Self‐regulation of the brain's right frontal Beta rhythm using a brain‐computer interface

Abstract

Neural oscillations, or brain rhythms, fluctuate in a manner reflecting ongoing behavior. Whether these fluctuations are instrumental or epiphenomenal to the behavior remains elusive. Attempts to experimentally manipulate neural oscillations exogenously using noninvasive brain stimulation have shown some promise, but difficulty with tailoring stimulation parameters to individuals has hindered progress in this field. We demonstrate here using electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback in a brain-computer interface that human participants (n = 44) learned over multiple sessions across a 6-day period to self-regulate their Beta rhythm (13-20 Hz), either up or down, over the right inferior frontal cortex. Training to downregulate Beta was more effective than training to upregulate Beta. The modulation was evident only during neurofeedback task performance but did not lead to offline alteration of Beta rhythm characteristics at rest, nor to changes in subsequent cognitive behavior. Likewise, a control group (n = 38) who underwent training to up or downregulate the Alpha rhythm (8-12 Hz) did not exhibit behavioral changes. Although the right frontal Beta rhythm has been repeatedly implicated as a key component of the brain's inhibitory control system, the present data suggest that its manipulation offline prior to cognitive task performance does not result in behavioral change in healthy individuals. Whether this form of neurofeedback training could serve as a useful therapeutic target for disorders with dysfunctional inhibitory control as their basis remains to be tested in a context where performance is abnormally poor and neural dynamics are different. K E Y W O R D S alpha oscillations, beta oscillations, brain-computer interface, inhibitory control, neurofeedback, stop signal task [Correction added on June 11, 2022, after first online publication: DOI number was updated in 2.5 section instead of the text '[URL to be inserted after acceptance]'].

Efficacy of audiovisual neurofeedback training for attention enhancement: a multimodal approach

“…Consistent with prior research, NF training administered in this study resulted in elevated neuropsychological scores for the audiovisual group, a trend corroborated by observed reductions in reaction time alongside enhanced accuracy during behavioral task performance [14–17,20]. Both groups exhibited heightened beta power at the training site, coupled with improved cognitive scores.…”

Exploring stop signal reaction time over two sessions of the anticipatory response inhibition task

“…In the current study, we saw the improvement without alterations to task design, suggesting multiple sessions alone might be sufficient to increase the efficiency of this complex RI processes in young healthy adults. Interestingly, Enz and colleagues ( 2022 ) also reported improvements in SSRT over 3 sessions using a conditioned version of the SST which is more similar to Selective Stop trials of the ARIT than traditional SST versions. If our working hypothesis is correct, one would expect behavioural improvements to be mirrored by an improvement in neural activity within the various networks activated during the more complex RI process.…”

“…Conversely, another study using the SST for non-selective RI did find an improvement in SSRT throughout 10 sessions, where SSRT decreased with each session (Berkman et al 2014 ). SSRT for selective stopping on the SST has shown a similar pattern of decreasing across sessions (Enz et al 2022 ; Xu et al 2014 ). To our knowledge, no study has specifically tested SSRT across multiple sessions of the ARIT.…”