Neurofeedback improves executive functioning in children with autism spectrum disorders

Mirjam M.E.J Kouijzer (1) , Jan J.M.H. de Moor (1) , Berrie B.J.L. Gerrits (2) , Marco Congedo (3) , Hein H.T. van Schie (1)

1 Behavioral Science Institute
2 Neurofeedback Nijmegen
3 GIPSA-SIGMAPHY - GIPSA - Signal Images Physique

Seven autistic children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) received a neurofeedback treatment that aimed to improve their level of executive control. Neurofeedback successfully reduced children's heightened theta/beta ratio by inhibiting theta activation and enhancing beta activation over sessions. Following treatment, children's executive capacities were found to have improved greatly relative to pre-treatment assessment on a range of executive function tasks. Additional improvements were found in children's social, communicative and typical behavior, relative to a waiting list control group. These findings suggest a basic executive function impairment in ASD that can be alleviated through specific neurofeedback treatment. Possible neural mechanisms that may underlie neurofeedback mediated improvement in executive functioning in autistic children are discussed.

Keywords: Neurofeedback; Autism spectrum disorder; Executive function; Theta/beta ratio; Anterior cingulate cortex

Domains: Neuroscience

Mirjam M.E.J Kouijzer, Jan J.M.H. de Moor, Berrie B.J.L. Gerrits, Marco Congedo, Hein H.T. van Schie. Neurofeedback improves executive functioning in children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2009, 3 (1), pp.145-162. ⟨10.1016/j.rasd.2008.05.001⟩. ⟨hal-00297294⟩