Differentiating a network of executive attention: LORETA neurofeedback in anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices

Rex Lee Cannon (1) , Marco Congedo (2) , Joel F. Lubar (1) , Teresa Hutchens (1)

1 BRNL - Brain Research and Neuropsychology Laboratory
2 GIPSA-SIGMAPHY - GIPSA - Signal Images Physique

This study examines the differential effects of space-specific neurooperant learning, utilizing low-resolution electromagnetic tomographic (LORETA) neurofeedback in three regions of training (ROTs), namely, the anterior cingulate gyrus (AC) and right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (RPFC and LPFC respectively). Methods: This study was conducted with 14 nonclinical students with a mean age of 22. We utilized electrophysiological measurements and subtests of the WAIS-III for premeasures and postmeasures. Results: The data indicate that the AC shares a significant association with the RPFC and LPFC; however, each of the ROTs exhibits different cortical effects in all frequencies when trained exclusively. Discussion: LORETA neurofeedback (LNFB) appears to enhance the functioning and strengthening of networks of cortical units physiologically related to each ROT; moreover, significant changes are mapped for each frequency domain, showing the associations within this possible attentional network.

Mots clés: anterior cingulate; cognition; EEG; executive attention; executive functions; functional neuroimaging; neurofeedback; prefrontal cortex

Domaines: Neurosciences

Rex Lee Cannon, Marco Congedo, Joel F. Lubar, Teresa Hutchens. Differentiating a network of executive attention: LORETA neurofeedback in anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices. International Journal of Neuroscience, 2009, 119 (3), pp.404-441. ⟨10.1080/00207450802480325⟩. ⟨hal-00351888⟩