Biofeedback of Event-Related Slow Potentials of the Brain

Abstract

A biofeedback paradigm was developed for self-regulation of cortical DC-shifts. Subjects received continuous visual feedback of their actual DC-shift during six sec. intervals. Feedback trial series alternated with transfer test trial series. Several studies demonstrated that subjects are able to achieve cortical self-regulation which is maintained and even improved in transfer test trials. This method is used to investigate the covariation of DC-shifts and performance in reaction time tasks, mental tasks and signal detection by varying DC-shifts systematically. The procedure was also applied to different patient groups to test the functional significance of distinct brain regions and to explore deficits in patient groups.