Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026
07:05
A Protocol for the Administration of Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Training
Published on: August 24, 2017
11.5K
Placebo hampers ability to self-regulate brain activity: A double-blind sham-controlled neurofeedback study
Silvia Erika Kober1, Matthias Witte2, Sandra Grinschgl3
1Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Austria.
Neuroimage
|July 17, 2018
Summary
Neurofeedback (NF) self-regulation is impacted by placebo effects. Expecting brain stimulation during NF actually hinders the ability to self-regulate brain signals, challenging current theories.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Neurofeedback research
Background:
- Unspecific effects on neurofeedback (NF) performance are poorly understood.
- Skepticism exists regarding NF's therapeutic outcomes, with some attributing them to placebo and psychosocial factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how unspecific factors influence neural self-regulation during NF.
- To explore the mechanisms by which these unspecific factors impact NF performance.
Main Methods:
- A sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was used as an active placebo intervention.
- The study manipulated expectations of positive effects from brain stimulation to influence NF performance.
Main Results:
- The expectation of receiving brain stimulation negatively interfered with the ability to self-regulate sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) in EEG.
- Placebo effects were found to reduce neurofeedback performance.
Conclusions:
- Placebo significantly reduces neurofeedback performance.
- Findings challenge existing theories on the role of unspecific effects in neurofeedback.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Blind Procedures
13.6K
Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which...
13.6K
01:54The Placebo Effect
6.9K
The placebo effect occurs when people's expectations or beliefs influence or determine their experience in a given situation. In other words, simply expecting something to happen can actually make it happen.
6.9K
01:11Blinding
4.0K
Blinding is a commonly used method of not telling participants which treatment a subject is receiving. Blinding is a critical part of a randomized control trial or RCT. It reduces the bias that affects the results. In an RCT, blinding is used in the form of a placebo. A placebo effect occurs when untreated subjects falsely believe they have received the treatment and report improved symptoms. A placebo or a dummy treatment is administered to subjects to negate the bias caused by such an effect.
4.0K
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
475
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
475
01:11Enteric Nervous System: Regulation of GI Motor Activity
1.9K
The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) plays a pivotal role in regulating gastrointestinal or GI motor activity. This complex network of nerves, deeply embedded within the gut wall, responds to changes in the gut environment and receives input from both the autonomic nervous system and the central nervous system. By doing so, the ENS operates various programs tailored to the body's nutritional status and needs.
During periods of fasting, the ENS initiates the migrating myoelectric complex, a...
During periods of fasting, the ENS initiates the migrating myoelectric complex, a...
1.9K
01:46Epigenetic Regulation
33.9K
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
33.9K