Neurofeedback Training to Increase of Cognitive Skills in Patient with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Abstract

The aim of this case analysis was to study the effect Neurofeedback (NFB) training protocol in attention, memory, verbal fluency and speed in an 18-yearold woman patient who suffered a severe TBI due to major car accident one year ago, who presented disoriented, with both, anterograde memory and attention problems at the time of neuropsychology consultation. Additionally, absence crises, quadrantanopsia and left divergent strabismus was reported.Electroencephalogram study reports a predominance in a right parieto-temporal slow brain activity. Thus, we proposed 20 sessions of neurofeedback training protocol aimed to increase beta wave and inhibit theta wave. After four months, the patient experienced a significant improvements in attention, coding, working memory and processing speed. The cognitive performance improvements was associate, with a slow brain waves percentage decrease, which according to previous research could be related with low blood flow. Copyright: ©2018 Riaño-Garzón et al. Keywords:Wechsler intelligence scale III: [11] an instrument for to calculate the intellectual profile and that was used to evaluate speed of processing, attention and working memory. This instrument offers conversion to scalar scores for each subtest. figure: [12] which was used to evaluate visual memory. Rey complex ProcedureThe intervention program was developed in three phases: a) Evaluation of attention processes, memory and language B) Implementation of NFB Protocol and c) Post-intervention assessment.The NFB program was developed in three sessions per week, each session lasting 30 minutes. A training NFB protocol was used directed to increase the brain-wave of 12-16 Hz (beta wave) and inhibition the slower brain-wave of 4-7 Hz (theta wave) in a monopolar montage. Twenty training sessions were conducted. ResultsThe NFB training program was useful in increasing visual attention, attentional span, short-term verbal and visual memory, processes where equal to above-average performances are observed according to the participant's age (Table 1). In addition, there were improvements in long-term memory, working memory and verbal fluency; however, these results did not reach the expected levels. Improvements in cognitive performance due to NFB are explained by the modification of the cortical electrical activity, where a decrease in theta wave was observed from an initial percentage of 28.75 to a final percentage of 19.80 ( Figure 1). Visual attention Copyright: ©2018 Riaño-Garzón et al. DiscussionCognitive impairment, especially attention and memory, stands out in the TBI [13], for this reason, the object of study was to increase attention, memory, verbal fluency and speed through a NFB training protocol. The results showed that NFB generated improvement in the cognitive processes of the patient with TBI after a stimulation process of 30 sessions compared to its initial evaluation.The observed increases in visual and auditory attention, coincide with findings of Bernal [14]; Gadea, Aliño, et al. [15], who found signi...

Cognitive rehabilitation in a case of traumatic brain injury using EEG-based neurofeedback in comparison to conventional methods

“…Besides, Beta band (12.5-30 Hz) is usually divided into high beta, mid beta and low beta. Within the low beta range, we can differentiate the sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) (13)(14)(15), the activation of the SMR is correlated with movement inhibition [4], and improvement of concentration, sustained attention [15], semantic memory [16], working memory [17], and information processing facilitation [4]. Beta and theta band fluctuations have been correlated with memory and attention.…”

“…Given the heterogeneity of the TBI structural and network damages, EEG-NFB design needs to be individualized. Due to the frequency of impairment of these functions in TBI and the importance of these essential functions for the performance of more complex cognitive tasks, some authors have selected the increase of the beta band and the inhibition of theta as a primary objective to rehabilitate [17][18][19][20].…”