What's New in Neurofeedback
A Monthly Summary of News and Events

Vol. 9 No. 7 - July 2006

This newsletter is sponsored by EEG Spectrum Intl Inc,
a leader in providing clinical service and training
professionals. Past issues available at
http://start.eegspectrum.com/Newsletter/
To subscribe or cancel, see newsletter's end.
Opinions related in this newsletter reflect
author's only. Copyright (C) 2006 by EEG Spectrum
Intl, Inc. or David Kaiser. All rights reserved.
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Announcements - News
In the Spotlight - Autism Neurotherapy Research
News & Reviews - Books & journal papers
Events & Locations - Conferences, Courses
Last Word - Online Resources
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Announcements

* Eye Transmits to Brain at Ethernet Speed
* Head injury may increase risk of Parkinson's
* Body's Brain Link to Hunger Identified
* Paralyzed man moves computer cursor through thought
* Brain-Computer Link Aids Paralyzed Patient
* How the Brain Helps Partisans Admit No Gray
* Men and Women: Different Brains?

All links at: news.yahoo.com/fc/Science/Brain_Research
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In the Spotlight

Autism Neurotherapy Research

In the coming months I plan to summarize (sometimes
exhaustively) the neurotherapy literature for various
disorders. Autism is up first - a promising but
little documented area. Many clinicians speak of
incredible results, but unfortunately few of these
results have been published. Only two group studies
have so far been published, with a third on its way,
plus a handful of single case studies.

1. Jarusiewicz (2002) performed the most controlled
neurofeedback study to date for autism. She trained
12 children with autism (11 male, 1 female) from 4 to
13 years of age (mean 7 y) who were compared against
a 12-subject matched waitlist control group. The
experimental group started with C4 training, 10-13 Hz
reward and 2-7 Hz inhibit, which were adjusted
against each individual's response to training.
Individuals underwent 36 sessions on average (range
20-69) and statistically significantimprovements were
seen on the ATEC and parent interviews.

2. Scolnick (2005) trained 5 Asperger males (mean age 14 y,
range 12-16 y) using a C4-Pz or Cz, Fz, or Pz-ear
montage, 12- 15 Hz reward and 4-10 Hz & 22-30 Hz
inhibits. After 24 sessions Scolnick reported
improvements on self-reports and parental and teacher
checklists. In terms of EEG changes she only found
theta/beta power ratio reductions in two boys only.

3. Pineda (2006) trained 8 children with autism in hopes
of increasing mu rhythm responsiveness. Mu wave
activity (8-13 Hz activity over sensorimotor cortex)
is associated with the mirror neuron system, and
shows suppression during both self- performed motor
actions and observed motor actions of others (Oberman
et al., 2005). After 30 sessions, the five children
who showed mu activity responsiveness with
neurofeedback training performed better on tasks
involving imitation (Pineda, 2006). These results
should be published shortly.

Case Studies:

A. Sichel, Fehmi, & Goldstein (1995) reported on a mild
autistic case (or possibly TBI with autistic traits),
an 8 y old boy who underwent central and parietal
training, 12-15 Hz reward and 4-8 Hz inhibit, for 31
sessions. The boy improved behaviorally according to
parental and clinician and showed a theta/beta power
ratio reduction (presumably at site Cz).

B. Ross & Caunt (2003) reported on a single 10 y old boy
with Asperger's syndrome who underwent 40 sessions.
The child improved on behavioral ratings and showed
reductions in 6-9 Hz parietal activity during eyes
open rest and posterior 9-12 Hz during reading and
math.

C. Beaumont & Montgomery (2005) reported on a single 7 y
old boy with autism who underwent Cz training, 16-20
Hz reward with EMG and 2-8 Hz inhibit for 33
sessions. They reported improvements on ABC, CARS,
and parental report as well as theta and beta power
reductions.

D. Paoletti & Kaiser (2006) trained an 8 y old boy with
autism for 20 half-hour sessions. Protocols were
C3-to-contralateral ear for the first 4 sessions and
T3-T4 bipolar training for the remaining 16 sessions
to address emotional lability. As the subject's SMR
rhythm was atypically slow (Kaiser, 2002), reward
band was set at 9-14 Hz, with 2-7 Hz and 22-30 Hz
inhibit bands to control artifact. Jarusiewicz (2002)
also began with a slower SMR reward band, 10-13 Hz or
lower depending upon the child's condition. The
child's forward digit span improved from 4 items to 5
items after training (i.e., 35th to 69th percentile
improvement for his age, WISC). He became calm and
less talkative during sessions when familial stimuli
were used as rewards (i.e., pictures and/or sounds of
his mother and siblings). He also showed improvement
in general behavioral self-regulation by cleaning up
and washing hair on his own in latter sessions,
although the Neuro-ABC and ATEC assessments were
inconclusive.. Greater rhythmicity was also evident
across multiple EEG sites after training.

- - -
There are other case studies presented at
conferences, but these had published or otherwise
available abstracts.

References

Beaumont AL & Montgomery DD (2005). The effects of
neurofeedback on a child with autism. Applied
Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 30, 407.

Jarusiewicz B (2002). Efficacy of neurofeedback for
children in the Autistic Spectrum: A Pilot Study.
Journal of Neurotherapy, 6, 39-49

Kaiser DA (2002). Rethinking Standard Bands. Journal
of Neurotherapy, 5, 87-96.

Oberman LM, Hubbard EM, McCleery JP, Altschuler EL,
Ramachandran VS, Pineda JA. (2005). EEG evidence for
mirror neuron dysfunction in autism spectrum
disorders. Brain Research: Cognitive Brain Research,
24, 190-8.

Paoletti JL & Kaiser DA (2006). Neurotherapeutic
Assessment and Training of an Autistic Individual.
Presented at 37th Assoc. Applied Psychophysiology &
Biofeedback, Portland, OR, April 7.

Pineda J (2006). Efficacy of Neurofeedback Training
on Autism Spectrum Disorders (poster). Presented at
Cognitive Neuroscience Society, San Francisco CA,
April 8-11.

Ross J & Caunt J (2003). Case study: Ten year old
male with Asperger`s syndrome. Presented at 11th Intl
Society for Neuronal Regulation, Sep 18-21, Houston TX.

Scolnick B (2005). Effects of electroencephalogram
biofeedback with Asperger`s syndrome. International
Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 28, 159-163.

Sichel A, Fehmi LG & Goldstein DM (1995). Postive
outcome with neurofeedback treatment in a case of
mild autism. Journal of Neurotherapy, 1, 60-64.

-DK
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News & Reviews

NEW BOOKS

Not Even Wrong: A Father's Journey into the Lost History of Autism
by Paul Collins
A journey into the realm of permanent outsiders.
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1582344787/eegspectrum

Autism and the Myth of the Person Alone
by Douglas Biklen, et al
Confronts misunderstandings and misperceptions about autism.
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0814799272/eegspectrum

Handbook of Epilepsy Treatment: Forms, Causes and
Therapy in Children and Adults
by Simon D. Shorvon
Recent advances in treatment including new drugs, new
investigations, novel surgical approaches are discussed.
-- www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1405131349/eegspectrum

Soft Bipolar: Vivid Thoughts, Mood Shifts and Swings...
by Charles K. Bunch
Materials to provide outpatient treatment to "soft Bipolar" sufferers.
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0595348246/eegspectrum

Trends in Brain Research
by F. J. Chen
Newest research on the brain
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1594547955/eegspectrum

Reflections on the Problem of Consciousness
by Errol E. Harris
How does electro-chemical activity in the brain
translate into conscious experience?
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1402043090/eegspectrum

Cannabis : A History
by Martin Booth
From 12th-century Sufi monks to today's druglords, a history of this plant is
discussed.
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312424949/eegspectrum

Understanding Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction
by Novartis Foundation
Cigarette smoking kills nearly 5 million people per year worldwide, and 10
million by 2020.
--www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0470016574/eegspectrum

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JOURNAL PAPERS

Quantitative EEG in low-IQ children with ADHD : IQ is not reflected in EEG
power measures for this population.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16793337

The origin of the focal spike in musicogenic epilepsy. : Right temporal lobe,
notably the auditory area, is involved in musicogenic epilepsy.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16793574

Affect and the computer game player : In-game reinforcement and skill impact
affective measures such as excitement and frustration.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16780398

EEG recording during TMS : Two electrode types can be used with TMS: a
conductive-plastic surface electrode with a conductive-silver epoxy coat and a
subdermal silver wire electrode. After TMS pulses amplifiers recover within 30
ms.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16793336

Cannabis and neurodevelopment: implications for psychiatric disorders. :
Cannabis use during adolescence can impact cognition, depressive symptoms,
schizophrenia and substance use disorders in the long term.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16783814

Role of corticothalamic coupling in human temporal lobe epilepsy. : Overall
increase of synchrony between thalamus and temporal lobe structures during
seizures is seen, particularly at seizure onset.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16760199

Deactivation of brain areas during self-regulation of SCP : Unsuccessful
regulators fail to deactivate cortex below the training electrode.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16752105

Role of electroencephalography in ADHD : Discusses how EEGs may help evaluate
ADHD children and those at risk.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16734521

EEG topography and tomography for pharmacodynamics of psychotropic drugs. :
Shows how pharmaco-EEG topography and tomography assist in
neuropsychopharmacology and clinical psychiatry.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16733939

Functional and Anatomical Cortical Underconnectivity in Autism :
Underconnectivity in autistics was found during challenge, by reduced
synchronization between frontal and parietal areas of activation and smaller
sections of the corpus callosum.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16772313

Impaired functional connectivity at alpha and theta bands in major depression. :
Right anterior and left posterior brain areas may discriminate depressive
patients from controls in terms of connectivity.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16779797

Brain maturation in adolescence: neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. : Slow wave
EEG activity declined in a curvilinear fashion with gray matter volume during
adolescence in specific area.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16767769

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Events & Locations

Upcoming Courses

A Pathway to Brain Regulation - Neurofeedback helps improve
neuroregulation. It's used by health care professionals for ADHD,
depression, anxiety disorders, LD, mood disorders, and behavioral
problems. This 4-day course, Neurofeedback in a Clinical Practice,
provides the basis for using Neurofeedback clinically. - *28 CEs

4-Day Comprehensive Course Dates (subject to change)

* Los Angeles CA - Aug 17-20
* Philadelphia, PA Sep 14-17
* Chicago IL Oct 19-22
* Portland OR Nov 16-19
* Los Angeles CA Dec 7-10

Our course is a hands-on experience right from the start. Attendees
consistently say this format is a very good way to learn
Neurofeedback.

"Neurofeedback should be viewed as one of the three essential or
primary forms of intervention - psychotherapy, psychopharmacology,
and Neurofeedback. In my experience, neurofeedback is every bit as
important and powerful as the other two forms of treatment." - Dr.
Laurence Hirshberg of Brown University Medical School, a
psychologist specializing in Developmental Disorders and Autism.

Contact Karie Kramer, our training coordinator, for more information
818-789-3456 ext 847 or see www.eegspectrum.com/ Training

*EEG Spectrum International, Inc. is approved by the APA to offer
continuing education to psychologists. ESII maintains responsibility
for the program.


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Conferences for Neurofeedback Clinicians & Researchers

CONFERENCE LOCATION DATES

ISNR www.isnr.org Atlanta GA Sep 7-10

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Last Word

Online Resources

Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/

Merriam-Webster Dictionary & Thesaurus
http://www.m-w.com/

Google Book Search (search inside full text of books)
http://books.google.com/

Science & culture debates
http://www.ingenious.org.uk/

One-page Reference Desk
http://www.refdesk.com/

BrainInfo (includes links to numerous atlases)
http://braininfo.rprc.washington.edu/

Sylvius (Brain function atlas)
http://www.sylvius.com

Medline Plus (Medical Information)
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/medlineplus.html

APA Style
http://www.wooster.edu/psychology/apa-crib.html

Google's newest info tools:
http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/

Psychology in the News
http://www.psychwatch.com/news.htm

Health & Medicine News
http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_summaries.php

Newspapers and Magazines
http://www.metagrid.com/
http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/

Quotations
http://www.quotationspage.com/

-DK
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