EEG-based Neurofeedback Training for Parkinson's Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
EEG-based Neurofeedback Training for Improving Motor Functions in Parkinson’s Disease
IRAS ID
249990
Contact name
Huiling Tan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Clinical Trials and Research Governance
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Neurofeedback (NFB) training enables the self-regulation of neural activity, and has the potential to alter pathological brain oscillations which play a role in different disorders. Neural activity in the β frequency range (13-30 Hz) is excessively synchronized in untreated Parkinson's disease (PD). In particular, the power of this activity measured from a deep brain structure-the subthalamic nucleus (STN)- tend to reduce with successful treatment either through dopaminergic medication or deep brain stimulation (DBS). In a previous study, we have shown that patients with Parkinson's Disease can gain control of the pathological oscillations recorded invasively from the STN with neurofeedback training. The suppression of this pathological beta oscillation associated with neurofeedback training was also accompanied by reduction in reaction time in the subsequent cued movement. However, the invasive recording required for STN activity based neurofeedback training limits its application.
Apart from increased power in the activities in the beta frequency band, recently, it has also been shown that features of beta oscillation waveform shape measured using non-invasive recordings with resting scalp EEG also distinguish PD patients on and off medication. Specifically, beta oscillations measured from sensorimotor EEG electrodes in PD patients off medication had greater sharpness asymmetry and steepness asymmetry than on medication. Here, we propose to use the power of beta activity or the features of beta oscillation waveform, which can be measured using non-invasive EEG as a neurofeedback target, to train patients with PD to down-regulate these features characterising PD states. The study might provide further causal relationship between these non-invasive EEG features and PD impairments; it may also lead to a new therapeutic approach for patients with PD.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0054
Date of REC Opinion
2 Sep 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion