Neurofeedback for emotional behavior regulation. Hemodynamic (fNIRS) and EEG evidences

Self-regulation is significantly relevant in habitual operations, improving cognitive and behavioral performances. The neurofeedback (NF) is a non-invasive approach that allows the user to learn how to modify his brain activity by increasing the frequency, the coherence and the amplitude control of his own electroencephalographic patterns. So far, the efficacy of the NF has been evaluated in the clinical application, in the improvement and enhancement of the cognitive performances and in the emotional behavior self-regulation, which is compromised by the presence of abnormalities in prefrontal activity of low frequency oscillations. The present pilot study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a ten NF training sessions in enhancing the prefrontal activity of the delta band and the interhemispheric rebalancing associated with emotional elaborating processes, involved in a better and more functional control and regulation of emotions. In order to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment on a sample of ten healthy participants, a neurophysiological evaluation was performed observing differences in the cortical (EEG) and in the hemodynamic activity, detected by the Near-infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) technique, during the visualization of 100 images from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), in an earlier (T0) and later (T2) phase of treatment with NF (T1). Furthermore, the Self Assessment Manikin (SAM) scale was evaluated to assess the perceived emotional experience and the Self Report BIS/BAS scale to investigate the use of the two motivational systems underlying emotional behavior: the Behavioral Activation System (BAS) and Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS). From the results of the assessment of the perceived emotional experience, a positive correlation emerges between positive emotional assessment and the BAS and between negative emotional assessment and the BIS. From the neurophysiological assessment emerges, following treatment with NF, an increase in the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb) and an enhancement and a lesser lateralization of delta activity in prefrontal areas. This study shows the efficacy of NF treatment in the enhancement of low frequency prefrontal activity and rebalancing of interhemispheric activity, enhancing the use of a multimethodic method to observe electrophysiological and hemodynamic correlates associated with emotional regulation processes and the use of NF in improving the control of their brain activity related to emotional events, useful in preventing psychological distresses and psychotic disorders that could arise in case of negative and emotionally disastrous events.