Barth Beatrix, Mayer Kerstin, Strehl Ute, Fallgatter Andreas J, Ehlis Ann-Christine
Psychophysiology and Optical Imaging, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstr. 14, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany; Graduate School of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, University of Tuebingen, Oesterbergstr. 3, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany.
Institute for Medical Psychology and Behavioural Neurobiology, University of Tuebingen, Silcherstr. 5, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
Behav Brain Res. 2017 Jun 30;329:58-66. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.04.021. Epub 2017 Apr 22.
The present study aimed at revealing neurophysiological effects induced by electromyography (EMG) based biofeedback, considered as a semi-active control condition in neurofeedback studies, in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients.
20 adult ADHD patients trained their muscle activity in the left and right supraspinatus muscle over the course of 30 EMG biofeedback sessions. Changes induced by the EMG feedback were evaluated at a clinical and neurophysiological level; additionally, the relation between changes in EEG activity recorded at the vertex over the training course and changes of symptom severity over the treatment course were assessed in order to investigate the mechanisms underlying clinical effects of EMG biofeedback.
Participants showed significant behavioral improvements on a self-rating scale. There was a significant increase in alpha power, but no significant changes in the delta frequency range; changes in the theta and beta frequency range were not significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. No statistically significant correlation was found between changes in EEG frequency bands and changes in ADHD symptoms.
The current results assessed by means of a single-electrode EEG constitute a starting point regarding a clearer understanding of mechanisms underlying clinical effects of EMG biofeedback. Although we did not reveal systematic effects induced by EMG feedback on brain activity it remains an open question whether EMG biofeedback induces changes in brain regions or parameters we did not gather in the present study (e.g. motor cortex).
本研究旨在揭示基于肌电图（EMG）的生物反馈在成人注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）患者中所诱发的神经生理效应，在神经反馈研究中，其被视为一种半主动控制条件。
20名成年ADHD患者在30次EMG生物反馈训练过程中训练其左右冈上肌的肌肉活动。在临床和神经生理水平评估EMG反馈所诱发的变化；此外，评估训练过程中记录的头顶脑电图（EEG）活动变化与治疗过程中症状严重程度变化之间的关系，以探究EMG生物反馈临床效果的潜在机制。
参与者在自评量表上显示出显著的行为改善。α波功率显著增加，但δ频率范围内无显著变化；经多重比较校正后，θ和β频率范围内的变化不显著。EEG频段变化与ADHD症状变化之间未发现统计学上的显著相关性。
通过单电极EEG评估的当前结果是更清楚地理解EMG生物反馈临床效果潜在机制的一个起点。尽管我们未揭示EMG反馈对大脑活动的系统性影响，但EMG生物反馈是否会引起我们在本研究中未收集的脑区或参数变化（如运动皮层）仍是一个悬而未决的问题。
