Abstract
We studied changes in the frequency pattern of EEG related to a single session of biological feedback by the EEG characteristics (neurofeedback, NFB) directed toward an increase in the ratio of α/θ spectral powers (SPs) (an experimental group; 30 subjects) and to a session of the supposedly indifferent acoustic influence (listening to a musical background; 30 persons). A standard technique of EEG recording was used; the loudness of white noise overlapping the musical background served as an NFB signal. EEG was recorded from the C3 and C4 leads. Within the examined experimental group, an NFB session elicited a trend toward statistically insignificant decreases in the SPs of δ, α, and β rhythms and increases in the SPs of θ and γ EEG components. Listening to a supposedly neutral musical background by the control group, with no attempts at self-control of the SPs of EEG rhythms, was followed by rather clear unidirectional (partially significant) decreases in the SPs of θ, α, β, and γ components; the δ activity in the left hemisphere decreased, while in the right hemisphere it increased. In general, results of the single NFB session were characterized by a high interindividual variability, which can be related mostly to the specificities of psychophysiological characteristics of the personality of the tested subject.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
R. R. Williams, “Biofeedback: a technology for self-transaction” J. Transperson. Psychol., 8, No. 2, 119–127 (1976).
S. I. Soroko and T. Zh. Musuraliyev, “Possibilities for targeted modifications of the EEG parameters in humans using the technique of adaptive biocontrol,” Fiziol. Cheloveka, 21, No. 5, 5–17 (1995).
J. F. Lubar, “Neocortical dynamics: implication for understanding the role of neurofeedback and related techniques for the enhancement of attention,” Appl. Psychophysiol. Biofeedback, 22, No. 2, 111–126 (1997).
S. I. Soroko, S. S. Bekshayev, and Yu. A. Sidorov, Main Types of Mechanisms of Autoregulation of the Brain [in Russian], Nauka, Leningrad (1990).
W. B. Plotkin, “Long-term-closed alpha-enhancement training: effects on alpha amplitudes and on experiential state,” Psychophysiology, 15, No. 1, 40–52 (1978).
V. N. Chernigovskii, V. G. Markman, and A. V. Avsarki’yan, “Voluntary regulation of the alpha and theta rhythms in human EEG,” Fiziol. Cheloveka, 8, No. 5, 817–821 (1982).
M. J. Prewett and H. E. Adams, “Alpha activity suppression and enhancement as a function of feedback and instructions,” Psychophysiology, 13, No. 4, 307–310 (1976).
N. N. Danilova, “On individual peculiarities of the electrical activity of the brain hemisphere cortex in humans,” in: Typological Peculiarities of the Higher Nervous Activity of Humans [in Russian], Acad. Ped. Sci. of RSFSR, Moscow (1963), pp. 262–274.
H. Zeier and M. Crat, “Individuelle unterschiede beim trainieren von alpha-hirn-wellen mit Biofeedback,” Z. Exp. Angew. Psychol., 24, No. 4, 681–691 (1977).
H.-H. Decker-Voight, Introduction to Musical Therapy [in Russian], Piter, Saint Petersburg (2003).
Biopotentials of the Human Brain. Mathematical Analysis [in Russian], V. S. Rusinov (ed.), Meditsina, Moscow (1987).
V. Borovikov, STATISTICA. A Technique for Data Analysis using a Computer (for Professionals) [in Russian], Piter, Saint Petersburg (2003).
V. V. Arshavskii and V. S. Rotenberg, “Some electrophysiological characteristics of functional interhemisphere asymmetry,” Zh. Vyssh. Nerv. Deyat., 39, No. 1, 44–45 (1989).
L. P. Zenkov, Clinical Electroencephalography (with Elements of Epileptology) [in Russian], Taganrog Radiotechn. Univ., Taganrog (1996).
N. V. Makarenko, Psychophysiological Functions in Humans and Work of the Operator [in Russian], Naukova Dumka, Kyiv (1991).
V. D. Nebylitsin, “An electroencephalographic study of properties of the power and balance of nervous processes in humans using factorial analysis,” in: Typological Peculiarities of the Higher Nervous Activity of Humans [in Russian], Acad. Ped. Sci. of RSFSR, Moscow (1963), pp. 47–80.
I. S. Egorova, Electroencephalography [in Russian], Meditsina, Moscow (1973).
V. P. Simonov, “Theta rhythm and the mechanism of quantitation of engrams elicited from the memory,” in: Proc. of the 4th All-Union Conference “Memory and Trace Processes” (Pushchino, 1979) [in Russian], Pushchino (1979), pp. 77–79.
T. L. Bennet, “Bioelectrical activity of the hippocampus,” in: Functional Importance of Cerebral Electrical Processes [in Russian], Nauka, Moscow (1977), pp. 232–239.
N. S. Leitis, É. A. Golubeva, and B. R. Kadyrov, “Dynamic aspects of mental activity and the activated state of the brain,” in: Psychophysiological Studies of Intellectual Autoregulation and Activity [in Russian], V. M. Rusalov and É. A. Golubeva (eds.), Nauka, Moscow (1980), pp. 114–124.
I. N. Konareva, Individual Peculiarities of Event-Related EEG Potentials in Humans [in Russian], Abstr. of Cand. Thesis, Biol. Sci., Simferopol (2001).
F. Ya. Zolataryov, “On the similarity in the genesis of alpha waves and some forms of theta activity,” Fiziol. Cheloveka, 8, No. 4, 604–608 (1982).
M. B. Bodunov, “A study of the relations between the formal/dynamic aspect of activity and the integral parameters of the EEG,” in: Psychophysiological Studies of Intellectual Self-Regulation and Activity [in Russian], V. M. Rusalov and É. A. Golubeva (eds.), Nauka, Moscow (1980), pp. 57–82.
H. Petsche, “Wie entstent das EEG?” EEG-Lab., 11, No. 3, 120–135 (1989).
I. V. Ravich-Scherbo, T. M. Maryutina, and E. L. Grigorenko, Psychogenetics [in Russian], Aspect Press, Moscow (1999).
V. M. Storozhuk, “A conditioned reflex-related system of synaptic effects on neocortical neurons,” Zh. Vyssh. Nerv. Deyat., 40, No. 5, 819–833 (1990).
G. S. Dzhunusova and R. A. Kourmashev, “Using adaptive EEG-biocontrol for correction of the functional state of neurological patients,” Fiziol. Cheloveka, 28, No. 1, 18–22 (2002).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 37, Nos. 5/6, pp. 443–451, September–December, 2005.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Konareva, I.N. Modifications of the EEG frequency pattern in humans related to a single neurofeedback session. Neurophysiology 37, 388–395 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11062-006-0015-0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11062-006-0015-0