Portable wireless neurofeedback system of EEG alpha rhythm enhances memory

BioMedical Engineering OnLine

Sheng-Fu Liang¹  You-De Liu¹  Ting-Ying Wei¹  Chung-Ping Young¹  Da-Wei Chang¹  Chen-Wei Liu¹  Fu-Zen Shaw² 

[1] Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Cheng Kung University;Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University;

关键词: Neurofeedback;    Alpha rhythm;    Memory;    Wireless;    Bluetooth;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12938-017-0418-8

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Effect of neurofeedback training (NFT) on enhancement of cognitive function or amelioration of clinical symptoms is inconclusive. The trainability of brain rhythm using a neurofeedback system is uncertainty because various experimental designs are used in previous studies. The current study aimed to develop a portable wireless NFT system for alpha rhythm and to validate effect of the NFT system on memory with a sham-controlled group. Methods The proposed system contained an EEG signal analysis device and a smartphone with wireless Bluetooth low-energy technology. Instantaneous 1-s EEG power and contiguous 5-min EEG power throughout the training were developed as feedback information. The training performance and its progression were kept to boost usability of our device. Participants were blinded and randomly assigned into either the control group receiving random 4-Hz power or Alpha group receiving 8–12-Hz power. Working memory and episodic memory were assessed by the backward digital span task and word-pair task, respectively. Results The portable neurofeedback system had advantages of a tiny size and long-term recording and demonstrated trainability of alpha rhythm in terms of significant increase of power and duration of 8–12 Hz. Moreover, accuracies of the backward digital span task and word-pair task showed significant enhancement in the Alpha group after training compared to the control group. Conclusions Our tiny portable device demonstrated success trainability of alpha rhythm and enhanced two kinds of memories. The present study suggest that the portable neurofeedback system provides an alternative intervention for memory enhancement.

【 授权许可】

Unknown