Summary 1. IVA: Learning disabled have a normal profile NF has no effect

1. Results IVA shows no difference between learning disabled & normal controls No effect of NF • Effect of Neurofeedback on Lateralized Attention Networks in Learning-Disabled Young Adults • Anat Barnea1,, Eran Zaidel2, Deanna Greene2, Anat Rassis3, Amir Raz4, Jack Johnstone 2, and Yael Meltzer 5 • 1Bio-Keshev Center, Kibutz Givat Chaim Ichud, Israel; 2Department of Psychology, University of California at Los Angeles, CA, USA; 3Department of Psychology, Academic College of Tel-Aviv Jaffa, Israel; • 4Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; 5Academic College of Tel-Chai, Israel • Introduction • Neurofeedback/ EEG Biofeedback (EEGBF) is an operant conditioning technique that trains the individual to change their own ongoing EEG profiles • The efficacy of EEGBF as an intervention for learning disabled individuals has been anecdotal and controversial. • We investigated whether a standard clinical EEGBF protocol applied to electrodes on left- and right- hemisphere sties would have an effect on attention in learning-disabled young adults Figure 2 Figure 1 * = significantly different from chance  = significantly different from each other  Methods Subjects: N = 16 heterogeneous learning-disabled college-bound young adults in Israel • NF Protocol: • Increase SMR (12-15 Hz) & Decrease  band (4-7 Hz) • C3 or C4 training electrode • 20 training sessions, 30 minutes each • Results • IVA shows no difference between learning disabled and normals No effect of EEGBF 2. LANT shows C, O, A in Learning Disabled (Figure1) 3. NF normalizes networks: C, O, A (Figure 2) 4. No Difference between C3 & C4 Training 5. No hemispheric difference in attention networks • 6. EEG: •  amplitude  after C3 training (Fig 3), SMR unchanged, (Fig 4) •  unchanged, but F3-F4  coherence  (Fig 5) • Summary • 1. IVA: Learning disabled have a normal profile • NF has no effect • 2. LANT: Learning disabled have an abnormal attention profile • NF normalizes attention profiles • 3. EEG: Unilateral EEGBF training can affect both hemispheres by modulating interhemispheric coherence Tests before and after EEGBF Training: 1. IVA Continuous Performance Test visual/ auditory measure of attention 2. Lateralized Attention Networks Test (LANT) Measures 3 networks of attention: Conflict, Orienting, Alerting Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Congruent flankers Incongruent flankers Double cue Definitions: Conflict: C = Reaction time for targets with Incongruent minus targets with Congruent flankers Orienting: O = Reaction time for targets with Central cue minus targets with Valid cue Alerting: A = Reaction time for targets with No cue minus targets with Double cue • Conclusions • 1. In this task, EEGBF shows training site-specificity • EEGBF is effective • 2. In this task, EEGBF shows no target module- specificity in behavior, but it does in physiology. • 3. The EEGBF protocol does not change trained frequency, but it increases frontal interhemispheric  coherence. Thus, the protocol activates a meta-circuit. • References: • Barnea A., Rassis A., Neta M., Raz A. and Zaidel, E. (2004). The Lateralized Attention Network Test (LANT) in Children and Adults. Abstract. TENNET, Montreal Canada. • Barnea A., Rassis A., Othmer S., Raz A. and Zaidel, E. (2004). The Effect of Neurofeedback on Attention in Children. Abstract. TENNET, Montreal Canada. • Fan J, McCandliss BD, Sommer T, Raz A, & Posner MI (2002). Testing the efficiency and independence of attentional networks. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 3, 340-347. • Weems, S.A., Zaidel, E., Berman, S., Mandelkern, M.A. (2004). Asymmetry in alpha power predicts accuracy of hemispheric lexical decision. Clinical Neurophysiology,115 (7),1575-1582.