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Pinter D, Kober SE, Fruhwirth V, et al. MRI correlates of cognitive improvement after home-based EEG neurofeedback training in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. J Neurol. 2021;268(10):3808-3816doi: 10.1007/s00415-021-10530-9.
Pinter, D., Kober, S. E., Fruhwirth, V., Berger, L., Damulina, A., Khalil, M., Neuper, C., Wood, G., & Enzinger, C. (2021). MRI correlates of cognitive improvement after home-based EEG neurofeedback training in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. Journal of neurology, 268(10), 3808-3816. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-021-10530-9
Pinter, Daniela, et al. "MRI correlates of cognitive improvement after home-based EEG neurofeedback training in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study." Journal of neurology vol. 268,10 (2021): 3808-3816. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-021-10530-9
Pinter D, Kober SE, Fruhwirth V, Berger L, Damulina A, Khalil M, Neuper C, Wood G, Enzinger C. MRI correlates of cognitive improvement after home-based EEG neurofeedback training in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. J Neurol. 2021 Oct;268(10):3808-3816. doi: 10.1007/s00415-021-10530-9. Epub 2021 Mar 30. PMID: 33786666; PMCID: PMC8463344.
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J Neurol. 2021 Oct;268(10):3808-3816. doi: 10.1007/s00415-021-10530-9. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

MRI correlates of cognitive improvement after home-based EEG neurofeedback training in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.

Journal of neurology

Daniela Pinter, Silvia Erika Kober, Viktoria Fruhwirth, Lisa Berger, Anna Damulina, Michael Khalil, Christa Neuper, Guilherme Wood, Christian Enzinger

Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, Graz, Austria. [email protected].
  2. Research Unit for Neuronal Plasticity and Repair, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. [email protected].
  3. BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria. [email protected].
  4. BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria.
  5. Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
  6. Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 22, Graz, Austria.
  7. Research Unit for Neuronal Plasticity and Repair, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
  8. Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interfaces, Institute of Neural Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria.
  9. Division of Neuroradiology, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

PMID: 33786666 PMCID: PMC8463344 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10530-9

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Neurofeedback training may improve cognitive function in patients with neurological disorders. However, the underlying cerebral mechanisms of such improvements are poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to investigate MRI correlates of cognitive improvement after EEG-based neurofeedback training in patients with MS (pwMS).

METHODS: Fourteen pwMS underwent ten neurofeedback training sessions within 3-4 weeks at home using a tele-rehabilitation system. Half of the pwMS (N = 7, responders) learned to self-regulate sensorimotor rhythm (SMR, 12-15 Hz) by visual feedback and improved cognitively after training, whereas the remainder (non-responders, n = 7) did not. Diffusion-tensor imaging and resting-state fMRI of the brain was performed before and after training. We analyzed fractional anisotropy (FA) and functional connectivity (FC) of the default-mode, sensorimotor (SMN) and salience network (SAL).

RESULTS: At baseline, responders and non-responders were comparable regarding sex, age, education, disease duration, physical and cognitive impairment, and MRI parameters. After training, compared to non-responders, responders showed increased FA and FC within the SAL and SMN. Cognitive improvement correlated with increased FC in SAL and a correlation trend with increased FA was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study suggests that successful neurofeedback training may not only lead to cognitive improvement, but also to increases in brain microstructure and functional connectivity.

© 2021. The Author(s).

Keywords: Cognitive training; DTI; Multiple sclerosis; Neurofeedback; Resting-state fMRI

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