Fw: [wnin] What's New in Neurofeedback - February 2001

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[wnin] What's New in Neurofeedback - February 2001

>

> What's New in Neurofeedback

> A Monthly Summary of News and Events

>

> Vol. 4 No. 2 - February 2001

>

>This newsletter is sponsored by EEG Spectrum International Intl, Inc.,

>a leader in providing clinical service and training professionals.

>Past issues available at www.eegspectrum.com/newsletter/

>To subscribe or cancel, see newsletter's end. The opinions related in

>this newsletter reflect the author's only. Copyright © 2001

>by EEG Spectrum International Intl, Inc. All rights reserved.

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>

>Announcements - Magazine articles

>In the Spotlight - When is Theta Alpha?

>News & Reviews - Books, journal papers, of interest

>Events & Locations - Conferences, Courses

>Last Word - Three Years of Articles: an index

>

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>

>Announcements

>

>New Idea magazine (January 20th issue) has an article on ADHD with a

>positive section on EEG Biofeedback.

>

>Discover magazine has an article on neurofeedback

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>

>In the Spotlight

>

> When is Theta Alpha?

>

>(A graphic-intensive article -- for figures, see

>http://www.eegspectrum.com/newsletter/feb2001.htm )

>

>The world is becoming more customized every

>day, yet many of us continue to use off-the-shelf principles when we

>assess or train individuals. In his first report Hans Berger (1929)

>characterized the " waves of the first order " in human EEG -- which

>for the sake of brevity he designated alpha. The " alpha rhythm " had

>large sinusoidal waveforms at a rate around 10 cycles per second

>against a background of smaller waves, " waves of the second order "

>(i.e., beta). Alpha waves were pronounced in posterior regions

>during eyes closed resting states, and diminished markedly upon

>opening the eyes.

>

>This is how the alpha rhythm was defined 70 years ago. Today we have

>a superior definition: Alpha activity occurs between 8 and 13 Hz, or

>is it between 8 and 12 Hz, or perhaps 7 and 13 Hz, or 7.81 and 14.06

>Hz, or 8 and 15 Hz (Etevenon et al, 1990, Ray & Cole, 1985); you get

>the picture. What is more disturbing than the different intervals

>are their boundaries, which are artificial, a product of ease of

>communication and the limits of one's analytical technique. The

>alpha rhythm is defined as the dominant frequency rhythm in the

>resting state, the frequency band that dominates the spectral

>density distribution. At this scale the brain rarely uses integers.

>Perhaps we would do better to keep the names simple but not its

>designation.

>

>Klimesh (1999) developed a simple designation strategy; he

>identifies an individual alpha frequency (IAF) from each subject,

>then defines bands relative to this peak. Lower alpha is from 2.5 Hz

>below IAF up to IAF, and higher alpha runs from IAF to IAF plus 2.5

>Hz. The theta band is also defined relative to IAF. Obviously the

>plus or minus 2.5 Hz is artificial and is one of those compromises

>plentiful to psychophysiology, based on empirical data and ease.

>Some subjects will have a narrow dominant frequency, others might

>hit the mark exactly. Perhaps a refinement of the formula is needed,

>a mixture of percent attenuation and topography. This might produce

>a truly customized dominant frequency bandwidth. From there we build

>towards the other bandwidths of interest. Eventually we may find out

>that restricting our analysis to such unique ranges can improve the

>reliability and validity of our conclusions.

>

>Above is a statistical distribution of the dominant frequency for

>124 subjects. The peak frequency in five posterior sites (P3, Pz,

>P4, O1, & O2) during eyes closed resting baselines were calculated.

>Each subject provided up to seven replications (though no more than

>four per day). As can be seen above, the dominant frequency spreads

>across the 7-15 Hz range, though a bin of 8-12 Hz captures 95% of

>the data. Still, important individual information is lost in this

>depiction. For instance, to what extent does the alpha rhythm varies

>across this sample in both peak and shape? A review of the subjects

>finds a factor of two in alpha width: some subjects exhibit 40% of

>all alpha magnitude in a single 1-Hz (peak) frequency band whereas

>others never exhibit more than 20% in 1 single Hz band inside the

>dominant frequency range (see below).

>

>The large variance in peak and width begs the question: why do we

>use a large band to assess dominant frequency activity? Would it not

>be simple to calculate an IAF, even with a one-channel EEG system?

>The figures above are from a NORMAL ADULT population in the ALPHA

>RHYTHM. These three properties align to produce the most regular and

>consistent recording possible in human EEG. We are all aware of

>frontal slowing in ADHD children. Some argue convincingly that high

>theta activity in such a population is actually misnamed; it is

>merely an immature manifestation of the alpha rhythm (the child's

>dominant frequency). So 4-7 Hz may be theta for some and alpha for

>others.

>

>Here are two subjects who were excluded from the 124 sample for

>obvious reasons. Both show a lower peak frequency. One is a 3 year

>old child and the other at 65 entering second childhood, at least

>electrophysiologically. And these outliers are likely normal in this

>band -- at least for their group.

>

>Obviously we should reevaluate how we define frequency bands for

>clinical and scientific investigations. Especially if we are

>evaluating and training clinical non-adult populations. And by

>non-adult, we may mean anyone under 30 and over 50, according to

>Neidermeyer's model (1993). Cerebral maturity, I guess, is a

>difficult state to achieve and to maintain (see figure).

>

>Two months ago I was faced with a challenge. A 3 year old was about

>to start neurofeedback training. Given his young age and condition

>his EEG rhythms were immature, but the question was how immature:

>where was his SMR band located, for instance? The literature

>suggested a dominant frequency around 5 to 6 Hz, possibly higher in

>some toddlers. If the SMR was adjacent to the dominant frequency, as

>it is in normal adults, it would fall in line with some Russian

>research which indicated an SMR rhythm of 6fromof the child, I had

>little data to go on. One strategy often used in this field is to

>start training at the adult range (here, for SMR, 12-15 Hz) and

>adjust (lower) the band if the client's response is not what one

>expects. General knowledge in lieu of an assessment was better than

>nothing, so this strategy was used.

>

>Well, it was one of those experiences that can make or break a

>parent's confidence. The very first session changed everything about

>the child. Unfortunately it made everything significantly worse. He

>was trained at 12-15 Hz, site C4. Too high. After a year of holding

>his urine while he slept, that week he started urinating in his

>sleep, he became aggressive at his Special Ed school, so much so

>that they threatened to kick him out. The training somehow

>disinhibited him along both physiological (urination) and behavioral

>(impulse control & aggressive) domains. Needless to say, the parents

>of this child were not happy.

>

>Time to adjust the training band. And rapidly. But there was no way

>to gauge the results readily enough, given the child's problems. It

>was like trying to listen to a volume change of a jet engine during

>takeoff: was that 145 decibels or is he improving and now putting

>out only 143 dBs?

>

>Fortunately we were able to finally record a Q on the child. And as

>it happened he fell asleep in the chair -- and his EEG was soon

>populated with sleep spindles. Sleep spindles are produced by the

>same reduction of motoric input as SMR, by similar neuronal

>pathways, so right there, bingo! I had an easily quantified measure

>of the toddler's SMR rhythm. Here was the appropriate band to start

>training on.

>

>Above is 5 seconds of raw EEG data during the initial stages of

>sleep.

>

>As the spectral analysis shows, his SMR rhythm is 10-12 Hz. Perhaps

>a sleep recording for all clients undergoing SMR training might be

>helpful. It could even be achieved with a one-channel system. Place

>the client in a dark room, a comfy chair, and with an electrode at

>Cz or Fz. Wait for spindles and simply count the cycles. It's not

>even a Q in this EEG assessment.

>

>Statistical descriptions may be powerful and accurate tools, but

>rarely as powerful as individual data.

>

>- Kaiser, Ph.D.

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>

>News & Reviews

>

>NEW BOOKS

>

>

>An Odd Kind of Fame: Stories of Phineas Gage

>by Malcolm Macmillan

>Details about the famed case of railway construction worker Phineas

>Gage who suffered an accident that led the investigation into

>functional localization and the brain's role in personality.

>www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0262133636/top100

>

>Cognitive Neuroscience of Emotion

>by D. Lane, Lynn Nadel, Geoffrey Ahern

>Scientists present recent evidence for emotion generation, functions

>of the amygdala, conscious experience of emotion, and emotional

>dysfunction.

>www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/019511888X/top100

>

>Atlas and Classification of Electroencephalography

>by Hans Luders, Soheyl Noachtar

>Introduces a comprehensive classification system of abnormal EEGs.

>Very good examples of what to look for in a record.

>www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0721665543/top100

>

>Acute Stress Disorder: A Handbook of Theory, Assessment, and

>Treatment

>by A. , G. Harvey

>Description of current research with highlighting areas yet to be

>researched. Current methods used in the treatment of ASD and PTSD,

>particularly cognitive behavioural methods.

>www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1557986126/top100

>

>Learning Disabilities: Implications for Psychiatric Treatment

>by ce L. Greenhill, MD

>Discusses connections between disorders, biological underpinnings,

>and long-term consequences of these disabilities.

>www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880483830/top100

>

>Pain: What Psychiatrists Need to Know

>by Jane Massie, M.D.

>Clinicians describe their approach to patients with pain and

>comorbid psychiatric disorders.

>www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0880481730/top100

>

>Improving Treatment Compliance: Counseling and Systems Strategies

>for Substance Abuse and Dual Disorders

>by Dennis C. Daley, Allan Zuckoff

>Discusses how to convince addicted individuals to attend treatment

>and mobilize their resources to work on the sources of their pain

>and dysfunction.

>www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1568382812/top100

>

>Integrative Neuroscience: Bringing Together Biological,

>Psychological and Clinical Models of the Human Brain

>by Gordon Evian

>Technical survey of brain sciences: from anatomy to psychology

>www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9058230546/top100

>

>Toward Consilience: The Bioneurological Basis of Behavior, Thoughts,

>Experience, and Language

>by Gerald A. Cory Jr

>Attempt to follow the work of O. in establishing a

>framework for consilience -- the unification of the natural and

>social sciences -- to understand how the brain shapes our behavior.

>www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0306464365/top100

>

>Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Other Invisible

>Illnesses

>by Katrina Berne, L.

>Latest findings on chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and related

>diseases such as Gulf War Syndrome.

>www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0897932803/top100

>

>Panic Disorder: Assessment and Treatment Through a Wide-Angle Lens

>by M. Dattilio, Jesus A. Salas-Auvert

>Conventional and emerging treatments for panic disorder, which

>affects approximately 4% of the adult population.

>www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1891944355/top100

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>

>JOURNAL PAPERS

>

>Prefrontal brain electrical asymmetry predicts the evaluation of

>affective stimuli. : Frontal resting activity was associated with

>word-pair choice. Those with relatively greater left-sided anterior

>activity predicted more pleasant pairs.

>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?form=6 & db=m & uid=11099730

>

>Implications of early versus late onset of ADHD symptoms. : Early

>onset of ADHD symptoms is associated with worse clinical outcomes

>with combined subtype of ADHD.

>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?form=6 & db=m & uid=11128328

>

>Multiple chemical sensitivity: a review : The diagnosis of multiple

>chemical sensitivity currently involves the fields of toxicology,

>immunology, allergy, and psychology. A review of the

>neuropsychological symptoms associated with MCS and related

>information is presented.

>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?form=6 & db=m & uid=11132100

>

>Animal models of the mechanisms of action of rTMS : rTMS can induce

>a seizure when given at high enough doses, but at subconvulsive

>levels it may act as an anticonvulsant.

>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?form=6 & db=m & uid=11126193

>

>Executive functioning: a conceptual framework for alcohol-related

>aggression. : Acute alcohol intoxication disrupts executive

>functioning, increasing the probability of aggression.

>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?form=6 & db=m & uid=11127429

>

>Are stimulants addictive in children? What the evidence says. :

>Despite the increasing use of stimulants in younger and younger

>children, few studies have examined this important issue, not enough

>to conclude whether stimulants are not addictive.

>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?form=6 & db=m & uid=11140234

>

>Opposite effects of high and low frequency rTMS in depressed

>patients. : As with neurofeedback, the effects of rTMS are

>frequency-dependent. In fact opposite effects were found for high

>and low frequency rTMS on local and distant regional brain activity.

>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?form=6 & db=m & uid=11137053

>

>Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cocaine Craving. : Cocaine

>cues produce abnormally high cingulate and low frontal lobe

>activation in cocaine addicts. Anterior cingulate activation

>preceded the onset of craving but was also present in patients who

>did not report craving.

>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?form=6 & db=m & uid=11136638

>

>Pre-treatment EEG: depression severity and treatment outcome. : EEG

>slow wave (theta) activities were positively correlated with

>depression ratings prior to treatment and post-treatment

>improvements were negatively related to delta and theta activity and

>positively related to frontal beta activity.

>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?form=6 & db=m & uid=11147926

>

>Ever-increasing pharmacopoeia for the management of bipolar

>disorder. : Monotherapeutic approaches are rarely effective in

>bipolar disorder; but combination approaches increase the risk of

>adverse events.

>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?form=6 & db=m & uid=11153807

>

>The neuroscience of depression in adolescence. : As with adults,

>endocrine studies indicate a dysregulation of the serotonin (5-HT)

>axis in childhood depression. Neuroimaging techniques implicate the

>frontal lobes in the pathogenesis of depression.

>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?form=6 & db=m & uid=11155964

>

>Stroke: Depression, Anxiety and Quality of Life : Anxiety disorders

>and depression follows stroke in 20 to 50% of cases, which may

>affects one's opinion about their quality of life.

>www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?form=6 & db=m & uid=11150931

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>

>Events & Locations Upcoming Courses

>

>4-Day Beta/SMR

>March 15-18 -Woodland Hills, CA

>April 19-22 -Woodland Hills, CA

>May 17-20 -Woodland Hills, CA

>June 14-17 -Woodland Hills, CA

>

>2 Day General Practicum

>March 10-11 - Northhampton, MA

>

>2-day Alpha/Theta

>March 24-25 -Woodland Hills, CA

>June 23-24 -Woodland Hills, CA

>

>2-day Advanced Practicum

>May 5-6 - Northhampton, MA

>

>More info at www.eegspectrum.com/course

>

>Conferences for Neurofeedback Clinicians & Researchers

>

>CONFERENCE LOCATION DATES

>AAPB Raleigh, NC Mar 29-Apr 1

>SNR Monterey, CA Oct 27-30

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>Last Word

>

>Three Years of Articles

>

>See www.eegspectrum.com/newsletter/review.htm for active links

>

> 2000

>Avoiding one's medication is a crime

>Din of Rose Petals, The

>EEG and the Sun: Circadian Effects on the QEEG

>EEG and the Sun Two years later

>Implementation of Virtual Reality in EEG biofeedback

>Operating System of the Brain, The

>Prozac Backlash

>QEEG: State of the Art, or State of Confusion

>Ritalin Controversy, The

>Society for Neuronal Regulation's 8th Annual Conference

>Who's in Charge of your Health, Anyway?

>Year in Review, 2000

>

> 1999

>Attention and Neurofeedback (Dissertation)

>Being Available for Treatment

>Epidemics

>History of SMR biofeedback

>Journal of Neurotherapy online

>Preempt the storm

>QEEG in Psychiatry

>SMR-Beta Training and Cognitive Function

>Society for Neuronal Regulation Conference Highlights

>Upon a peak in Darien

>Working with the 'Unreachable' Child

>

> 1998

>Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

>Controversies in Neurofeedback (Part 1)

>Controversies in Neurofeedback (Part 2)

>EEG Biofeedback: The Adversarial Approach

>EEG and the Sun

>Evidence for Neurofeedback Efficacy Online

>Evidence for Neurofeedback Efficacy Revisited

>State of the Art, or State of Confusion: QEEG

>THX-1138: Coming to a School Near You

>The Placebo Effect

>The Surgical Model of (Mental) Health

>Who's in Charge of your Health, Anyway?

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