double-blind study

Research Papers

Influence of electroencephalography neurofeedback training on episodic memory: A randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind study

Guez, Jonathan, Rogel, Ainat, Getter, Nir, Keha, Eldad, Cohen, Tzlil, Amor, Tali, Gordon, Shirley, Meiran, Nachshon, Todder, Doron (2015) · Memory

The relationships between memory processes and oscillatory electroencephalography (EEG) are well established. Neurofeedback training (NFT) may cause participants to better regulate their brain EEG oscillations. The present study is a double-blind sham-controlled design investigating the effect of NFT on memory. NFT included up-training upper alpha (UA) band, up-training sensory-motor rhythm (SMR) band and sham protocol. Thirty healthy adult volunteers were randomly divided into three treatment groups. NFT sessions (30 min each) took place twice weekly for a total of 10 sessions while memory testing took place pre- and post-training. The results indicate dissociation between SMR and UA NFT and different memory processes. While the SMR protocol resulted in improving automatic, item-specific and familiarity-based processes in memory, the UA protocol resulted in improved strategic and controlled recollection. The implications of the results are discussed.

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Double-blind single-session neurofeedback training in upper-alpha for cognitive enhancement of healthy subjects

Escolano, C., Olivan, B., Lopez-del-Hoyo, Y., Garcia-Campayo, J., Minguez, J. (2012) · Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference

This paper reports on a single-session neurofeedback (NF) training procedure on the user-specific upper alpha band for cognitive enhancement in healthy users. A double-blind study was designed using a NF group and an active control group. Control group performed as the NF group but received sham feedback, minimizing the non-specific factors of training. This design aimed to (i) investigate upper alpha as a NF parameter, (ii) evaluate the NF effects on upper alpha during the execution of a cognitive task, and (iii) evaluate the effects on cognitive performance by means of a cognitive task and a battery of psychological tests. Results of EEG analysis show the key role of the feedback: only the NF group enhanced upper alpha during the training, and it led to a desynchronization increase during the execution of the cognitive task. Regarding the behavioral results, a strong learning effect was observed, with the NF group performing better in almost all measurements but many of them without statistical significance.

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