Improvement of perception and learning through neurofeedback.

Descrizione riassuntiva dello studio

Neuroscience has long focused on understanding brain activity during task execution. Therefore, current training methods aim to maximize brain activation during a trained task. However, new findings suggest that this may not be an efficient way. Human subjects achieve maximum performance only when the brain network is in a state of high spontaneous interaction and communication between brain regions prior to training. We refer to this as a state of high 'network communication.' In this case, only minimal effort is required during the task. This necessitates new learning strategies aimed at inducing higher network communication before task execution. We have already shown that healthy individuals can learn to increase the network communication of motor areas (i.e., the areas that control movement) when they receive real-time feedback on their current activity, known as neurofeedback. With neurofeedback, participants receive continuous feedback on the state of their brain activity at that moment. Through this feedback, they can learn to change their own brain activity. Nevertheless, we still do not know whether this increase in network communication can lead to an improvement in learning new tasks. Because learning fine movements (so-called 'motor learning') is of primary importance for all aspects of life, the goal of the current study is to find out whether an increase in brain activity through neurofeedback can lead to improved motor learning.

(BASEC)

Intervento studiato

We have seen in a previous study that participants are unable to improve their network communication from visual brain regions (i.e., regions that process light stimuli) through neurofeedback when the feedback is perceived with the eyes. Therefore, the goal of Experiment 1 is to find an alternative form of feedback through which participants can efficiently increase network communication. Specifically, participants receive neurofeedback in the form of sound, vibration on the skin, or both.

In Experiment 2, the neurofeedback modality from Experiment 1 will be adopted to test whether the increase in network communication through neurofeedback can lead to improved motor learning.

In both experiments, participants will undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This MRI will help us increase the precision of the neurofeedback.

(BASEC)

Malattie studiate

We are investigating whether participants can enhance communication between brain regions through a technology called neurofeedback, and whether this enhancement can improve visual perception and the learning of fine movements. Only healthy subjects will be recruited for the study.

(BASEC)

Sponsor

Inselspital Bern

(BASEC)

Nome del comitato etico approvante (per studi multicentrici solo il comitato principale)

Commissione d'etica Berna

(BASEC)

Data di approvazione del comitato etico

07.11.2022

(BASEC)

Risultati dello studio