EEG-neurofeedback training of elite singers including fMRI assessments

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EEG-neurofeedback training EEG-neurofeedback training of elite singers including fMRI of elite singers including fMRI

assessments.assessments.Boris Kleber, John Gruzelier, Boris Kleber, John Gruzelier,

Martin Lotze, Ralf Veit , Mike Bensch & Martin Lotze, Ralf Veit , Mike Bensch & Niels BirbaumerNiels Birbaumer

Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of TübingenInstitute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen

Conjunct COST B27 and SAN Scientific Meeting,

Swansea, UK, 16-18 September 2006

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AimsAims

Continuation of a series of studies that Continuation of a series of studies that demonstrated that alpha/theta eeg-demonstrated that alpha/theta eeg-biofeedback training could enhace the biofeedback training could enhace the performance of music conservatory performance of music conservatory students (Egner & Gruzelier, 2003).students (Egner & Gruzelier, 2003).

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IntroductionIntroduction

In this study we focused on elite classical singers In this study we focused on elite classical singers (mostly opera).(mostly opera).

Why?Why? A homogeneous group may reveal possible effects that A homogeneous group may reveal possible effects that

could get masked otherwise, andcould get masked otherwise, and since singers „are“ their instrument, training related since singers „are“ their instrument, training related

changes in performance may be traced more easily.changes in performance may be traced more easily.

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MethodMethod

EEG Biofeedback:EEG Biofeedback: Alpha/theta training (a/t; acoustic feedback)Alpha/theta training (a/t; acoustic feedback)

aims at elevating electrocortical theta (5-8 Hz) and aims at elevating electrocortical theta (5-8 Hz) and alpha (8-11 Hz) activity at electrode Pz in an eyes alpha (8-11 Hz) activity at electrode Pz in an eyes closed resting state.closed resting state.

Sensorimotor-rhythm (SMR; visual feedback)Sensorimotor-rhythm (SMR; visual feedback)aims at elevating electrocortical smr (12-15 Hz) aims at elevating electrocortical smr (12-15 Hz)

activity without concurrent rise in theta (5-8 Hz) activity without concurrent rise in theta (5-8 Hz) activity at electrode C4 in an eyes open resting activity at electrode C4 in an eyes open resting state.state.

Nexus-10 with Biotrace SoftwareNexus-10 with Biotrace Software(MindMedia, NL)(MindMedia, NL)

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DesignDesign

1. a/t

2. smr

3. control

3 Groups Assessment 1 Training Assessment 2

Brain activity related to singing (fMRI).

Musical performance:

• Video and pure audio recordings

• mood and anxiety questionnaires

• heart rate & SCL

10 Sessions á 15 minutes feedback training, 1-2 times the week.

No training for the control group

Brain activity related to singing (fMRI) and feedback training.

Musical performance:

• Video and pure audio recordings

• mood and anxiety questionnaires

• heart rate & SCLAnalysis of Data

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fMRI technique:fMRI technique:

1.5 Tesla whole body Scanner (Siemens Vision).

66 whole head scans were performed (per block) with a Echo planar imaging (EPI); TE: 40 ms; TA: 3 sec, TR: 10 sec,

Sparse sampling allowed auditory control during singing and avoided movement artifacts.

Data were analyzed with SPM99 using conventional preprocessing and fixed effect group statistics (p<0.05; False Discovery Rate, FDR).

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The study is ongoing....

The data presented here are preliminary data The data presented here are preliminary data representing fMRI pre-/post measurements in representing fMRI pre-/post measurements in relation to neurofeedback training.relation to neurofeedback training.

12 subjects selected:4 a/t4 smr 4 controls

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Alpha/theta ratioAlpha/theta ratio

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SMR/theta ratioSMR/theta ratio

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fMRI fMRI tasktask

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fMRI taskfMRI task

Singing task (6 repetitions)

1. caro mio ben

3. senza di te4. languisce il cor

6. credimi almen5. caro mio ben

2. credimi almen

RestRestBreathing Breathing

onlyonly

JitterJitter Jitter Jitter

Resting condition (6 repetitions)

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fMRI sparse samplingfMRI sparse sampling

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fMRI sparse samplingfMRI sparse sampling

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ResultsResults

Postscan minus prescan (control group)Postscan minus prescan (control group) No differences:No differences:

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Results fMRIResults fMRI

Postscan minus prescan in training groups:Postscan minus prescan in training groups:

Differential effect for alpha/theta and smr Differential effect for alpha/theta and smr group.group.

Alpha/ thetaAlpha/ thetaSMRSMR

FDR = 0.001 T= 4.40 FDR = 0.05 T= 4.04

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Activation in the right medial insulaActivation in the right medial insula

Alpha/ Theta TrainingAlpha/ Theta Traininga/ta/t (post vs. pre) - (post vs. pre) - minusminus - - ctrlctrl (post vs. pre) (post vs. pre)

Insula (mid section)

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Alpha/ Theta TrainingAlpha/ Theta Traininga/ta/t (post vs. pre) - (post vs. pre) - minusminus - - ctrlctrl (post vs. pre) (post vs. pre)

Activation in the right medial insula

Right temporal pole

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Alpha/ Theta TrainingAlpha/ Theta Traininga/ta/t (post vs. pre) (post vs. pre) minusminus controlcontrol (post vs. pre) (post vs. pre)

Activation in the right medial insulaRight temporal pole

Left frontal inferior orbital cortex (BA47)

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Alpha/ Theta TrainingAlpha/ Theta Traininga/ta/t (post vs. pre) (post vs. pre) minusminus controlcontrol (post vs. pre) (post vs. pre)

Activation in the right medial insulaRight temporal poleLeft frontal inferior orbital cortex (BA47)

Pons/Medulla

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Alpha/ Theta TrainingAlpha/ Theta Training

The Insula

plays a role in regulating physiological and psychological homeostasis (Flynn, Benson, & Ardila, 1999) and is considered being part of the emotional viscerosensory brain (Janig & Habler, 2002).

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Temporal pole The right temporal pole is correlated with attending to one’s own emotional experience and seem to be involved in the imparting of emotional color to subjective experience (Lane, 2000).

It seems important to consciously and willfully self-regulate emotional responses (Mesulam, 1985; Beauregard et al., 2001)..

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VLPFC (BA47): Left BA47 is involved in semantic processing (Fiez,

1997) but also in the passive perception of but also in the passive perception of emotional stimuli (visual: Blair et al., 1999; emotional stimuli (visual: Blair et al., 1999; linguistic: Wildgruber et al., 2004). linguistic: Wildgruber et al., 2004).

Activation was found during recognition of expressive gestures (Gallagher & Frith, 2004)

Left BA47 might be important for the coding of the valence of emotional qualities (Lotze et al., 2006)

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The PonsThe Pons Is involved in motor control and sensory analysis Is involved in motor control and sensory analysis

and is important for the level of consciousness and is important for the level of consciousness and for sleep. and for sleep.

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SMR TrainingSMR Trainingsmrsmr (post vs. pre) (post vs. pre) minusminus controlcontrol (post vs. pre) (post vs. pre)

Increased sensorimotor, parietal and auditory activation:Increased sensorimotor, parietal and auditory activation:

SomatosensorySomatosensory & Premotor areas (BA3/ 6)& Premotor areas (BA3/ 6)

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Increased sensorimotor, parietal and auditory activation:Increased sensorimotor, parietal and auditory activation:Somatosensory & Premotor areas (BA3/ 6)

Parietal superior (BA 5/ 40)

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Increased sensorimotor, parietal and auditory activation:Increased sensorimotor, parietal and auditory activation:Somatosensory & Premotor areas (BA 3/ 6)

Parietal superior (BA 5/ 40)Right frontal Inferior Operculum

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Parietal superior (BA 5/ 40)Right frontal Inferior Operculum Auditory belt area (BA 21 right)

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Parietal superior (BA 5/ 40)Right frontal Inferior Operculum Auditory belt area (BA 21 right, BA42 left)

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Parietal superior (BA 5/ 40)Right frontal Inferior Operculum Auditory belt area (BA 21 right, BA42 left)Cerebellum

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SMR TrainingSMR Training

Increased activity was found in areas related to auditory and motor function:

Areas related to motor function involved primary somatosensory (BA3) and premotor cortex (BA6), the operculum, the cerebellum and the posterior parietal cortex.

The premotor cortex (PMC) is important for the concept, timing and ideation of the movement (Lotze et al., 2003) (Lotze et al., 2003)

The cerebellum is preferentially involved in controlling complex movements with involvement of sensoric feedback and learned automatic movements (Thach et al., 1992)

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The inferior frontal operculum belongs to the classical classical perisylvian language system (Jeffries et al., 2001) and is perisylvian language system (Jeffries et al., 2001) and is involved in involved in phonological processing and in motor aspects connected with vocal production (Janata & Grafton, 2003; Stanberry, 2005).

The superior parietal lobe is involved in the storage of movement kinematics (e.g., Seitz et al., 1997) and is is closely connected with the posterior SMA and with the PMC closely connected with the posterior SMA and with the PMC (BA6) (Rizzolatti et al, 1998).(BA6) (Rizzolatti et al, 1998).

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Areas related to auditory processing Areas related to auditory processing (right BA21 left (right BA21 left BA 42)BA 42)

The right BA 21 is selectively involved in voice perception The right BA 21 is selectively involved in voice perception (Zatorre et al., 2000).(Zatorre et al., 2000).

Left sided auditory areas are usually dominant for the Left sided auditory areas are usually dominant for the perception of temporal changes of an auditory signal (e.g. in perception of temporal changes of an auditory signal (e.g. in speech, Schönwiesner et. al., 2005) but speech, Schönwiesner et. al., 2005) but analytical listening analytical listening strategies can also lead to left hemispheric auditory strategies can also lead to left hemispheric auditory processing (Mazziotta et al., 1982)processing (Mazziotta et al., 1982)

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ConclusionsConclusions

Alpha/theta training may lead to an Alpha/theta training may lead to an activation of brain areas that concentrate on activation of brain areas that concentrate on

emotion modulation.emotion modulation.

This supports the finding that This supports the finding that alpha/theta training enhanced alpha/theta training enhanced artistic

expression in the performance of in the performance of conservatory music students conservatory music students

(Egner & Gruzelier, 2003).

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ConclusionsConclusions

In contrast, post-smr scans revealed In contrast, post-smr scans revealed increased somatosensory coupling as well as increased somatosensory coupling as well as

activity in the auditory belt area.activity in the auditory belt area.This is interesting, since increased This is interesting, since increased

sensorimotor or sensorimotor or mμ -rhythms are usually -rhythms are usually associated with reduced motor acticity.associated with reduced motor acticity.

Previous studies have shown that Previous studies have shown that activity activity in a 10-Hz mμ band correlated

negatively with activity in the right postcentral gyrus and posterior parietal

cortex (BA 5) (Ritter et al., 2003).

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Thank you!Thank you!

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Niels Birbaumer

Martin Lotze Ralf Veit

Thanks to:

Documents

EEG-neurofeedback training of elite singers including fMRI assessments