29-65). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
47. Thatcher, R. W. (2000). EEG operant conditioning (biofeedback) for traumatic brain injury. Clinical Electroencephalography, 31, 38-44.
48. Trudeau, D. L. (2000). The treatment of addictive disorders by brain wave biofeedback: A review and suggestions for future research. Clinical Electroencephalography, 31, 13-22.
49. Twemlow, S. W., & Bowen, W. T. (1976). EEG biofeedback induced self actualization in alcoholics. Journal of Biofeedback, 3, 20-25.
50. Vernon, D., Egner, T., Cooper, N., Compton, T., Neilends, C., Sheri, A. et al. (2003). The effect of training distinct neurofeedback protocols on aspects of cognitive performance. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 47, 75-85.
51. Wechsler, D. (1995). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Press.
52. Wechsler, D. (1997). Wechsler Memory Scale-III. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
53. Welsh, K. A., Butters, N., Hughes, J. P., Mohs, R. C., & Heyman, A. (1991). Detection of abnormal memory decline in mild cases of Alzhemier's disease using CERAD neuropsychological measures. Archives of Neurology, 48, 278-281.
54. Woodcock, R. W., & Johnson, M. B. (1977). Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery. Hingham, MA: Teaching Resources.