Functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based neurofeedback training regulates time-on-task effects and enhances...

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Time-on-task effects, characterized by performance decline and increased accident risk, are common in demanding cognitive work.
• Neurofeedback offers a non-invasive neuromodulation technique to guide self-regulation of brain activity, potentially improving cognitive functions.
• Sustained attention and cognitive performance are crucial in many professions, making interventions to combat fatigue and performance degradation highly relevant.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-based neurofeedback in mitigating time-on-task effects.
• To assess the impact of neurofeedback on sustained cognitive performance in tasks requiring prolonged attention.
• To examine the neural correlates, specifically dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) activation, associated with neurofeedback training.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled study design was employed.
• Participants (n=33) were divided into a neurofeedback group (receiving real-time fNIRS feedback from their dlPFC) and a sham-neurofeedback group.
• Both groups underwent 5 training sessions and completed the 2-back and psychomotor vigilance tasks to evaluate behavioral performance.

Main Results:

• The neurofeedback group demonstrated significantly increased dlPFC activation compared to the sham group.
• Neurofeedback led to enhanced accuracy in the 2-back task and reduced response times in the psychomotor vigilance task.
• Crucially, the neurofeedback group exhibited a slower performance decline on the sustained 2-back task, indicating a mitigation of time-on-task effects.

Conclusions:

• fNIRS-based neurofeedback training is effective in enhancing sustained cognitive performance.
• Neurofeedback can successfully regulate dlPFC activity, leading to improved cognitive function and reduced time-on-task decrements.
• This neuromodulation technique shows promise for interventions aimed at maintaining cognitive performance during prolonged demanding tasks.