Optimization of the Neurofeedback protocol in children with Learning Disabilities and a lag in their EEG maturation
-
1
Instituto de Neurobiologia. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Mexico
-
2
Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Mexico
-
3
Centro de Neurociencias de Cuba, Rehabilitación Motora, Cuba
-
4
Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico, Facultad de Medicina, Mexico
-
5
Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Facultad de Psicologia, Mexico
Neurofeedback (NFB) is an operant conditioning procedure, whereby an individual can learn to modify the electrical activity of his/her own brain.Frequently, children with learning disabilities (LD) have an EEG characterized by an excess of theta and a deficit of alpha activities. NFB is a useful tool to treat LD children by positively reinforcing decrements of the theta/alpha ratio. Aim: to optimize the NFB procedure by comparing the efficacy of visual vs. auditory reinforcers, as well as positive vs. negative reinforcers.
Twenty LD children with an abnormally high theta/alpha ratio were randomly assigned to the AUD or the VIS group, where a 500 Hz tone or a visual stimulus (a white square) was used as a positive reinforcer, respectively, when the value of the theta/alpha ratio was reduced. Only the AUD group showed behavioral/cognitive improvements. Both groups had signs consistent with EEG maturation.
An additional sixteen LD children were randomly assigned to the NFB+ or the NFB- groups, where a positive or a negative reinforcer was given, respectively, when the value of theta/alpha ratio was reduced. A tone of 500 Hz was used either as positive or negative reinforcer. Both groups showed improvement of IQ, intellectual maturity, attention, academic achievement, and self-esteem. Furthermore, the NFB- group showed a significant improvement in reading comprehension and reasoning. Both groups showed changes in the EEG, which were compatible with EEG maturation. NFB applied with the negative reinforcer induced a greater and quicker improvement in behavior, cognition, and EEG values that did not diminish after 3 years.
Conclusion: The auditory negative reinforcer was more efficacious in reducing the theta/alpha ratio than the auditory and visual positive reinforcers.
Grants IN226001 and IN204103 from PAPIIT, 2001 and E59 from CONCYTEQ, and 69145 from CONACyT.
Keywords:
Neurofeedback,
qEEG,
Learning disabled children,
auditory and visual reinforces,
positive and negative reinforcers
Conference:
XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 27 Jul - 31 Jul, 2014.
Presentation Type:
Poster
Topic:
Methods Development
Citation:
Fernandez
T,
Harmony
T,
Bosch-Bayard
J,
Prado-Alcala
RA,
Otero-Ojeda
GA,
Garcia
F,
Rodriguez
M and
Becerra
J
(2015). Optimization of the Neurofeedback protocol in children with Learning Disabilities and a lag in their EEG maturation.
Conference Abstract:
XII International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON-XII).
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2015.217.00178
Copyright:
The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers.
They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters.
The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated.
Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed.
For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions.
Received:
19 Feb 2015;
Published Online:
24 Apr 2015.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Thalia Fernandez, Instituto de Neurobiologia. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Neurobiologia Conductual y Cognitiva, Juriquilla, Qro., Mexico, thaliafh@yahoo.com.mx