[December 17, 2013] |
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Neurofeedback Training Proven to Slow Down Brain Aging: NCKU Research
TAINAN, Taiwan --(Business Wire)--
The Distinguished Professor Shu-Lan Hsieh's research on neurofeedback
training has proven to improve attention and working memory performance,
National Cheng Kung University revealed recently.
Hsieh's training method had significantly improved brainwave and brain
function and slowed down aging of the brain.
Her research titled "Neurofeedback training improves attention and
working memory performance" was published in the June edition of the Clinical
Neurophysiology journal.
The neurofeedback training method had been used in research on human
health and diseases, particularly on slowing down symptoms of
hyperactivity disorder in kids and improving intelligence of kids with
learning disorders, Hsieh noted.
She had carried out research on the elderly usin neurofeedback training
for the first time, focusing training on the theta wave at the frontal
midline.
In brainwave activity of a complex human brain, the theta wave is
defined as the waveband of brainwaves at a frequency between 4 and 8 Hz,
according to Hsieh.
Previous research indicated that the theta wave could be the main reason
causing the decline in brain function. Hsieh on the other hand had
proven that the neurofeedback training method can effectively slow down
aging.
Using a sample of 16 elder people aged between 60 and 70 years old as
subjects, Hsieh carried out the training on them for 12 times within a
one-month period while successfully enhance the amount of theta wave
activity.
The principle behind this training is recording real-time theta wave
activity and attempting to adjust brainwave activity through audio and
visual feedback in order to achieve the desired target.
After 12-month training, Hsieh found that the subjects' attention and
working memory performance had significantly improved, thus implying
that subjects had experienced an improvement in brainwave and brain
performance.
"Many subjects noted that focusing their own attention or concentrating
on thinking about an activity such as mental arithmetic or reciting
poems could increase brainwave activity the most," Hsieh revealed.
She also added, "Others also discovered that those receiving such
training in a relaxed, meditative state will also experience the good
effect of the training."
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