Difference between revisions of "Neurofeedback"
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Revision as of 13:09, 3 August 2017
List of Neurofeedback devices:
Neurofeedback stems from electroencephalography (EEG), the method of measure brain activity. Neurofeedback (also called 'EEG biofeedback' or 'brain–computer interface training') consists in providing its user information about his or her cortical activity, especially the frequency of brain waves, in an understandable way. It is supposed that the information allows him or her to change undesirable frequencies and improve his or her mental state in this way.[1] It is used as a treatment of anxiety, ADHD or for an improvement of user's mood. However, the efficacy of the therapy was not convincingly proved yet.[2]
Contents
Main Characteristics
Neurofeedback is a method in which participants learn how to influence electrical activity of their brains.[3] It is a part of biofeedback technique. Biofeedback consists in measuring different body features as temperature, blood pressure or heart rate, and learning participants to control their body processes by this knowledge. Neurofeedback focuses on the brain activity, which is measured by EEG.[4]
The brain activity is measured by electrodes in EEG. The activity is displayed in a form of brain waves. The brain waves differ in frequencies. There are four basic groups of frequencies: beta (more than 13 Hz), alpha (8 - 13 Hz), theta (4 - 8 Hz), and delta (0.5 - 4 Hz). EEG can diagnose brain death, coma, seizure, sleep disorder or alertness.[5] The aim of neurofeedback is to measure the brain activity and give a user a feedback if there are certain wrong patterns. The device delivers visual, auditive or audio-visual information which help users of neurofeedback devices to know, if they reduce the undesirable brain activity and increase the desirable one.[1]
The neurofeedback is used in medical clinics to treat ADHD epilepsy, autism, or insomnia. The treatment is, however, still experimental. The efficacy of neurofeedback has not been convincingly proven yet. There are also various non-medical clinics, which provide neurofeedback. They promised their customers reduction of certain disorders as anxiety, anger, an improvement of mood or an enhancement of cognitive skills as memory, attention, creativity, or intelligence.[6] There could be also purchased device for using neurofeedback at home.[7]
Purpose
Neurofeedback is a method used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders, by learning users how to regulate brain activity. The mothod has also potential to enhance certain cognitive skills.
Historical overview
The history of a measurement of an electrical activity of a brain began in 1875 when Richard Caton discovered that there is an electrical activity in a brain.[5] The measurement of this activity, electroencephalography (EEG) was introduced by Hans Berger between 1929 and 1938 in several papers.[8] Neurofeedback as a treatment was developed in 60s and 70s, while the research on this method was conducted primarily by the U.S. researchers. The subjects of the research were firstly cats but the researchers began the trials with human subjects soon after the introduction of the method. Neurofeedback was used for a therapeutic treatment as a reduction of seizures.[9] In 1969, J. Kamiya claimed in an article that healthy individuals might benefit from using neurofeedback as an enhancement.[1] Joel Lubar treated a child with hyperkinetic syndrome by neurofeedback in 1976 and described a reduction of hyperactivity and distractibility in his paper based on the results of the research.[10] Lubar's study is considered the first study on the effects of neurofeedback in ADHD.[11]
Important Dates
- 1875: Richard Caton discovered electrical activity in brain of animals[5]
- 1929-1934: Hans Berger described the measurement by a EEG device[8]
- 1960-1970: the development of neurofeedback as a treatment of seizures[9]
- 1969: J. Kamiya claimed that neurofeedback could be used as an enhancement by healthy inviduals[1]
- 1976: Joel Lubar used neurofeedback as a treatment of children suffering with ADHD[11]
Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/feb/21/research.games
https://www.theverge.com/2013/4/18/4226506/can-you-train-your-brain-to-heal-your-health
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890856716300958?via%3Dihub
The wearable devices which are currently available are focused primarily on the improvement of meditation as Muse or Melomind. There are also devices which should improve concentration as Mindset, Hit The Gold, or Brainno, reduce the level of stress as 4DForce or improve the working memory as Melon.
Ethical & Health Issues
Efficacy of the method
https://www.wired.com/2015/05/internet-anything-brain-monitors-going-mainstream-despite-skepticism/
Another issue is linked primarily with consumer neurofeedback devices. Namely, these devices has to struggle is the accuracy of their measurement. First, the signal from the brain could be mingled with electric signal which was produced by a different part of body. Second, the consumer NFT devices used dry electrodes, which are less reliable that wet electrodes used in the clinics, since the wet increases the conductivity.[12]
https://www.wareable.com/wearable-tech/looking-inside-the-brain-2219
What controls what
https://www.wired.com/2007/09/bci-games/
Although neurofeedback is considered to be not as invasive as other methods of brain stimulation, certain side effects of it were reported. It could cause headache, muscle twitches, tics, mental fogginess, sleep disturbance, fatigue, anxiety or irritability. There is also risk that a long-term NFT training might lead to a permanent microstructural changes in grey- and white-matter of a brain.[6]
Public & Media Impact and Presentation
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brain-myths/201302/read-paying-100s-neurofeedback-therapy-0
https://www.nationalelfservice.net/mental-health/adhd/neurofeedback-for-adhd-in-children/
http://www.brainworksneurotherapy.com/press/sunday-times-real-brainwave
The procedure is controversial, expensive and time-consuming. An average course of treatment, with at least 30 sessions, can cost $3,000 or more, and few health insurers will pay for it. Still, it appears to be growing in popularity.[9]
https://arstechnica.com/science/2015/11/can-you-think-yourself-into-a-different-person/?comments=1
Public Policy
Related Technologies, Projects, or Scientific Research
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 VERNON, D. et al. Alpha Neurofeedback Training for Performance Enhancement: Reviewing the Methodology. Journal of Neurotherapy: Investigations in Neuromodulation, Neurofeedback and Applied Neuroscience, 13(4), 2009, pp. 214-227, Doi: 10.1080/10874200903334397 Available online at: http://www.isnr-jnt.org/article/view/16632 (Retrieved 1st August, 2017).
- ↑ CORTESE, Samuele et al. Neurofeedback for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Meta-Analysis of Clinical and Neuropsychological Outcomes From Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 55(6), 2016, pp. 444-455, Doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2016.03.007 Available online at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890856716300958?via%3Dihub (Retrieved 1st August, 2017).
- ↑ VERNON, D. et al. The effect of training distinct neurofeedback protocols on aspects of cognitive performance. International Journal of Psychophysiology. 2003, 47(1), pp. 75-85. Doi: 10.1016/S0167-8760(02)00091-0 Available online at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167876002000910?via%3Dihub (Retrieved 2nd August, 2017).
- ↑ ROBERTS STOLER, Diane. What is Neurofeedback? Dr. Diane Brain Health [online]. Available online at: http://www.drdiane.com/treatments/neurofeedback/ (Retrieved 2nd August, 2017).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 TEPLAN, M. Fundamentals of EEG measurement. Measurement Science Review, 2002, 2(2), Available online at: http://www.edumed.org.br/cursos/neurociencia/MethodsEEGMeasurement.pdf (Retrieved 3rd August, 2017).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 MASLEN, Hannah et al. The regulation of cognitive enhancement devices: extending the medical model. Journal of Law and the Biosciences [online]. 2004, Mar. Doi:10.1093/jlb/lst003 Available online at: http://jlb.oxfordjournals.org/content/1/1/68.full (Retrieved 7th December, 2016).
- ↑ CADDY, Becca. How mind reading wearables let us delve inside our brains. Wareable [online]. 2016, Jan 26. Available online at: https://www.wareable.com/wearable-tech/looking-inside-the-brain-2219 (Retrieved 3rd August, 2017).
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 KAISER, David A. Basic Principles of Quantitative EEG. Journal of Adult Development, 12(2/3), August 2005. Doi: 10.1007/s10804-005-7025-9 Available online at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10804-005-7025-9 (Retrieved 1st August, 2017).
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 ELLISON, Katherine. Neurofeedback Gains Popularity and Lab Attention. The New York Times [online]. 2010, Oct 4. Available online at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/health/05neurofeedback.html (Retrieved 1st August, 2017).
- ↑ LUBAR, Joel F, SHOUSE, Margaret N. EEG and behavioral changes in a hyperkinetic child concurrent with training of the sensorimotor rhythm (SMR), Biofeedback and Self-regulation, 1976, 1(3), pp. 293–306. Available online at: http://neurofeedbackclinic.ca/journals/ADHD_ADD/adhd05.pdf (Retrieved 1st August, 2017).
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 ARNS, Martijn, HEINRICH, Hartmut, STREHL, Ute. Evaluation of neurofeedback in ADHD: The long and winding road. Biological Psychology, 2014, 95, pp. 108-115. Doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.11.013 Available online at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301051113002469#bib0260 (Retrieved 1st August, 2017).
- ↑ CHEN, Angela. Can headphones train you to focus better?: Maybe not. The Verge [online]. 2017, Mar 3. Available online at: https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/3/14802936/mindset-headphones-neurofeedback-eeg-attention-focus-brain-training (Retrieved 3rd August, 2017).
