EEG-based upper alpha neurofeedback training improves working memory performance

Escolano, Carlos; Aguilar, Maydané Torres; Mínguez, Javier · 2011 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1109/iembs.2011.6090651

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Summary

This study investigates whether EEG-based neurofeedback (NF) training targeting the individual upper alpha (UA) frequency band can improve working memory performance in healthy subjects. While NF has shown therapeutic potential for various disorders and cognitive enhancement, the reliability of its effects is often questioned due to a lack of deep electrophysiological analysis. Previous studies struggled with inter-user variations in alpha frequency and the unspecific nature of training the entire classical alpha band. This research addresses these issues by using the Individual Alpha Frequency (IAF) to define a user-specific UA band, aiming to validate trainability, independence from other frequency bands, and cognitive improvement, particularly in both active and passive resting states. The experimental design involved 16 healthy participants divided into an NF training group (10 subjects) and a control group (6 subjects). The NF group underwent five consecutive days of training sessions, each lasting 45 minutes. Sessions included passive and active assessment blocks and NF training trials. During training, subjects received visual feedback based on their UA power (defined as IAF to IAF+2 Hz) at posterior electrode sites. Active assessments required subjects to perform a cognitive task (counting color saturation changes), while passive assessments involved resting with eyes open. EEG signals were recorded from 12 electrodes, and artifacts were monitored via EOG. Working memory was evaluated using a conceptual span test administered before and after the training period. Three subjects in the NF group were excluded as non-responders, leaving six participants for the final analysis. The results demonstrated significant trainability of the UA band in both active and passive tasks, with UA power increasing significantly from the first to the last session. In active tasks, the training showed independence, meaning UA enhancement occurred without significant changes in lower alpha or lower beta bands. However, in passive resting states, while UA power increased, significant changes were also observed in the lower alpha band, indicating a lack of independence in this condition. Crucially, the NF training group showed a significant improvement in working memory performance compared to the control group. The mean increase in the conceptual span test score was 10.83 words for the NF group versus 1 word for the control group. The study concludes that individual upper alpha neurofeedback training is effective in enhancing UA power and improving working memory performance in healthy individuals. It confirms the reliability of UA training effects during active cognitive tasks, supporting the hypothesis that UA enhancement is linked to cognitive improvement. The findings also highlight that while UA enhancement persists in resting states, it may not be independent of lower alpha activity in passive conditions. This work provides solid evidence for the efficacy of user-specific NF protocols and suggests that targeting the upper alpha band is a viable method for cognitive enhancement, offering insights into the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying NF-induced behavioral changes.

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• cognitive capacity variation