Effects of Neurofeedback Training on Attentional Deficits in Patients With Acquired Brain Injury

Effects of Neurofeedback Training on Attentional Deficits in Patients With Acquired Brain Injury

The goal of this study is to investigate new neuromodulation therapies for attention deficits following acquired brain injury. Brain damage can affect various domains, including motor and cognitive functions. However, cognitive deficits have many consequences on the functionality and independence of patients, and attention is an essential requirement for most of daily activities. After brain damage, cognitive rehabilitation is generally the first treatment option for attention deficits. Some studies have shown that cognitive rehabilitation is sometimes not very effective.

For this reason, new therapies such as neuromodulation techniques are being investigated. Neurofeedback is a non-invasive neuromodulation therapy involving a type of computer-based training and learning, and some studies have shown that it is a promising tool to treat cognitive deficits in patients with brain injuries.

In the present study, the investigators will evaluate the effects of neurofeedback as a therapy for attentional deficits after brain injury. Participants undergoing neurofeedback and cognitive therapy will be compared to participants only receiving cognitive therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≥18 years old
• ABI resulting from TBI, stroke, hypoxia and other etiologies
• attentional deficits that are among the objectives of neurorehabilitation as established by the clinical team (scores falling in the 90% percentiles on the Conner's Continuous Performance - CCPT, on the Digit and Spatial Span Tasks and Color Trail test)
• good cognitive condition (ie., scores of ≥23 in the Mini Mental State Examination
• MMSE or ≥75 in the Galveston Orientation & Amnesia Test - GOAT)

Exclusion Criteria:

• previous report of psychiatric and/or neurologic disorders
• contraindication to computerized activities
• blindness or severe visual impairments