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Background: Cognitive training aims to improve cognitive function through cognitive tasks or training games. Neurofeedback is a technique to monitor brain signals with either visual or auditory feedback. Previous studies suggest that a combination of cognitive training and neurofeedback has a superior effect on cognitive functions compared with cognitive training alone. However, no systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the benefits of cognitive training with neurofeedback (CTNF) exist. The purpose of this study was to examine the beneficial effects of CTNF in healthy adults using a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, PsychoINFO, and MEDLINE were searched for research papers reporting the results of interventions using CTNF. Results: After an initial screening of 234 records, three studies using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and one study using electroencephalography were extracted from the database. We performed a multi-level meta-analysis with three NIRS studies including 166 participants (mean ages ranged from 21.43 to 65.96 years). A multi-level meta-analysis revealed that CTNF has a beneficial effect on the episodic, long-term, and working memory domains. Conclusions: Although three studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, our results indicate that CTNF using NIRS would lead to improvements in memory functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of long-term alpha neurofeedback training (NFT) in healthy adults using music stimuli. The optimal protocol for future research is presented in this study. The data from 40 healthy participants, divided into two groups (NFT group and Control group), were analyzed in the current study. We found a significantly enhanced alpha rhythm after training in the NFT group which was not observed in the control group. The immediate subsequent effects were greater in more than 80% of the sessions from the initial recordings. Stroop task and behavioral questionnaires, mini-mental state exam (MMSE), and perceived stress scale (PSS) did not reveal any training-specific changes. Within-training session effects were significant from the baseline and were more pronounced at the beginning of the session as compared to the end of the session. It is also observed that a shorter session length with multiple sessions may be more effective than a long and continuous run of a single session. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: A previous study has shown that cognitive training with neurofeedback (CT-NF) using down-regulation improves cognitive functions in young adults. Neurofeedback has two strategies for manipulating brain activity (down-regulation and upregulation). However, the benefit of CT-NF with the upregulation of cognitive functions is still unknown. In this study, we investigated whether the upregulation of CT-NF improves a wide range of cognitive functions compared to cognitive training alone. (2) Methods: In this double-blinded randomized control trial (RCT), 60 young adults were randomly assigned to one of three groups: CT-NF group, CT alone group, and an active control (ACT) group who played a puzzle game. Participants in the three groups used the same device (tablet PC and 2ch NIRS (near-infrared spectroscopy)) and performed the training game for 20 min every day for four weeks. We measured brain activity during training in all groups, but only CT-NFs received NF. We also measured a wide range of cognitive functions before and after the intervention period. (3) Results: The CT-NF groups showed superior beneficial effects on episodic memory, working memory, and attention compared to the CT alone and ACT groups. In addition, the CT-NF group showed an increase in brain activity during CT, which was associated with improvements in cognitive function. (4) Discussion: This study first demonstrated that the CT-NF using the upregulation strategy has beneficial effects on cognitive functions compared to the CT alone. Our results suggest that greater brain activities during CT would enhance a benefit from CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]