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A Protocol for the Administration of Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Training
Published on: August 24, 2017
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How standardized are "standard protocols"? Variations in protocol and performance evaluation for slow cortical
John Hasslinger1,2, Micaela Meregalli2, Sven Bölte1,2,3
1Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Healthcare Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|September 19, 2022
Summary
Slow Cortical Potential Neurofeedback (SCP-NF) shows promise, but inconsistent self-regulation measures and protocol variations hinder efficacy evaluation. Standardized reporting is crucial for understanding SCP-NF
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Psychology
- Clinical Neurophysiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Neurofeedback (NF) aims to improve self-regulation of neural activity, with Slow Cortical Potential NF (SCP-NF) showing potential for conditions like ADHD.
- Existing research indicates limited superiority of NF over sham or treatment-as-usual, possibly due to challenges in self-regulating targeted neural activity.
- This systematic review focuses on SCP-NF protocols, examining self-regulatory success operationalization and protocol details influencing evaluation.
Approach:
- A systematic review following PRISMA criteria was conducted, searching literature databases for studies utilizing SCP-NF protocols published from 2000 onwards.
- Key variables analyzed included electrode placement, trial parameters, training modalities, artifact handling, and skill transfer into daily life.
- The review specifically investigated how self-regulatory success was operationalized and how protocol details impacted the evaluation of self-regulation.
Key Points:
- Sixty-three eligible reports were identified, revealing considerable variation in SCP-NF protocol details, though electrode placement was largely consistent.
- While token systems are common for ADHD, only half of the studies reported performance-based components; transfer exercises are now standard.
- Multiple operationalizations of regulatory success were found, limiting study comparability and the effectiveness of transfer exercises.
Conclusions:
- Clinically oriented SCP-NF studies often neglected the acquisition of self-regulation, resulting in low rates of successful regulators (<50%).
- The relationship between SCP self-regulation, behavior, and symptom impact across disorders is complex and not fully understood.
- Future SCP-NF research requires standardized self-regulation measures for comparability and a greater emphasis on self-regulation acquisition before assessing symptom outcomes.
