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Positive effects of neurofeedback on autism symptoms correlate with brain activation during imitation and observation
Author(s) -
Datko Michael,
Pineda Jaime A.,
Müller RalphAxel
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/ejn.13551
Subject(s) - neurofeedback , psychology , imitation , autism , sensorimotor rhythm , neuroscience , mirror neuron , functional magnetic resonance imaging , brain activity and meditation , neuroplasticity , rhythm , audiology , autism spectrum disorder , developmental psychology , electroencephalography , medicine
Autism has been characterized by atypical task‐related brain activation and functional connections, coinciding with deficits in sociocommunicative abilities. However, evidence of the brain's experience‐dependent plasticity suggests that abnormal activity patterns may be reversed with treatment. In particular, neurofeedback training (NFT), an intervention based on operant conditioning resulting in self‐regulation of brain electrical oscillations, has shown increasing promise in addressing abnormalities in brain function and behavior. We examined the effects of ≥ 20 h of sensorimotor mu‐rhythm‐based NFT in children with high‐functioning autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ) and a matched control group of typically developing children (ages 8–17). During a functional magnetic resonance imaging imitation and observation task, the ASD group showed increased activation in regions of the human mirror neuron system following the NFT, as part of a significant interaction between group ( ASD vs. controls) and training (pre‐ vs. post‐training). These changes were positively correlated with behavioral improvements in the ASD participants, indicating that mu‐rhythm NFT may be beneficial to individuals with ASD .