A Single Session of SMR-Neurofeedback Training Improves Selective Attention Emerging from a Dynamic Structuring of...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Sensorimotor rhythm neurofeedback (SMR-NFb) is known to improve selective attention.
• Long-term SMR-NFb training raises concerns about patient acceptability.
• Investigating single-session NFb offers a potentially more feasible alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a single SMR-NFb session on selective attention.
• To examine changes in brain-heart interplay, specifically heartbeat dynamics multifractality.
• To explore the relationship between attention, brain-heart interplay, and NFb efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-five healthy young adults were randomized into a control (movie) or SMR-NFb group.
• Participants underwent a single SMR-NFb session using a headset and smartphone app.
• Selective attention was assessed using the Stroop task pre- and post-intervention, alongside EEG and heart rate variability recordings.

Main Results:

• The SMR-NFb group showed improved Stroop performance compared to the control group, particularly on incongruent trials.
• Multifractality of heartbeat dynamics and NFb efficacy predicted global Stroop performance gains.
• Heartbeat multifractality was the sole predictor for improvements on incongruent Stroop trials.

Conclusions:

• A single SMR-NFb session effectively enhances selective attention in healthy individuals.
• The improvement is associated with a reorganization of brain-heart interplay, reflected in heartbeat multifractality.
• This study highlights the potential of brief SMR-NFb interventions for cognitive enhancement.