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Spontaneous Modulation Of Alpha Power During A Neurofeedback Session Without Instructions.

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Spontaneous Modulation Of Alpha Power During A Neurofeedback Session Without Instructions.

Related Experiment Video

A Protocol for the Administration of Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Training

A Protocol for the Administration of Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Training

Published on: August 24, 2017

Spontaneous Modulation of Alpha Power During a Neurofeedback Session Without Instructions.

Jacob Maaz^1,2,3, Véronique Paban^1,2, Laurent Waroquier⁴

¹Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRPN, Marseille, France.

Psychophysiology

|March 24, 2026

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Increases in alpha power during electroencephalographic neurofeedback (EEG-NF) may not reflect self-regulation. Findings suggest spontaneous dynamics, not volitional control, drive EEG modulation, questioning common EEG-NF learning assumptions.

Keywords:

EEG alpha activity neurofeedback neuromodulation spectral power

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Science

Background:

Electroencephalographic neurofeedback (EEG-NF) allows self-regulation of brain activity.
Mechanisms of EEG modulation, especially alpha activity (8-12 Hz) upregulation, are not fully understood.
Previous work suggested spontaneous alpha increases during passive neurofeedback-like tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the mechanisms of alpha activity upregulation during EEG-NF.
To determine if alpha power increases are due to self-regulation or spontaneous dynamics.
To evaluate the impact of feedback presence, frequency, and source on EEG features.

Main Methods:

Thirty-two healthy adults participated in a study involving visual feedback (circle size) updated in real-time.
Experimental conditions included feedback updated at 1, 5, or 10 Hz, alongside a control condition with fixed feedback.

Participants were unaware of the feedback's nature or received no self-regulation instructions.

Main Results:

Robust increases in alpha power were observed over time, irrespective of feedback presence, frequency, or source.
Feedback parameters (presence, frequency, source) did not significantly influence the targeted EEG features.
No significant differences in EEG features were found across control and experimental conditions.

Conclusions:

Alpha EEG-NF upregulation might stem from spontaneous dynamics (e.g., time-on-task effects) rather than volitional self-regulation.
The assumption that observed alpha increases indicate successful neurofeedback learning needs re-evaluation.
Emphasizes the necessity of control conditions and accounting for non-specific effects in EEG-NF research.