Advanced search
Publication Cover
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics Volume 6, 2006 - Issue 2
Submit an article Journal homepage
347
Views
74
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Review

Neurofeedback treatment of epilepsy: from basic rationale to practical application

Tobias Egner Functional MRI Research Center, Columbia University, Neurological Institute Box 108, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. [email protected]
&
M Barry Sterman Department of Neurobiology, UCLA, 315 S. Beverly Drive, Suite 409, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, USA. [email protected].
Pages 247-257 | Published online: 10 Jan 2014

References

  • Kotchoubey B, Kübler A, Strehl U, Flor H, Birbaumer N. Can humans perceive their brain states? Conscious Cogn. 11, 98–113 (2002).
  • Lacroix JM. Mechanisms of biofeedback control. In: Consciousness and Self-Regulation (Volume 4). Shapiro D, Schwartz GE (Eds). Plenum, NY, USA, 137–162 (1986).
  • Neumann N, Kübler A, Kaiser J, Hinterberger T, Birbaumer N. Perception of brain states: mental strategies for brain–computer communication. Neuropsychologia 41, 1028–1036 (2003).
  • Mann CA, Lubar JF, Zimmerman AW, Miller CA, Muenchen RA. Quantitative analysis of EEG in boys with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder: controlled study with clinical implications. Pediatr. Neurol. 8(1), 30–36 (1992).
  • Chabot RJ, Serfontein G. Quantitative electroencephalographic profiles of children with attention deficit disorder. Biol. Psychiatry 40(10), 951–963 (1996).
  • Monastra VJ, Lubar JF, Linden M et al. Assessing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder via quantitative electroencephalography: an initial validation study. Neuropsychology 13(3), 424–433 (1999).
  • Monastra VJ, Lubar JF, Linden M. The development of a quantitative electroencephalographic scanning process for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: reliability and validity studies. Neuropsychology 15(1), 136–144 (2001).
  • Barry RJ, Clarke AR, Johnstone SJ. A review of electrophysiology in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: I. Qualitative and quantitative electroencephalography. Clin. Neurophysiol. 114(2), 171–183 (2003).
  • Clarke AR, Barry RJ, McCarthy R, Selikowitz M. Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and comorbid oppositional defiant disorder: an EEG analysis. Psychiatry Res. 111(2–3), 181–190 (2002).
  • Magee CA, Clarke AR, Barry RJ, McCarthy R, Selikowitz M. Examining the diagnostic utility of EEG power measures in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Clin. Neurophysiol. 116(5), 1033–1040 (2005).
  • Henriques JB, Davidson RJ. Regional brain electrical asymmetries discriminate between previously depressed and healthy control subjects. J. Abnorm. Psychol. 99(1), 22–31 (1990).
  • Henriques JB, Davidson RJ. Left frontal hypoactivation in depression. J. Abnorm. Psychol. 100(4), 535–545 (1991).
  • Miller A, Fox NA, Cohn JF, Forbes EE, Sherrill JT, Kovacs M. Regional patterns of brain activity in adults with a history of childhood-onset depression: gender differences and clinical variability. Am. J. Psychiatry 159(6), 934–940 (2002).
  • Saletu B, Anderer P, Saletu-Zyhlarz GM, Pascual-Marqui RD. EEG mapping and low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) in diagnosis and therapy of psychiatric disorders: evidence for a key-lock principle. Clin. EEG Neurosci. 36(2), 108–115 (2005).
  • Egner T, Gruzelier JH. Learned self-regulation of EEG frequency components affects attention and event-related brain potentials in humans. NeuroReport 12(18), 4155–4160 (2001).
  • Egner T, Gruzelier JH. EEG Biofeedback of low beta band components: Frequency-specific effects on variables of attention and event-related brain potentials. Clin. Neurophysiol. 115, 131–139 (2004).
  • Gruzelier J, Egner T. Critical validation studies of neurofeedback. Child Adolesc. Psychiatr. Clin. N. Am. 14, 83–104 (2005).
  • Sterman MB. Physiological origins and functional correlates of EEG rhythmic activities: implications for self-regulation. Biofeedback Self Regul. 21, 3–33 (1996).
  • Roth SR, Sterman MB, Clemente CC. Comparison of EEG correlates of reinforcement, internal inhibition, and sleep. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol. 23, 509–520 (1967).
  • Sterman MB, Wyrwicka W. EEG correlates of sleep: evidence for separate forebrain substrates. Brain Res. 6, 143–163 (1967).
  • Wyrwicka W, Sterman MB. Instrumental conditioning of sensorimotor cortex EEG spindles in the waking cat. Physiol. Behav. 3, 703–707 (1968).
  • Sterman MB, Wyrwicka W, Roth SR. Electrophysiological correlates and neural substrates of alimentary behaviour in the cat. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 157, 723–739 (1969).
  • Howe RC, Sterman MB. Cortical-subcortical EEG correlates of suppressed motor behavior during sleep and waking in the cat. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol. 32, 681–695 (1972).
  • Harper RM, Sterman MB. Subcortical unit activity during a conditioned 12–14 Hz sensorimotor EEG rhythm in the cat. Fed. Proc. 31, 404 (1972).
  • Howe RC, Sterman MB. Somatosensory system evoked potentials during waking behaviour and sleep in the cat. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol. 34, 605–618 (1973).
  • Sterman MB, Bowersox SS. Sensorimotor EEG rhythmic activity: A functional gate mechanism. Sleep 4(4), 408–422 (1981).
  • Levesque J, Beauregard M. Effect of neurofeedback training on the neural substrates of selective attention in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Neurosci. Lett. (In Press) (2006).
  • Brodal P. The basal ganglia. In: The Central Nervous System: Structure and Function. Oxford University Press, NY, USA, 246–261 (1992).
  • Chevalier G, Deniau JM. Disinhibition as a basic process in the expression of striatal functions. Trends Neurosci. 13, 277–280 (1990).
  • DeLong MR. Primate models of movement disorders of basal ganglia origin. Trends Neurosci. 13, 281–285 (1990).
  • Chase MH, Harper RM. Somatomotor and visceromotor correlates of operantly conditioned 12–14 c/s sensorimotor cortical activity. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol. 31, 85–92 (1971).
  • Babb MI, Chase MH. Masseteric and digastric reflex during conditioned sensorimotor rhythm. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol. 36, 357–365 (1974).
  • Sterman MB. Principles of Neurotherapy. Proceedings of the Annual Conference. Int. Soc. Neuronal Reg. 13, 23 (2005).
  • Abel T, Lattal KM. Molecular mechanisms of memory acquisition, consolidation and retrieval. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 11, 180–187 (2001).
  • Malenka RC, Nicoll RA. Long-term potentiation–a decade of progress? Science 285, 1870–1874 (1999).
  • Soderling TR, Derkach VA. Postsynaptic protein phosphorylation and LTP. Trends Neurosci. 23, 75–80 (2000).
  • Walker MP. A refined model of sleep and the time course of memory formation. Behav. Brain Sci. 28, 51–64 (2005).
  • Froemke RC, Poo MM, Dan Y. Spike-timing-dependent synaptic plasticity depends on dendritic location. Nature 434, 221–225 (2005).
  • Sterman MB. Basic concepts and clinical findings in the treatment of seizure disorders with EEG operant conditioning. Clin. Electroenceph. 31(1), 45–55 (2000).
  • Rockstroh B, Elbert T, Birbaumer N et al. Cortical self-regulation in patients with epilepsies. Epilepsy Res. 14, 63–72 (1993).
  • Kotchoubey B, Strehl U, Holzapfel S, Blankenhorn V, Froscher W, Birbaumer N. Negative potential shifts and the prediction of the outcome of neurofeedback therapy in epilepsy. Clin. Neurophysiol. 110(4), 683–686 (1999).
  • Kotchoubey B, Strehl U, Uhlmann C et al. Modification of slow cortical potentials in patients with refractory epilepsy: a controlled outcome study. Epilepsia 42, 406–416 (2001).
  • Birbaumer N. Slow cortical potentials: their origin, meaning, and clinical use. In: Brain and behaviour - past, present and future. Boxtel GJM, von Böcker KBE (Eds), University Press, Tilborg, 25–39 (1997).
  • Hinterberger T, Veit R, Wilhelm B, Weiskopf N, Vatine JJ, Birbaumer N. Neuronal mechanisms underlying control of a brain–computer interface. Eur. J. Neurosci. 21, 3169–3181 (2005).
  • Sterman MB, Friar L. Suppression of seizures in an epileptic following sensorimotor EEG feedback training. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol. 33, 89–95 (1972).
  • Monderer RS, Harrison DM, Haut SR. Neurofeedback and epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 3, 214–218 (2002).
  • Walker JE, Kozlowski GP. Neurofeedback treatment of epilepsy. Child Adolesc. Psychiatr. Clin. N. Am. 14, 163–176 (2005).
  • Sterman MB, MacDonald LR, Stone RK. Biofeedback training of the sensorimotor EEG rhythm in man: effects on epilepsy. Epilepsia 15, 395–417 (1974).
  • Kaplan BJ. Biofeedback in epileptics: equivocal relationship of reinforced EEG frequency to seizure reduction. Epilepsia 16, 477–485 (1975).
  • Seifert AR, Lubar JF. Reduction of epileptic seizures through EEG biofeedback training. Biol. Psychol. 3, 157–184 (1975).
  • Cott A, Pavloski RP, Black AH. Reducing epileptic seizures through operant conditioning of central nervous system activity: procedural variables. Science 203, 73–75 (1979).
  • Finley WW, Smith HA, Etherton MD. Reduction of seizures and normalization of the EEG in a severe epileptic following sensorimotor biofeedback training: preliminary study. Biol. Psychiatry 2, 189–203 (1975).
  • Wyler AR, Robbins CA, Dodrill CB. EEG operant conditioning for control of epilepsy. Epilepsia 20, 279–286 (1996).
  • Kuhlman WN, Allison T. EEG feedback training in the treatment of epilepsy: some questions and some answers. Pav. J. Biol. Sci. 12(2), 112–122 (1978).
  • Quy RJ, Hutt SJ, Forrest S. Sensorimotor rhythm feedback training and epilepsy: some methodological and conceptual issues. Biol. Psychol. 9, 129–149 (1979).
  • Lubar JF, Bahler WW. Behavioral management of epileptic seizures following EEG biofeedback training of the sensorimotor rhythm. Biofeedback Self Regul. 7, 77–104 (1976).
  • Sterman MB, MacDonald LR. Effects of central cortical EEG feedback training on incidence of poorly controlled seizures. Epilepsia 19, 207–222 (1978).
  • Lubar JF, Shabsin HS, Natelson SE et al. EEG operant conditioning in intractible epileptics. Arch. Neurol. 38, 700–704 (1981).
  • Lantz D, Sterman MB. Neuropsychological assessment of subjects with uncontrolled epilepsy: effects of EEG biofeedback training. Epilepsia 29(2), 163–171 (1988).
  • Andrews DJ, Schonfeld WH. Predicitve factors for controlling seizures using a behavioral approach. Seizure 1(2), 111–116 (1992).
  • Sterman MB, Shouse MN. Quantitative analysis of training, sleep EEG and clinical response to EEG operant conditioning in epileptics. Electroenceph. Clin. Neurophysiol. 49, 558–576 (1980).
  • Whitsett SF, Lubar JF, Holder GS. A double-blind investigation of the relationship between seizure activity and the sleep EEG following EEG biofeedback training. Biofeedback Self Regul. 7, 193–209 (1982).
  • Etevenon P. Applications and perspectives of EEG cartography. In: Topographic mapping of brain electrical activity. Duffy FH (Ed.). Butterworths, MA, USA, 113–141 (1986).
  • Johnstone J, Gunkelman J, Lunt J. Clinical database development: characterization of EEG phenotypes. Clin. EEG Neurosci. 36, 99–107 (2005).
  • Lorensen TD, Dickson P. Quantitative EEG normative databases: a comparative investigation. J. Neurotherapy 8, 53–68 (2004).
  • Kaiser DA, Sterman MB. Automatic artifact detection, overlapping windows, and state transitions. J. Neurotherapy 4(3), 85–92 (2006).
  • Kaiser DA, Sterman MB. Correcting sampling bias of tapering windows. Int. J. Psychophysiol. (In Press) (2005).
  • Sterman MB, Kaiser DA. Comodulation: a new QEEG analysis metric for assessment of structural and functional disorders of the CNS. J. Neurotherapy 4(3), 73–83 (2001).
  • Thatcher RW. Cyclic cortical reorganization during early childhood. Brain Cogn. 20, 24–50 (1992).
  • Sterman MB, Mann CA, Kaiser DA, Suyenobu BY. Multiband topographic EEG analysis of a simulated visuomotor aviation task. Int. J. Psychophysiol. 16, 49–56 (1994).
  • Kaiser DA. QEEG: state of the art or state of confusion. J. Neurotherapy 4, 57–75 (2001).
  • Klimesch W, Schimke H, Pfurtscheller G. Alpha frequency, cognitive load and memory performance. Brain Topogr. 5, 241–251 (1993).
  • Brogden WJ. Animal studies of learning. In: Handbook of Experimental Psychology. Stevens SS (Ed.). John Wiley & Sons, NY, USA, 568–612 (1951).
  • Ferster CB, Skinner BF. In: Schedules of Reinforcement. Appleton-Century-Crofts, NY, USA. (1957).
  • Felsinger JM, Gladstone AL, Yamaguchi HG, Hull CL. Reaction latency (StR) as a function of the number of reinforcements. J. Exp. Psychol. 37, 214–228 (1947).
  • Grice GR. The relation of secondary reinforcement to delayed reward in visual discrimination learning. J. Exp. Psychol. 38, 1–16 (1948).
  • Pearce JM, Hall G. Overshadowing the instrumental conditioning of a lever-press response by a more valid predictor of reinforcement. J. Exp. Psychol. Anim. Behav. Process. 4, 356–367 (1978).
  • Williams BA. Associative competition in operant conditioning: blocking the response-reinforcer association. Psychon. Bull. Rev. 6, 618–623 (1999).
  • Hirshberg LM, Chiu S, Frazier JA. Emerging brain-based interventions for children and adolescents: overview and clinical perspective. Child Adolesc. Psychiatr. Clin. N. Am. 14, 1–19 (2005).

Websites

  • The Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA). www.bcia.org/
  • International Society for Neuronal Regulation. www.isnr.org/index.html

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Order Reprints Request Corporate Permissions

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

Request Academic Permissions

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.

Related research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.