Studies on the effect of neurofeedback training on the cognitive performance of healthy and elderly subjects

Abstract

Neurofeedback training plays an important role in cognitive neuroscience This study aims at delivering the real time information from the electroencephalogram EEG signals as a feedback to the central nervous system The brain remains more efficient and effective when it is subjected to neuro feedback This protocol is designed to improve the working memory performance for healthy volunteers improve cognitive processing speed of elderly persons and improve learning ability Alpha beta delta and theta waves are obtained from Electroencephalography EEG signals and they have unique characteristics of its own This study concentrates on the upper alpha frequency band 10 13Hz peak alpha frequency band 10 11 Hz beta 12 15 Hz and theta 4 8Hz signal of EEG Alpha band of wave is one of the most prominent EEG phenomena of brain waves and originate from the occipital lobe during wakeful relaxation with closed eyes Alpha wave band is reduced when eyes are open during sleep or feeling of drowsiness Alpha waves are obtained from the occipital lobes when the eyes are closed and it remains the strongest EEG brain signals Alpha band oscillations are the dominant oscillations and they have an inhibitory function in the human brain Neural oscillations of alpha waves occur in the frequency range of 8 13Hz Cognitive role of alpha oscillations related to cognitive function such as attention perception Working Memory WM and Long Term Memory LTM In the whole band of alpha signal upper alpha signal plays a major role in the cognitive functions and is particularly sensitive to semantic memory demands The Peak Alpha Frequency PAF signal is normally related with mental abilities The decrease in PAF leads to physical fatigue PAF is negatively correlated with age and its amplitude is less in individuals with Alzheimers disease newline