REHAB 2014

Research Article

A Game-based Neurofeedback Training System For Cognitive Rehabilitation in the Elderly

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  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/icst.pervasivehealth.2014.255448,
        author={Suwicha Jirayucharoensak and Pasin Israsena and Setha Pan-Ngum and Solaphat Hemrungrojn},
        title={A Game-based Neurofeedback Training System For Cognitive Rehabilitation in the Elderly},
        proceedings={REHAB 2014},
        publisher={ICST},
        proceedings_a={REHAB},
        year={2014},
        month={7},
        keywords={cognitive rehabilitation neurofeedback training system brain-computer interface},
        doi={10.4108/icst.pervasivehealth.2014.255448}
    }
    
  • Suwicha Jirayucharoensak
    Pasin Israsena
    Setha Pan-Ngum
    Solaphat Hemrungrojn
    Year: 2014
    A Game-based Neurofeedback Training System For Cognitive Rehabilitation in the Elderly
    REHAB
    ICST
    DOI: 10.4108/icst.pervasivehealth.2014.255448
Suwicha Jirayucharoensak1,*, Pasin Israsena1, Setha Pan-Ngum2, Solaphat Hemrungrojn3
  • 1: National Electronics and Computer Technology Center
  • 2: Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University
  • 3: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
*Contact email: suwicha.jirayucharoensak@nectec.or.th

Abstract

There is a strong relationship between sustained attention and cognitive performance. The ability to sustain attention potentially leads to enhance cognitive functions. Attention Training provides a promising alternative therapy to enhance cognitive ability and it can be efficiently implemented with Neurofeedback Training (NFT) system. The purpose of this research is to develop a NFT system for attention training to enhance cognitive performance in older adults. The efficiency of the system was evaluated by establishing a clinical trial for healthy elderly and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) patients to perform cognitive rehabilitation. There were totally 24 older adults, age 55-70 yrs, enrolled to this trial. Both healthy and MCI groups performed NFT interventions in 12 half-hour sessions, two sessions a week. Experimental results showed it is possible to train older adults to modify their amplitude of certain brain wave ranges using a neurofeedback protocol targeting several wave ranges for cognitive performance improvement. Most participants succeeded to increase the ratio of their beta/alpha power band in both groups. The relations between specific patterns of EEG activity and levels of cognitive performance can be investigated with the NFT system as a training technique. The system is aimed to encourage older adults to produce specific patterns of cortical activity in connection with an improved level of cognitive performance.